At Lake Goran, a hydrological study has been completed which examined a range of factors that influence water levels in the Lake. These include catchment land use, rainfall trends, evaporation, interaction with groundwater, etc. In addition, the salinity of the Lake has also been studied.

Lake Goran is located on the Liverpool Plains and lies approximately 30 km south of Gunnedah and 65 km west of Tamworth, NSW. The Lake is ephemeral and may remain dry for long periods.

The community has been concerned at the high water levels which have persisted in Lake Goran since the 1960's. In recent years the Lake has been at least 1 .5m deep for 75% of the time, whereas the Lake only reached this level 25% of the time over the last 80 years. Identifying the cause of these high Lake levels has been one of the primary objectives of the Study.

In addition, various alternatives for reducing Lake levels have been canvassed in the community including:

• partially draining the Lake; and
• allowing irrigation from the Lake.

The Study has also examined the impacts of these proposals on water levels and salinities.

The principal tool used to examine these effects in the Study has been a computer-based, Lake model.