Beach ridges have developed along the Queensland coastline. They are largely comprised of coastal sands and typically support a single, unconsolidated sedimentary aquifer, where groundwater forms a freshwater lens in the intergranular voids of the coastal sand mass. Perched aquifers may also occur over low permeability layers within the sand mass.

Unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers in sand masses may provide a wide range of ecosystems with water required to support their fauna and flora communities, ecological processes and delivery of ecosystem services.

• Palustrine (e.g. swamps) and lacustrine (e.g. lakes) wetlands and riverine (e.g. streams and rivers) water bodies on coastal sand masses may depend on the surface expression of groundwater from these unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers.
• Terrestrial vegetation on coastal sand masses may depend on the subsurface presence of groundwater in these unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers where groundwater is typically accessed through the capillary zone above the water table.
• Unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers may also support subterranean ecosystems within the aquifer itself, sometimes is indicated by the presence of stygofauna.
• Estuarine and near-shore marine ecosystems located adjacent to coastal sand masses may depend on the discharge of groundwater from these unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers.

Pictorial conceptual model PDF

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