To address the problems of dryland salinity and surface water flooding in the Upper South-East of South Australia, the construction of various groundwater drains through the area has been recommended to control elevated and rising groundwater levels (the primary causes of the salinisation). The proposed drains are shown on the locality plans (Figs 1 and 2). To assess the longer term performance of such groundwater drainage schemes, a reasonable background data base of groundwater levels is required prior to the construction of drains. The installation of 71 additional groundwater level monitoring wells was undertaken to supplement the existing SADME regional observation well network throughout the area, thereby providing localised water table information in close proximity to the proposed drains.