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Anglesea Land System

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Stretching inland from the coast between Bells Beach and Moggs Creek lies a dissected plain on Tertiary sediments. Long straight slopes emanate from spurs and ridges. The coastal margins are retreating an often abut the sea in steep cliffs or massive landslips and earthflows.

The parent material is very variable, ranging from lateritized sediments on the ridges to relatively unweathered alluvium in the drainage lines. Thus the soils are particularly variable.

In general, plant nutrient levels are low and surface horizons are weakly structured. Plant communities are mainly open forests les than 15 m in height; the height decreases towards the coast under the influence of salt-bearing winds. The area is highly regarded for its diversity of flora. Some parts have been cleared for agriculture. The main hazards to land use are gully erosion and sheet erosion.
A Study of land in the catchments of the Otway Range and adjacent plains - anglesea



A Study of land in the catchments of the Otway Range and adjacent plains - anglesea
Exposed coastal sites carry salt-pruned open scrubs that are
sensitive to disturbance, and revegetation

of eroded areas is difficult.
A Study of land in the catchments of the Otway Range and adjacent plains - anglesea


Area: 74 km
2
Component and its proportion of land system
1
25%
2
5%
3
10%
4
30%
5
25%
6
2%
7
3%
CLIMATE
Rainfall, mm

Annual
: 600 –800, lowest January (35), highest August (80)
Temperature, 0oC
Annual: 14, lowest July (9), highest February (17)
Temperature: less than 10oC (av.) July
Precipitation: less than potential evapotranspiration mid October – early April
GEOLOGY
Age, lithology

Highly variable Eocene sediment consisting mainly of unconsolidated clayey silt, sand
TOPOGRAPHY
Landscape

Moderately dissected hills lying below and on the seaward side of the lateritic plateaux
Elevation, m
0 - 195
Local relief, m
50
Drainage pattern
Rectangular
Drainage density, km/km2
1.6
Land form
Hill
Land form element
Exposed coastal slope
Slope, crest
Lower slop, drainage line
Middle slop
Upper slope, crest
Steep slop
Landslip
Slope (and range), %
20 (5-45)
2 (5-15)
8 (1-15)
15 (5-35)
10(1-20)
45 (25-55)
(5-90)
Slope shape
Linear/irregular
Linear
Concave
Convex
Convex
Linear
Irregular
NATIVE VEGETATION
Structure

Open scrub

Woodland

Open forest

Open forest

Open forest

Open forest

Low woodland
Dominant species
E. obliqua, Casuarina stricta,
E. sideroxylon
E. viminalis,
E. radiata, E. baxteri
E. sideroxylon
E. obliqua
E. sideroxylon
E. obliqua
E. obliqua
E. sideroxylon,
E. baxteri
E. obliqua,
E. baxteri,
E. sideroxylon
E. sideroxylon
E. obliqua
Melaleuca lanceolata, Casuarina stricta
SOIL
Parent material
Calcareous sand, clay silt, sand and gravel
Sand and gravel
Clay, silt and sand
Slay, silt and sand, sandstone
Deeply weathered clay, silt and sand
Lateritic ironstone, sandstone
Clay, silt and sand; some aeolian sand
Description
Variable sodic duplex soils
Grey sand soils, uniform texture
Yellow-brown sodic duplex soils, coarse structure
Yellow-brown duplex soils, coarse structure
Mottled yellow and red duplex soils
Stony red gradational soils
Variable sodic duplex soils
Surface texture
Sandy loam
Loamy sand
Fine sandy loam
Fine sandy loam
Sandy loam
Sandy loam
Sandy loam
Permeability
Moderate
Very high
Very low
Very low
Moderate
Very high
Moderate
Depth, m
>2
>2
>2
>2
>2
0.2
>2
LAND USE
Uncleared areas: Nature conservation; active and passive recreation; landscape conservation; gravel extraction
Cleared areas: Beef cattle grazing on mainly unimproved pastures; residential; active recreation
SOIL DETERIORATION HAZARD
Critical land features, processes, forms
Native vegetation is sensitive to salt pruning and disturbance. Highly dispersible soils on steep slopes are prone to sheet erosion, gully erosion and tunnel erosion
Very low inherent fertility and high permeability lead to nutrient decline.
Sodic, highly dispersible subsoils are prone to gully and tunnel erosion.
Highly dispersible soils are prone to gully and tunnel erosion. Weakly structured surface soils over slowly permeable subsoils on steep slopes are prone to sheet erosion.
Low inherent fertility, phosphorus fixation and leaching of permeable A horizons lead to nutrient decline.
Stony shallow soils with low organic content, weak structure and low water-holding capacity on steep slopes are prone to sheet erosion.
Native vegetation is sensitive to salt pruning and disturbance. Marine under-cutting of highly dispersible soils maintains active landslips and earth flows.


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