Beech Forest Land System

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Along the crest of the wetter parts of the Otway Range lies a rolling plain with rounded hills and shallow valleys. This area has one of the highest annual rainfalls in Victoria, averaging almost 2,000 mm at Weeaproinah.

Prior to settlement late last century, tall open forests of Eucalyptus regnans and associated species dominated the landscapes, but now most areas have been cleared for agriculture. Some stands of timber do remain and other areas are being regenerated to form climax communities of E. regnans. Agricultural uses are dairying, beef cattle grazing and cropping. The cool climate, remoteness and freely drained soils make the area suitable for seed-potato production.

The perennial nature of many of the creeks and drainage lines gives the areas high water catchment values. Conflict also arises between is high scenic appeal as a rural landscape and the conversion of farmland to softwood plantations.

A Study of land in the catchments of the Otway Range and adjacent plains - beech forest

The rolling hills of the Beech Forest land system comprise
an agricultural landscape of high scenic value.

Area: 141 km²	Component and its proportion of land system
Area: 141 km²	1 5%	2 85%	3 10%
CLIMATE Rainfall, mm	Annual: 1,550 – 1,950, lowest January (80), highest August (210)
Temperature, 0^oC	Annual: 10, lowest July (6), highest February (15)
	Temperature: less than 10^oC (av.) May - October
	Precipitation: less than potential evapotranspiration late December – early February
GEOLOGY Age, lithology	Lower Cretaceous feldspathic sandstone and mudstone
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Rolling hills along the crest of the Otway Range
Elevation, m	340 – 560
Local relief, m	45
Drainage pattern	Dendritic with some trellis and radial areas
Drainage density, km/km²	5.8
Land form	Hill
Land form element	Slope	Crest and slope	Lower slope, drainage line
Slope (and range), %	12 (2-15)	12 (1-20)	5 (1-8)
Slope shape	Convex	Convex	Concave
NATIVE VEGETATION Structure	Tall open forest	Tall open forest	Tall closed forest
Dominant species	E. regnans, E. obliqua, Acacia melanoxylon	E. regnans, E. obliqua, Acacia melanoxylon	Nothofagus cunninghamii, Acacia melanoxylon, E. regnans
SOIL Parent material	Deeply weathered in-situ rock	In-situ weathered rock	Alluvium and colluvium
Description	Brown friable gradational soils	Brown gradational soils	Dark brown gradational soils
Surface texture	Loam	Clay loam	Loam
Permeability	High	Moderate	High
Depth, m	2.0	1.6	>2
LAND USE	Cleared areas: Dairy farming; beef cattle grazing; row crops (seed potatoes); water supply Uncleared areas: Softwood forestry; hardwood forestry for sawlogs and pulpwood; nature conservation; passive recreation; water supply
SOIL DETERIORATION HAZARD Critical land features, processes, forms	High rainfall, high permeability and leaching plus loss of organic matter and soil structure upon disturbance lead to nutrient decline and soil compaction. Steeper slopes may be subsequently prone to sheet erosion.	High rainfall and moderate permeability lead to leaching of nutrients and losses in organic matter and soil structure. Steeper slopes are subsequently prone to sheet erosion. Clay subsoils on steeper slopes are subject to frequent saturation and are prone to landslips.	High seasonal water tables and run-off from surrounding slopes lead to waterlogging and soil compaction.

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