Carlisle Land System

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High-level river terrace systems have developed along the Gellibrand River valley at Carlisle River, Gellibrand and Chapple Vale. Up to four different levels can be found, and mild dissection on the upper levels in quite complicated landscapes.

The alluvial material varies from coarse sands and gravels to silts and clays and a variety of soils is found at different levels. Redistribution of sand over some areas has resulted in polygenetic soils with hardpan development. This further complicates the soil and vegetation pattern.

Most of these terrace systems have been cleared, dairying being the major land use. Seasonal waterlogging is common and soil compaction may result from cattle grazing these areas in wet conditions.

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

Several levels can be found in this land system, with the
highest levels being somewhat dissected.

Area: 19 km²	Component and its proportion of land system
Area: 19 km²	1 10%	2 10%	3 10%	4 10%	5 15%	6 25%	7 20%
CLIMATE Rainfall, mm	Annual: 1,000 – 1,150, lowest January (45), highest August (130)
Temperature, 0^oC	Annual: 13, lowest July (8), highest February (18)
	Temperature: less than 10^oC (av.) June – September
	Precipitation: less than potential evapotranspiration mid November – late March
GEOLOGY Age, lithology	Recent alluvial clay, silt and sand shallowly overlying unconsolidated Palaeocene sand with some clay and silt.
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Elevated and, in parts, uplifted and dissected system of ancient cut and depositional terraces of the Gellibrand River.
Elevation, m	30 – 180
Local relief, m	20
Drainage pattern	Dendritic pattern in dissected areas; internal drainage elsewhere
Drainage density, km/km²	1.2
Land form	Alluvial terrace	Scarp	Valley floor	Scarp	Mildly dissected alluvial terrace
Land form element	Low level	-	-	-	Middle level		High level
Slope (and range), %	30 (0-8)	25 915-40)	0 (0-1)	15 (3-35)	5 (0-9)	3 (0-5)	7 (1-10)
Slope shape	Linear	Linear	Linear	Convex	Linear	Linear	Convex
NATIVE VEGETATION Structure	Open forest	Open forest	Tall open forest	Woodland	Low open woodland	Open forest	Open forest
Dominant species	E. obliqua, E. ovata	E. obliqua, E. viminalis	E. viminalis, E. obliqua, Acacia melanoxylon, E. ovata	E. radiata, E. nitida, E. baxteri, E. viminalis	E. nitida, E. radiata, E. baxteri	E. aromaphloia, E. radiata, E. ovata	E. obliqua, E. radiata, E. baxteri
SOIL Parent material	Alluvial clay, silt , some sand	Sand, silt and clay	Alluvial clay, silt and sand	Sand	Sand	Alluvial clay, silt with sand underlay	Alluvial clay, silt
Description	Yellow-brown gradational soils, coarse structure	Yellow gradational soils, weak structure	Grey gradational soils	Grey sand soils, uniform texture	Grey sand soils with hardpans, uniform texture	Grey sand soils, structured clay underlay	Mottled yellow and red gradational soils
Surface texture	Fine sandy loam	Sandy loam	Sandy clay loam	Loamy sand	Silty loam	Sandy loam	Sandy loam
Permeability	Low	High	Low	Very high	Very low	Low	Moderate
Depth, m	>2	>2	>2	>2	0.6	>2	>2
LAND USE	Cleared areas: Dairy farming; beef cattle grazing; open-range pig fattening; residential; water supply. Uncleared areas: Sand and gravel extraction; water supply; minor forest produce
SOIL DETERIORATION HAZARD Critical land features, processes, forms	Low permeability and high rainfall lead to seasonally high water tables with resulting waterlogging and soil compaction.	Low inherent fertility and high permeability lead to leaching of nutrients. Weakly structured surface soils on the steepest slopes are prone to sheet erosion. Saturation of clay subsoils on steep slopes leads to landslips.	Flooding and seasonal water table development lead to waterlogging, soil compaction and siltation.	Very low inherent fertility and high permeability lead to nutrient decline. Steeper slopes with compacted soils of low water-holding capacity are prone to sheet erosion.	Very low inherent fertility with leaching of permeable acidic surfaces leads to nutrient decline. Hardpans restrict drainage, leading to seasonal waterlogging.	Low inherent fertility with leaching permeable surface horizons leads to nutrient decline. Low profile permeability and perched seasonal water tables lead to waterlogging.	Low inherent fertility and phosphorus fixation lead to nutrient decline.

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