Kawarren Land System

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Rolling hills with occasional steep slopes and broad drainage lines are found in the vicinity of Kawarren. The landscape has several components, including some areas of red stony brown gradational soils developed on outcrops of basalt. However, old soils on deeply weathered Tertiary clay and sand tend to dominate the landscape.

Other land systems with similar soils and parent material are found to the east and west of this land system. However, the Kawarren land system is a rolling landscape whereas the others are gently undulating to flat. The Barongarook land system to the east has a slightly lower rainfall and Eucalyptus baxteri has not been observed in this area.

Clearing has been common and the main land uses are dairy farming and grazing of beef cattle and sheep. Some forested areas, such as the old Beech Forest railway escarpment, are popular for bushwalking. Pine establishment is common on private land. Sheet erosion and landslips have occurred on the steeper slopes.

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

Most of the cleared areas are used for dairy farming.

Area: 41 km²	Component and its proportion of land system
Area: 41 km²	1 15%	2 10%	3 60%	4 10%	5 5%
CLIMATE Rainfall, mm	Annual: 850 – 1,100, lowest January (40), highest August (120)
Temperature, 0^oC	Annual: 12, lowest July (8), highest February (18)
	Temperature: less than 10^oC (av.) June – September
	Precipitation: less than potential evapotranspiration November - March
GEOLOGY Age, lithology	Paleocene unconsolidated clay, silt and sand
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Rolling hills in the northern upper reaches of the Gellibrand River catchment
Elevation, m	75 - 210
Local relief, m	60
Drainage pattern	Dendritic with some radial areas
Drainage density, km/km²	2.6
Land form	Hill				Valley floor
Land form element	Steep slope	Crest, upper slope	Crest, slope	Slope	-
Slope (and range), %	20 (10-45)	12 (3-15)	9 (1-15)	13 (6-15)	1 (0-2)
Slope shape	Linear	Convex	Convex	Linear	Concave
NATIVE VEGETATION Structure	Open forest	Woodland	Open forest	Open forest	Low woodland
Dominant species	E. obliqua, E. radiata, E. viminalis	E. radiata, E. obliqua, E. nitida, E. ovata	E. obliqua, . radiata, E. viminalis; occasionally E. ovata	E. aromaphloia, E. obliqua, E. radiata, occasionally E. ovata	E. ovata, E. radiata, Melaleuca squarrosa
SOIL Parent material	Clay, silt and sand	Colluvial sand on unconsolidated clay	Clay, silt and sand	Clay, silt and sand	Alluvial clay, sand and silt
Description	Yellow gradational soils, weak structure	Grey sand soils, structured clay underlay	Mottled yellow and red gradational soils	Yellow-brown gradational soils, coarse structure	Grey gradational soils
Surface texture	Sandy loam	Sandy loam	Fine sandy loam	Fine sandy loam	Fine sandy loam
Permeability	High	Low	Moderate	Low	Very low
Depth, m	>2	>2	>2	>2	>2
LAND USE	Uncleared areas: Hardwood forestry for sawlogs, posts and poles; softwood plantations; nature conservation; passive recreation; water supply; forest grazing. Cleared areas: Beef cattle and sheep grazing; dairy farming; water supply
SOIL DETERIORATION HAZARD Critical land features, processes, forms	Clay subsoils on steep slopes subject to periodic saturation are prone to landslips. Steep slopes are prone to sheet and rill erosion.	Low subsoil permeabilities leads to seasonal waterlogging. Low inherent fertility and permeable surface horizons lead to nutrient decline.	Low inherent fertility and phosphorus fixation lead to nutrient decline.	Dispersible clay subsoils of low permeability are prone to gully erosion. Clay subsoils on steeper slopes subject to periodic saturation are prone to landslips.	Low permeabilities and high water tables lead to seasonal waterlogging. High discharge rates along watercourses lead to some flooding and gully erosion.

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