Moe (Mo)

A study of the land in the Catchment of Gippsland Lakes - Vol 2 - land system Moe- geo

Area: 86 sq. km (0.5%)

Moe land system occurs on almost flat plains in the humid part of the Western Lowlands, mainly beside the Moe River, and in small areas further east. The plains were laid down in a formerly paludal situation in the Moe Sunklands.

Gleying and mottling are common in the deeper sediments and deep percolation is poor in contrast to that of the adjacent Trafalgar land system. Sources of the sediment include basic volcanics and Cretaceous rocks.

There is much evidence to suggest that the soils to the west of Moe township have been modified by artificial drainage. It seems that the flats were originally swampy with many substantial accumulations of peat. Channel construction lead to a fall in the water table and a reduction in waterlogging. The change to aerobic conditions which was exacerbated by cropping, oxidised much of the peat and organic matter in the topsoils. To the east of Moe, the plains are above the modern flood levels and peats may always have been absent. Most soils now have an accumulation of organic matter in the topsoil, uniform or gradational profiles and mottled subsoils.

The native vegetation, probably mainly an open forest II or III dominated by E. ovata, has been almost entirely cleared.

A study of the land in the Catchment of Gippsland Lakes - Vol 2 - land system Moe- image

Ponding of water is common in depressions and poorly drained areas of the Moe River flood plain.

CLIMATE Rainfall, mean (mm) Temperature, mean (°C) Seasonal growth limitations	Annual 700 - 1200; lowest January or February (40 - 70), highest August or October (90 - 120) Annual 12 - 14, lowest July (8 - 10), highest February (19 - 21) Temperature <10°C (av.): June - August Rainfall < potential evapotranspiration: November – March
GEOLOGY Age, lithology	Holocene sediments, mostly silts and clays
PHYSIOGRAPHY Landscape Elevation range (m) Relative relief (m) Drainage pattern Drainage density (km/km²)	Almost flat plains 20 - 80 0 - 5 Dendritic 0.8
PRESENT LAND USE	Cleared: grazing of beef and dairy cattle on improved pastures: apiculture

A study of the land in the Catchment of Gippsland Lakes - Vol 2 - land system Moe- cs

A study of the land in the Catchment of Gippsland Lakes - Vol 2 - land system Moe- graph

LAND COMPONENT Percentage of land system Diagnostic features	1 80 Very gently sloping plains	2 20 Almost flat or slightly depressed plains, poorer drainage
PHYSIOGRAPHY Slope %,typical and (range) Slope shape	1 - 3, (1 - 5) Straight	<1, (0 - 2) Straight, some slightly concave
SOIL
Parent material	Silt, clay and organic matter mostly deposited in a paludal environment
Description	Very dark greyish brown to black silty loam to silty clay loam topsoil, sometimes quite peaty grading into black, grey to light yellowish brown, strongly mottled clay subsoil. Subsoil massive or blocky, sometimes with strong shrink/swell capacity; acidic to neutral. No water tables were found at less than 2 m depth in component 1; in component2, depth to water table was often less than 1 m in winter
Classification	Wiesenboden; Humic Gleys and some Acid Peats in component 2 Um4.25, Gn2.81, Gn2.84, Gn3.91, Gn4.64, Dy3.51, O
Surface texture	Silty loam to silty clay loam
Surface consistence	Friable to firm when moist
Depth (m)	>2.0
Nutrient status	Moderate to high
Available soil water capacity	Moderate to high
Perviousness to water	Slow
Drainage	Poor to somewhat poor	Very poor
Exposed stone (%)	0	0
Sampled profile number	39	2
NATIVE VEGETATION Structure of vegetation and characteristic species of dominant stratum (+ Predominant species)	Open forest II, III: E. ovata+, E. viminalis, sometimes with E. radiata associated	Open forest II, often shrubby: Clearing has made it difficult to determine original species — probably mainly E. ovata+, often with understorey of Melaleuca ericifolia

Disturbance	Affected process and trend	Primary resultant deterioration			Casual activities	Primary off-site process
Disturbance	Affected process and trend	Form	Susceptibility of components	Incidence with components	Casual activities	Primary off-site process
Alteration of vegetation: — reduction in leaf area, rooting depth and/or perenniality	Reduced transpiration, resulting in raised groundwater table	Waterlogging	1,2; moderate - high	Common	Reduced plant-water use in the catchment	Increased run-on and ponding in lowest areas
Increased exposure of surface soil	Increased overland flow and soil detachment	Sheet and rill erosion	1,2; very low	Uncommon	Overgrazing, road building and other earth-moving activities, trafficking by stock and vehicles	Increased flash flows and sediment load
Increased physical pressure on soil	Increased compaction with Reduced infiltration	Structure decline Sheet and rill erosion	1,2: moderate - high 1,2; very low	Uncommon Uncommon	Increased trafficking, cultivation, overgrazing, export of organic matter As for sheet and rill erosion above	- Increased flash flows
Increased soil disruption	Increased soil break-up	Gully erosion Scour erosion	1,2: very low 2; very low	Uncommon Uncommon	As for sheet and rill erosion As for sheet and rill erosion above	Increased sediment load Increased sediment load
Comments: Local. significant losses of peat occur as a result of oxidation following drainage and cultivation

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