Macalister (Mr)

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

Area: 359 sq. km (1.7%)

Macalister land system is mapped on Carboniferous sediments below the subalpine tract and occurs in the north-west of the East Victorian Uplands. The terrain is mountainous with ridge-and-ravine topography and long, steep slopes on which soil creep and other slope processes are active. Some structural control of slopes is evident, for example, the many subhorizontal and narrow, rocky shelves which break the steep slopes are due to beds of hard rock. The land is similar in geology and topography to Turton land system but has a much more humid climate.

Very steep slopes, active soil creep and high, natural erosion rates result in soils which are extremely shallow and very stony, with much rock outcrop. Deeper soils may occur on protected or lower, gentler slopes.

The vegetation is mainly shrubby open forest II or III. with closed fernland in moist, protected valley heads.

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

The characteristic ridge and ravine topography

CLIMATE Rainfall, mean (mm) Temperature, mean (°C) Seasonal growth limitations	Annual 900 - 1600; lowest January or February (50 - 90), highest August or September (120 - 180) Annual 8 - 12; lowest July (3 - 7), highest February (16 - 20) Temperature <10°C (av.): April - October Rainfall < potential evapotranspiration: January, February; occasional winter snow
GEOLOGY Age, lithology	Carboniferous quartzose sandstones, feldspathic sandstones and silty sandstones of the Snowy Plains Formation
PHYSIOGRAPHY Landscape Elevation range (m) Relative relief (m) Drainage pattern Drainage density (km/km²)	Steep mountains with ridge-and-ravine topography 380 - 1460 220 - 680 Dendritic 0.4
PRESENT LAND USE	Uncleared: hardwood forestry (mainly general construction and ash timber); bush grazing of cattle; apiculture

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

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

LAND COMPONENT Percentage of land system Diagnostic features	1 80 Steep slopes with humid forest	2 10 Lower slopes and valley sides with drier forest	3 10 Protected slopes and valleys with more vigorous humid forest
PHYSIOGRAPHY Slope %, typical and (range) Slope shape	35 - 45, (10 - 100) Straight	35 - 45, (10 - 100) Straight, some concave	35 - 40, (5 - 50) Straight, some concave
SOIL
Parent material	Quartzose and feldspathic sandstone
Description	Very shallow and stony brown loam to sandy clay loam; deep profiles on inclusions of more gently sloping terrain	Similar to component 1. Colluvium with deeper very stony brown loam to sandy clay loam; little differentiation with depth	Stony brown loam to sandy clay loam becoming slightly more reddish or yellowish at depth
Classification	Lithosols, some Red Earth/Krasnozems Um6.21, Um5.42	Probably Brown Earths/Lithosols -	Brown Earths, Lithosols Um7.11, Uml.43
Surface texture	Loam to sandy clay loam	Loam to sandy clay loam	Loam to sandy clay loam
Surface consistence	Soft	Soft	Soft
Depth (m)	<0.4	<0.4; >1.0 on colluvium	>1.0
Nutrient status		Low
Available soil water capacity		Moderate
Perviousness to water		Rapid
Drainage		Good
Exposed stone (%)	>60	<50	>40
Sampled profile number	-	-	-
NATIVE VEGETATION Structure of vegetation and characteristic species of dominant stratum (+ Predominant species)	Mainly shrubby open forest III, IV: Pure or mixed stands of E. cypellocarpa, E. dives, E. obliqua, E. radiata, E. sieberi and at higher elevations, E. pauciflora, E. rubida	Open forest I, II or woodland I: E. dives, E. mannifera or E. macrorhyncha usually dominant. Associated species include E. radiata, E. rubida, E. sieberi	Protected slopes — open forest III, IV: Higher elevations — E. delegatensis+ often with E. rubida Lower elevations — E. regnans+ often with E. obliqua Valleys — open forest III of E. viminalis+ and/or E. radiata+ or closed fernland of Dicksonia antarctica

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 — reduction in density of tree roots	Reduced transpiration, resulting in: a) increased deep percolation b) increased regolith wetness Decreased root-binding	Nutrient loss Soil creep Soil creep	Not determined 1,3; high 2; moderate 1,3; high 2; moderate	Not determined Uncommon Uncommon	Removal of trees Accelerated by major disturbances of native vegetation Accelerated by major disturbances of native vegetation	Increased movement of water to groundwater; increased base-flow of streams Increased sediment load Increased sediment load
Increased exposure of surface soil	Increased overland flow and soil detachment	Sheet and rill erosion	1,2,3; high	Uncommon	Clearing, logging, burning, 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; low – moderate 1,2,3; high	Uncommon Uncommon	Increased trafficking, overgrazing, export of organic matter As for sheet and rill erosion above	- Increased flash flows
Increased soil disruption	Increased soil break-up	Gully erosion	1,2,3; high	Uncommon	As for sheet and rill erosion above	Increased sediment load.
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