Perry (Py)

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

Area: 395 sq. km (1.9%)

Sand sheets and low dunes on the Tertiary and early Pleistocene terraces have been mapped in Perry land system.

Much of the sand was deposited by streams such as the Perry River, and subsequently blown eastwards from the flood plains during a dry glacial period. In areas to the south of Lake Wellington, which have suffered a marine inundation, longshore and beach drift appear to have moved the sand eastwards, shaping it into coastal and sea-floor forms.

Sandy soils are prevalent but they are underlain by clays at variable depths. Deep sands tend to he highly acidic, infertile and droughty, with dark topsoils, bleached subsurfaces and with iron and/or humus-enriched pans at depth. Where the underlying clay is shallow, drainage may be restricted. This clay commonly exhibits sodic properties.

The vegetation is mainly open woodland I and II, sometimes ferny or heathy, with open forest II on duplex soils and sedgelands in wet areas.

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

Woodland of Eucalyptus nitida (shining peppermint) and Banksia serrata (saw banksia) growing on a relict beach ridge

CLIMATE Rainfall, mean (mm) Temperature, mean (°C) Seasonal growth limitations	Annual 500 - 800: lowest January (30 - 50). highest October (40 - 70) Annual 12 - 14: lowest July (9 - 10). highest February (19 - 20) Temperature <10°C (av.): June - August Rainfall < potential evapotranspiration: November – March
GEOLOGY Age, lithology	Pleistocene aeolian and marine sands
PHYSIOGRAPHY Landscape Elevation range (m) Relative relief (m) Drainage pattern Drainage density (km/km²)	Sand sheets and low dunes <2.0 - 120 0 - 10 Dendritic 0.1
PRESENT LAND USE	Mostly uncleared: hardwood forestry (minor timber products); apiculture: bush grazing of cattle (limited); small area in Moormurng Forest Park Minor proportion cleared: grazing of cattle and sheep; softwood plantations

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

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

LAND COMPONENT Percentage of land system Diagnostic features	1 55 Low sand ridges formed by modification of sand sheets	2 25 Thin sand sheets over clay sub strata	3 10 Seasonally waterlogged swales and margins to lagoons	4 10 Permanent lagoons
PHYSIOGRAPHY Slope %, typical and (range) Slope shape	3, (0 - 5) Convex and concave	2, (0 - 5) Straight	<1, (0 - 2) Straight or concave	0, (-) Concave
SOIL
Parent material	Aeolian sand	Aeolian sand; marine — lacustrine clay	Aeolian sand; marine — lacustrine clay	-
Description	Dark sand over whitish sand overlying coffee rock or bright yellowish brown sand; yellow sand below	Dark sand over paler sand overlying mottled, often alkaline clay	Limited observations — black sand over light grey sand often overlying mottled clay	No soils
Classification	Podzols Uc2.21, Uc2.36, Uc4.31, Uc4.32	Solodic Soils Dy3.23, Dy5.23	Gleyed Podzolic Soils, Humic Gleys Dd4.41, Uc1.41	-
Surface texture		Sand		-
Surface consistence		Loose or soft		-
Depth (m)		>2.0		-
Nutrient status		Very low		-
Available soil water capacity		Very low		-
Perviousness to water	Very rapid	Slow	Slow	-
Drainage	Somewhat excessive	Somewhat poor	Poor	-
Exposed stone (%)	0	0	0	-
Sampled profile number	73	-	-	-
NATIVE VEGETATION Structure of vegetation and characteristic species of dominant stratum (+ Predominant species)	Mainly ferny woodland or open woodland I, II: E. globoidea (in higher rainfall areas) or E. viminalis var. racemosa with Pteridium esculentum; Banksia serrata sometimes associated Heathy open woodland I on deeper sands of upper slopes: E. nitida+, B. serrata	Grassy or shrubby open forest II: With decreasing depth to clay — E. globoidea+, E. tereticornis+, E. bridgesiana+, E. ovata+; E. polyanthemos may be associated	Mainly sedgeland: Lepyrodia muelleri+, Lepidosperma longitudinale, Schoenus brevifolius Occasionally open heath: Leptospermum juniperinum Open forest I: E. ovata+ and/or E. cephalocarpa+	No vegetation

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 increased deep percolation and leaching	Nutrient loss	1; high 2; low	Not determined	Removal of trees	Increased movement of water to groundwater
Increased exposure of surface soil	Increased wind velocity over soil and increased detachment of sand	Wind erosion	1; high 2; low	Uncommon: local occurrence on exposed sites	Clearing, cultivating, logging, burning, overgrazing, road building and other earth-moving activities, trafficking by stock and vehicles	Encroachment by sand
Increased physical pressure on soil	Increased compaction	Structure decline	1,2; low 3; low - moderate	Uncommon	Increased trafficking and cultivation, overgrazing, export of organic matter	-
Increased soil disruption	Increased loosening of sand	Wind erosion	1; high 2; low	Uncommon: local occurrence on exposed sites	As for wind erosion above	Encroachment by sand
Comments: Regeneration of vegetative cover is usually slow because of most of this land system has soils that are `droughty' and/or have low fertility

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