The Burkes Flat Salinity Province covers a small area of low rises and plains in the central part of the North Central CMA region. The area contains underlying local to intermediate scale Groundwater Flow Systems in deeply weathered, fractured meta-sediments of the uplands and plains. Upland groundwater processes drive the watertable level close to the surface where discharge often occurs along drainage lines and low-lying areas downslope of undulating rocky ridges. Many of the rocky ridges have been planted with tree belts to reduce recharge to the fractured rock system, although the drought years had a negative impact on tree health.
Incentives to sow perenial pasture (particularly lucerne) in the mid 2000's were successful in changing farming systems but the impact of these on groundwater levels was overshadowed by drought conditions. Landuse is currently changing to a more rotation cropping farming system..
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