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Salinity Province 32, Elmhurst

Thumbnail image showing the location of the Elmhurst Salinity Province in VictoriaThe relatively small Elmhurst Salinity Province is part of the headwaters of the Wimmera catchment and lies on the border of the Avoca catchment on the southwestern slopes of the Pyrenees Range. It has a regional to intermediate scale Groundwater Flow System (GFS) in the alluvial plains and local to intermediate scale GFSs in the fractured Palaeozoic rocks. A number of small salinity discharge sites are scattered within the upland alluvial plains, mainly adjacent to and along drainage lines. The discharge sites are mainly located in poorly drained low-lying areas, which are subject to intermittent flooding.

Little salinity mitigation work has been undertaken although some native revegetation has occurred along creek lines. Farming should aim to increase perennial pastures in adjacent up-slope soils and re-introduce native vegetation areas where possible to reduce recharge during wet periods.



Province Attributes

Catchment Management Region:WIMMERA
Priority Status:High
Province Area:69,530 ha
Recorded Soil Salinity Area 1:137 ha
Dominant Surface Geology Type:Sedimentary
Influence of Geological Structure on Salinity Occurrence/s:None
Relevant Geomorphological Mapping Units (GMUs):2.1.X
Predominant Groundwater Flow Systems (GFSs):Local/Intermediate & Intermediate/Regional
Relevant Irrigation Areas:N/A


Elmhurst Salinity Province Map

A detailed map showing the Elmhurst Salinity Province

Links to further reading and material related to the Wimmera Salinity Province
For further information relating to groundwater levels and salinities in this Province please see: Visualising Victoria's Groundwater (VVG)



1 Please Note: The ‘Recorded Soil Salinity Area’ indicated in the Salinity Province Attribute Table, comprises the total geographic area that has been mapped as having, or showing symptoms of, dryland soil salinity at some time (past or present). As dryland salinity occurrence in the Victorian landscape exhibits many different levels of severity and can change due to climate, landuse and vegetation, previously mapped areas may no longer be showing symptoms. In addition, as not all parts of the State have been mapped, or mapped in the same way, the mapping may not have captured some occurrences.

The soil salinity mapping used to calculate this ‘area’ does not cover irrigation regions. In irrigation regions, depth to watertable and watertable salinity mapping has been used to convey the threat of high watertables on soil waterlogging and/or soil salinisation and these areas are not included in this ‘area‘ calculation.

Please contact the Department, your Catchment Management Authority or your rural water provider for more information about salinity in your location.
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