Salinity Province 67, Lower Ovens Valley

Thumbnail image showing the location of the Lower Ovens Valley Salinity Province in Victoria The large Lower Ovens Valley Salinity Province covers almost 40% of the North East CMA Region, including much of the Ovens and King Riverine Plains.

The dominant Groundwater Flow Systems in these Riverine Plains are regional in scale. Two main processes drive groundwater recharge in the area; flooding of the lower terrace, and leakage from below the pastures on the upper terrace (especially those close the lower terrace boundary). Discharge in the province occurs as saline seeps on the lower terrace and in some locations at the ‘break-of-slope’ immediately above it.

Salinity management options include planting lucerne pastures on the upper terrace to reduce recharge and establishing tree belts above the ‘break-of-slope’ of the lower terrace. Establishment of salt tolerant pastures combining perennial grasses (e.g. Tall Wheatgrass or Puccinellia) and salt tolerant clovers (e.g. Strawberry Clover), should improve the productivity of the groundwater discharge areas on the lower terrace.

Province Attributes

Catchment Management Region:	NORTH EAST
Priority Status:	High
Province Area:	104,860 ha
Recorded Soil Salinity Area ¹:	557 ha
Dominant Surface Geology Type:	Sedimentary
Influence of Geological Structure on Salinity Occurrence/s:	Possible
Relevant Geomorphological Mapping Units (GMUs):	4.3, 4.X
Predominant Groundwater Flow Systems (GFSs):	Regional
Relevant Irrigation Areas:	N/A

Lower Ovens Valley Salinity Province Map

A detailed map showing Lower Ovens Valley Salinity Province

Links to further reading and material related to the North East 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.

Page top