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Salinity Province 99, Pyrenees

Thumbnail image showing the location of the Pyrenees Province in VictoriaThe Pyrenees Salinity Province occurs along the eastern slopes of the rocky catchment divide between the North Central and Wimmera catchments. It contains a number of discreet creeks flowing east from this divide, forming deep valleys that incise these slopes then continuing across the flatter alluvial plains in the east of the province. Moonambel, Redbank, Carapooee and Steward Mill are the important locations within the province, each of which has similar groundwater processes. Rocky ridges with "saw tooth" rock exposure in fractured and weathered Palaeozoic rocks provide high recharge zones. Most dryland salinity is associated with local scale Groundwater Flow Systems (GFSs) in alluvial sediments and is expressed along the drainage lines that cross the plains. Further salinity occurs at the ‘break-of-slope’ of the rocky hills and valleys on associated local to intermediate scale GFSs.

Two distinct periods of deforestation occurred, pioneer settlement and again for charcoal production during WW1. Salinity first appeared in the 1970s and groundwater monitoring began in the early 1980s.

Some interception tree planting and perennial pasture planting has been undertaken with varying degrees of success. Extensive infestations of ‘Spiny Rush’ occur in low-lying areas with high, saline watertables.



Province Attributes

Catchment Management Region:NORTH CENTRAL
Priority Status:High
Province Area:37,060 ha
Recorded Soil Salinity Area 1:1,015 ha
Dominant Surface Geology Type:Sedimentary
Influence of Geological Structure on Salinity Occurrence/s:Probable
Relevant Geomorphological Mapping Units (GMUs):2.1.X
Predominant Groundwater Flow Systems (GFSs):Local & Local/Intermediate
Relevant Irrigation Areas:N/A


Pyrenees Salinity Province Map

A detailed map showing the Pyrenees Salinity Province


Links to further reading and material related to the North Central 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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