Soil/Landform Unit - Ullswater plains and rises

WLRA Landform Ullswater plains and rises

Landscapes with swamps, sand plains, gentle rises and clay plains near Karnak

Area: 60 933 ha

2.60% of CMA region

Rises (ridges), plains and depressions (lakes and

) that occur north-east of Edenhope and also south of Natimuk form part of the ridge/depression complex of the North West Dunefields and Plains. This low ridge and depression (with lakes and lunettes) complex of

Cainozoic

aeolian and lacustrine sediments is part of a NNW/SSE orientated terrain surrounded by sand plains and associated rises/ridges (Kowree) and other ridge /depression units to the north (Goroke). Plains and ridges are found along with swamps/playas/lakes and lunettes, and sandsheet/plain. Drainage is strongly aligned to the terrain with little surface expression apart from local depressions. Soil types include brown and yellow grey sodic texture contrast soils (

Sodosols

) with grey and brown cracking clay soils (

Vertosols

) on plains and in local depressions. Sandy soils or soils with a deep sandy surface occur on the crests and lunettes. Sheet and rill erosion is possible for slopes in this unit. Soil

compaction

may be an issue on heavier soils. This unit is used for dryland cropping and grazing (sheep, beef cattle). Vegetation communities such as Red Gum Wetland, Plains Woodland, Shallow Sands Woodland and Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland are some of the more expansive remnant vegetation types.

String of West Wimmera lakes and swamp surrounded by plains and stranded beach ridges rises
	Lakes within the Ullswater plains

Component	1	2	3	4	5
Proportion of soil-landform unit	15%	30%	35%	7%	13%
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 555
CLIMATE Rainfall (mm)	Annual: 555
Temperature (^oC)	Minimum 8, Maximum 21
Precipitation less than potential evapotranspiration	October–April
GEOLOGY Age and lithology	Quaternary paludal silt and clay; Quaternary aeolian dune sand (Lowan Sand)
GEOLOGY Age and lithology
Geomorphology	5.5.2 Low ridges and oriented swales of the North West Dunefields and Plains
LANDUSE	Uncleared areas: nature conservation Cleared areas: dryland cropping; sheep and beef cattle grazing
LANDUSE
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Plains and rises
TOPOGRAPHY Landscape	Plains and rises
Elevation range (m)	128–202
Local relief (m)	2–3
Drainage pattern	Dendritic
Drainage density (km/km²)	0.6
Landform	Gently undulating plains
Landform element	Playa/water holding body (common alignment NNW-SSE with multiple in row - often 3)	Level plain	Ridge	Lunette	Sandsheet
Slope and range (%)	0 (0-1)	1 (0-3)	3 (1-6)	4 (1-6)	2 (1-4)
Slope shape	Concave	Straight	Convex	Convex	Linear
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class	Plains Woodland (44.8%), Red Gum Wetland (14.6%), Shallow Sands Woodland (7.0%), Water Body – Fresh (7.0%), Other (25.8%)
NATIVE VEGETATION Ecological Vegetation Class
SOIL Parent material	Paludal silt and clay	Maine sand and silt, paludal silt and clay	Maine sand and silt	Aeolian sand	Aeolian sand
SOIL Parent material	Paludal silt and clay	Maine sand and silt, paludal silt and clay	Maine sand and silt	Aeolian sand	Aeolian sand
Description (Corangamite Soil Group)	Seasonally wet soils: sodic yellow and grey texture contrast soils (33)	Grey and brown cracking clay soils (37) and sodic brown, yellow and grey texture contrast soils (38)	Sodic red texture contrast soils (39)	Sodic brown, yellow and grey texture contrast soils (38) and sandy soils with and without pans (31)	Sodic brown, yellow and grey texture contrast soils (38)
Soil type sites	NA171, NA141, NA178	LS3, LSWW9, LSWW5	NA174	LSWW11, LSWW17, WLRA74	LSWW11, LSWW17, LSWW13
Surface texture	Sandy clay	Loamy sand to medium clay	Sandy loam	Loamy sand	Loamy sand
Permeability	Very slow	Slow	Moderate	Moderate to high	Moderate
Depth (m)	> 2	> 2	< 2	> 1.5	> 2
LAND CHARACTERISTICS, POTENTIAL AND LIMITATIONS Critical land features, processes, forms	Susceptible to seasonal inundation, waterlogging and ultimately soil salinity.	Susceptible to inundation and waterlogging in lower areas. Slightly susceptible to surface sheet erosion where soils are exposed and sandy. Clayey surface soils are friable and only slightly susceptible to wind erosion. Soils susceptible to compaction at critical moisture contents.	Hardsetting upper soil susceptible to sheet and rill erosion along with wind erosion when exposed. Dispersive and deep subsoils susceptible to gully erosion on steeper slopes. Susceptible to compaction depending on soil depth and moisture content.	Susceptible to wind and sheet erosion where surfaces with little organic matter are exposed. Susceptible to compaction where hardsetting and restricted drainage. Upper soil is susceptible to acidification.	Susceptible to wind and sheet erosion where surfaces with little organic matter are exposed. Susceptible to compaction where hardsetting and restricted drainage. Upper soil is susceptible to acidification.

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