7. Eastern Plains (EP)
7.2 South eastern Riverine Plains
The older alluvial plains and terraces form the most extensive areas of the Gippsland Riverine Plain and were deposited during the Quaternary. Four separate terraces that can be recognised: two separate terraces comprising almost level plains above the level of the prior stream plains north of the Latrobe River extending from east of Traralgon to just east of Stratford, older and slightly higher undulating Munro plains west of Bairnsdale and remnants of the earliest terrace, mostly north of the Mitchell River. These two oldest terraces are further described under “Older Terraces and Fans” sections 7.3.1 and 7.3.2. Most of the soils on these terraces are sodic and have a strong texture contrast between the surface and subsoil (yellow or brown Sodosols). In addition to being sodic, the subsoils of the older soils are magnesic. Most of the original vegetation is now cleared for grazing, but some remnants of the former grassy woodland remain, with the main tree species being Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis) . The predominant land use is grazing. |