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Salinity Province 27, Douglas Depression

Thumbnail image showing the location of the Douglas Depression Salinity Province in VictoriaThe Douglas Depression Salinity Province forms an extensive, low-lying valley that slopes to the north and has been postulated as the former path of the Glenelg River. Landuse is a combination of dryland grazing and cropping with significant areas of native vegetation. About 5% of the province is mapped as saline, which is significantly above the statewide (per province) average.

The province is underlain by a regional scale Groundwater Flow System (GFS) of marine and alluvial sediments overlain by local to intermediate scale aeolian, alluvial and paludal GFSs. A chain of lakes that stretches 70 km north south dominates the province and 11 of these wetlands are listed as important for migratory birds. Some of the lakes were primary saline discharge zones however, following the clearance of the original vegetation, wetter climatic periods saw watertables rise and appear under the remaining freshwater lakes and other low-lying areas, all of which are now effected by secondary salinity.

Best management practices include avoiding the disturbance of known waterlogged and saline sodic soil areas and protecting them from damage. Farming should concentrate effort on adjacent up-slope soils to increase perennial pastures and native re-vegetation to reduce recharge during wet periods.



Province Attributes

Catchment Management Region:WIMMERA
Priority Status:High
Province Area:160,050 ha
Recorded Soil Salinity Area 1:7,920 ha
Dominant Surface Geology Type:Sedimentary
Influence of Geological Structure on Salinity Occurrence/s:None
Relevant Geomorphological Mapping Units (GMUs):5.5.2, 5.X
Predominant Groundwater Flow Systems (GFSs):Regional & Local/Intermediate
Relevant Irrigation Areas:N/A


Douglas Depression Salinity Province Map

A detailed map showing the Douglas DepressionSalinity 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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