Stratford (Sd)

	Area: 33 sq. km (0.2%) Changes have occurred in the stability of some rivers resulting in alterations to stream form. The changes seem to have occurred since European settlement along rivers where dams, capable of flood control, do not exist upstream, and where the alluvial materials are sandy. The initiating cause is unclear. Change in stream form is most obvious along the Avon River where lateral migration and active streambank erosion have occurred and a new sandy or gravelly terrace level is being constructed. The river has acquired a considerable bedload from the eroding banks and a braided condition has developed. The terraces and braiding channels are mapped in Stratford land system.	The gravelly bed and braided channels of the Avon River near Stratford
The only ^`soils^' in Stratford land system are the sands on the terraces. Many of these have not undergone significant pedological development since deposition and are likely to be shifted by strong flows before soil development can take place. In some parts, however, the surfaces have become darker due to accumulation of organic matter. The non-terrace areas are characterised by gravel and moving water. Wind erosion may occur on the sandy soils but the presence of moisture at shallow depth tends to reduce their susceptibility. Streambank erosion is a natural feature though this mainly affects the adjacent Maffra 1, 2 or Valencia land systems. The area now supports a shrubby grassland of mixed native and exotic species.

CLIMATE Rainfall, mean (mm) Temperature, mean (°C) Seasonal growth limitations	Annual 500 - 800; lowest July (30 - 50), highest October (50 - 80) Annual 12 - 14; lowest July (8 - 10), highest February (19 - 21) Temperature <10°C (av.): June - August Rainfall < potential evapotranspiration: November – March
GEOLOGY Age, lithology	Holocene alluvium, re-worked from older deposits
PHYSIOGRAPHY Landscape Elevation range (m) Relative relief (m) Drainage pattern Drainage density (km/km²)	Braiding river channels and sandy alluvial terraces 80 0 - 5 Braided meander channel 2.5
PRESENT LAND USE	Cleared: cattle grazing; gravel and sand extraction

A study of the land in the Catchment of Gippsland Lakes - Vol 2 - land system Stratford- cs

A study of the land in the Catchment of Gippsland Lakes - Vol 2 - land system Stratford- graph

LAND COMPONENT Percentage of land system Diagnostic features	1 60 Flood-sculptured sandy terraces	2 25 Gravelly, stony point bars and interchannel areas	3 15 Braided channels, including steep river banks
PHYSIOGRAPHY Slope %, typical and (range) Slope shape	<2, (0 - 5) Mainly convex and uneven	2, (0 - 5) Mainly convex and uneven	<2, (0 - 5) steeply eroding banks Concave
SOIL
Parent material	Alluvial sand and minor gravel	Alluvial gravel	-
Description	Undifferentiated stratified sand and gravelly sand brown at the surface, greyish brown at depth	Undifferentiated gravels — no soils have formed	No soils
Classification	Alluvial Soils Uc1.23	-	-
Surface texture	Sand to loamy sand	-	-
Surface consistence	Soft when dry	-	-
Depth (m)	>2.0	-	-
Nutrient status	Very low	-	-
Available soil water capacity	Very low	-	-
Perviousness to water	Very rapid	-	-
Drainage	Excessive	-	-
Exposed stone (%)	Mostly 0	100	-
Sampled profile number	17	-	-
NATIVE VEGETATION Structure of vegetation and characteristic species of dominant stratum (+ Predominant species) (*Introduced species)	Shrubby grassland with scattered trees: Salix spp., Acacia mearnsii, Hymenanthera dentata, Rubus spp, Phragmites communis and other grasses, Cyperaceae, and Juncaceae

Disturbance	Affected process and trend	Primary resultant deterioration			Casual activities	Primary off-site process
Disturbance	Affected process and trend	Form	Susceptibility of components	Incidence with components	Casual activities	Primary off-site process
Alteration of vegetation: — reduction in leaf area, rooting depth and/or perenniality	Reduced transpiration, resulting in increased deep percolation and leaching	Nutrient loss	1; high	Not determined	Removal of trees	Increased movement of water to groundwater; increased base-flow of streams
Increased exposure of surface soil	Increased wind velocity over soil and increased detachment of sand	Wind erosion	1; moderate	Uncommon; local occurrences	Clearing, overgrazing, road building and other earth-moving activities, rabbit burrowing, trafficking by stock, humans and vehicles.	Increased deposition of windblown sand
Increased physical pressure on soil	Increased compaction	Structure decline	1; very low	Uncommon	Increased trafficking and export of organic matter	-
Increased soil disruption	Increased loosening of sand Increased soil break-up	Wind erosion Scour erosion Streambank erosion	1; moderate 1,2,3; high 3; high	Uncommon: local occurrence Common: severe and widespread Common: severe and widespread	As for sheet and rill erosion As for sheet and rill Erosion As for sheet and rill erosion	Increased deposition of windblown sand Increased sediment load in streams and sedimentation in lakes. Increased sediment load in streams and sedimentation in lakes.
Comments: Since European settlement, floods have scoured out large areas of sandy alluvium and produced a wide anastomosing channel system with steep-sided, eroding streambanks

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