The Ballarat Hills Salinity Province covers an area of about 68,000 ha of the Victorian Central Highlands. Dryland salinity occurrence is almost all associated with the intermediate and regional Groundwater Flow Systems (GFSs) of the region’s volcanic rocks.
Mapped salinity occurrence is mostly found in drainage lines, former swamps and broad depressions in the basalt plains parts of the landscape. Due to the slow response of groundwater levels in intermediate to regional scale GFSs, management effort is better targeted towards treating high watertable locations and groundwater discharge areas.
Seasonal filling of depressions allows fresh water to replace saline groundwater in the profile, and some evidence suggests past draining of wetlands and depressions exacerbated soil salinity rise. Planting affected areas with salt and waterlogging tolerant productive and environmentally beneficial plant species or rehabilitating wetlands, as has been implemented in areas such as Smythes Creek, are suitable salinity control options.
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