The Loddon Plains Salinity Province is the largest province in the North Central CMR covering over 250,000 ha. The north and central parts of the province are predominantly irrigation areas while dryland farming dominates the south. The province is underlain by a deeper, regional scale Groundwater Flow System (GFS) in the alluvial plains, including an extensive ‘deep lead’ (paleo-river channel) aquifer system. Local to intermediate scale GFSs in Quaternary alluvial, lake and lunette sediments overlies this. The deeper aquifer system exerts upward pressure on the overlying aquifer systems and discharge has occurred at deeply incised drainage lines eg. at Bears Lagoon and Serpentine. The deep lead can provide good quality water (~1500 ppm) for irrigation in places, while the overlying aquifer often has a shallow watertable and the groundwater is typically much more saline (6000+ ppm). |
Catchment Management Region: | NORTH CENTRAL |
Priority Status: | High |
Province Area: | 252,660 ha |
Recorded Soil Salinity Area 1: | 533 ha |
Dominant Surface Geology Type: | Sedimentary |
Influence of Geological Structure on Salinity Occurrence/s: | Definite |
Relevant Geomorphological Mapping Units (GMUs): | 4.2.X, 4.1.2 |
Predominant Groundwater Flow Systems (GFSs): | Regional & Local/Intermediate |
Relevant Irrigation Areas: | Pyramid-Boort, Torrumbarry |