Salinity Province 20, Cope Cope

Thumbnail image showing the location of the Cope Cope Salinity Province in Victoria The Cope Cope Salinity Province encompasses a number of lakes developed on a broader alluvial flood plain of the Richardson River, some of which are terminal lake systems or are utilised as surface-water transfer routes.

Over 10% of the province has been mapped as having dryland salinity, which is over 5 times the statewide average and almost 20 times the median, on a per province basis. This salinity has developed in low-lying landscapes in swales and lakes associated with local to intermediate scale Groundwater Flow Systems (GFSs) or where broad shallow watertables within a regional scale GFS intersect the existing terminal ephemeral lake system. Flooding has played a key role in salinity discharge with water lying at the surface for long periods providing a hydraulic load to the shallow watertable. The lakes may have a seasonal cycle of salt concentration, dramatically increasing in salinity during summer months.

The main salinity mitigation option has been perenial pastures, although some of this has since been cropped with cereals and legumes.

Province Attributes

Catchment Management Region:	NORTH CENTRAL
Priority Status:	High
Province Area:	29,020 ha
Recorded Soil Salinity Area ¹:	2,975 ha
Dominant Surface Geology Type:	Sedimentary
Influence of Geological Structure on Salinity Occurrence/s:	Probable
Relevant Geomorphological Mapping Units (GMUs):	5.X, 4.2.X
Predominant Groundwater Flow Systems (GFSs):	Regional & Local/Intermediate
Relevant Irrigation Areas:	N/A

Cope Cope Salinity Province Map

A detailed map showing the Cope Cope Salinity Province

Links to further reading and material related to the North Central 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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