Salinity Province 77, Moffat

The small Moffat Salinity Province is characterised by its local to intermediate scale Groundwater Flow Systems formed by the deeply weathered granitic parent material beneath the landscape. Groundwater flows slowly through the underlying fractured rocks and the overlying regolith layer from higher elevation recharge areas to valley floors and drainage lines, where discharge as springs or under diffuse discharge areas has resulted in waterlogging and soil salinisation, especially where groundwater salinities are high. Increased recharge following land clearance exacerbated discharge processes in low-lying parts of the landscape, but bore monitoring data shows levels declined during the 1999 - 2009 drought years. While this reduced the areas of discharge and its severity, significant soil erosion linked to soil sodicity has occurred along some drainage lines.

Management effort in farming areas should go into reducing recharge by increasing overall plant water use, and the protection of salinised drainage lines and discharge areas, as has already occurred along many drainage lines in the province.