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Salinity Province 85, Murdeduke

Thumbnail image showing the location of Murdeduke Salinity Province in VictoriaThe Murdeduke Salinity Province is comprised mostly of basalt plains Groundwater Flow Systems of intermediate and regional scale. On the eastern side of the naturally high salinity Lake Corangamite landscape, Lake Murdeduke and associated small lakes are primary salinity features with associated groundwater of up to 10,000 mg/l salinity.

Mapped salinity occurrence is along drainage lines and depressions and the Barwon river receives saline groundwater through this province. Some evidence suggests past draining of wetlands and depressions exacerbated soil salinity rise. As the groundwater response times for lowering groundwater levels in intermediate to regional scale GFSs is slow, management effort is better targeted towards high watertable locations and groundwater discharge areas than trying to control recharge. Planting affected areas with salt and waterlogging tolerant productive and environmentally beneficial plant species, or rehabilitating wetlands like has been implemented in areas north of Winchelsea, are recommended management options..



Province Attributes

Catchment Management Region:CORANGAMITE
Priority Status:High
Province Area:81,260 ha
Recorded Soil Salinity Area 1:1,164 ha
Dominant Surface Geology Type:Sedimentary
Influence of Geological Structure on Salinity Occurrence/s:Possible
Relevant Geomorphological Mapping Units (GMUs):6.1.X, 6.2.4
Predominant Groundwater Flow Systems (GFSs):Local/Intermediate
Relevant Irrigation Areas:N/A


Murdeduke Salinity Province Map

A detailed map showing Murdeduke Salinity Province

Links to further reading and material related to the Corangamite Salinity Province

Groundwater Flow Systems (GFS) in the Corangamite CMR

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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