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Salinity Province 92, Ouyen

Most of the dune-scape Ouyen Salinity Province has been cleared for cropping, leaving nearly all of the numerous groundwater discharge depressions in amongst farmland. Underlain by a regional scale Groundwater Flow System (GFS) comprising marine and alluvial origin sediments, faults are likely to feed groundwater up to many of these groundwater depressions. Salinity occurrence is predominantly primary salinity, but local scale GFSs associated with the dunes have led to some secondary salinity occurrence and expansion of primary salinity features. As much of the salinity found in this province is primary, management activities are limited to trying to reduce recharge through cropping area soils to reduce secondary salinity processes. Farming activities and disturbance to saline areas should be minimised to prevent soil erosion and to allow suitable re-vegetation.

Province Attributes

Catchment Management Region:	MALLEE
Priority Status:	High
Province Area:	158,780 ha
Recorded Soil Salinity Area 1:	3,596 ha
Dominant Surface Geology Type:	Sedimentary
Influence of Geological Structure on Salinity Occurrence/s:	Definite
Relevant Geomorphological Mapping Units (GMUs):	5.1.2, 5.X
Predominant Groundwater Flow Systems (GFSs):	Local & Regional
Relevant Irrigation Areas:	N/A

Ouyen Salinity Province Map




Links to further reading and material related to the Mallee 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.