Landholders in the Booberoi to Quandialla (B-Q) Transect area, located in central west
NSW, have been concerned about an emerging dryland salinity problem since the late
1990�s (Wooldridge 2002, pers. comm. Muller 2002, pers. comm.) with borehole
information and electromagnetic induction investigations supporting anecdotal
observations. The presence of indicator vegetation, waterlogging of soils and
salinisation of land are becoming increasingly prevalent, with two well-documented
sites including �Strathairlie� near Quandialla, and �Back Creek� near West Wyalong.
The B-Q Transect area lies within the Bland Creek Catchment, a broad open plain of
subdued topography and restricted drainage receiving sediments from elevated rises
located to the west, south and east. Significant deposits of transported alluvial materials
have in-filled the catchment to depths in excess of 160 m and have posed a particular
impediment to regional-scale mineral exploration. Stream flow across the alluvial
plains and low angle alluvial fans is intermittent with most of the flow being diverted
into groundwater storage or lost to evaporation. Rarely do streams flow into Lake
Cowal to the north.
A partial electromagnetic (EM) induction survey coupled with a long term bore and
piezometer network monitoring program have been implemented by the Department of
Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR � formerly Department of Land
and Water Conservation) Central West NSW Salt Group. These programs allow for
initial, broad-scale evaluation of the magnitude and spatial distribution of the salinity
problem but fail to pinpoint remaining sites at risk as well as the mechanisms of salt
emplacement.
As part of an approach to assist with hazard mitigation and land management, two
regolith-landform maps are being compiled using 1:20,000 scales in the Back Creek and
Quandialla areas. A third, more regional regolith-landform map at 1:50,000 scale
(Holzapfel & Moore 2003a, b & c) provides context for the more detailed mapping
areas. The new regolith-landform maps will aid in interpretation of existing geophysical
techniques, help piece together the three-dimensional characteristics of the Bland Creek
catchment, aid in the development of a shallow fluid flow and palaeotopographic model
and assist land managers in formulating land management units (LMU�s).
The three-dimensional integration of regolith-landform mapping, electromagnetic
studies, bore information and other geophysical methods is critical in determining the
interaction, distribution and movement of groundwater in the Bland Creek Catchment as
buried palaeochannels represent preferred fluid pathways. The distribution of these
palaeochannels has implications for future dryland salinity outbreaks, the remediation of
current outbreaks and mineral exploration closer to the well-known Wyalong Goldfield
(Lawrie et al., 1999).
The western quarter of the B-Q Transect area partially overlaps with the recently
completed GILMORE Project (Lawrie et al., 2003a,b & c), a multi-disciplinary study,
coordinated by Geoscience Australia (GA) and the Bureau of Rural Sciences (BRS).
Regolith-landform information in addition to gamma-ray spectrometry, magnetics,
airborne electromagnetics and a digital elevation model acquired by the GILMORE
Project have been incorporated into regolith-landform maps over the B-Q Transect. The
incorporation of these datasets has helped not only extend the usefulness of the
GILMORE Project data but provide a consistent, regolith-landform coverage for the
broader Bland Creek Catchment.
Regolith-landform mapping has been successful in highlighting major recharge zones
for local and intermediate flow systems. The mechanisms for dryland salinity at two
well-known sites have also been determined. Increasing salt stores are occurring
through evaporation of intermittent floodwaters sourced from floodplains, back plains
and broad meandering existing creek systems and recharging partially exposed
palaeochannels intersecting the surface. Due to the shallow nature of these partially
exposed palaeochannels, evaporation further concentrates the salt load in the soil
profile. It is unknown if mapped shallow palaeochannels further away from current
drainage systems are affected by rising salt loads.
Regolith-landform mapping highlights two additional risk factors common to the
1:50,000 and 1:20,000 scale B-Q Transect mapping areas including widespread
waterlogging of soils and wind erosion. Due to the subdued topography, features such
as gilgai, fences and roads are having an effect on drainage modification. Wind erosion
was also observed to play a major role within the B-Q Transect with significant loss of
topsoil creating hardened clay surfaces resistant to water infiltration and significant
redistributed deposits of aeolian materials.
Interpretation of regolith-landform mapping against geophysical datasets and drill hole
data show considerable lateral and vertical variation of regolith units. This variation of
regolith distribution with depth does not reduce the effectiveness of using regolithlandform
mapping as a valued management tool. The subdued relief coupled with the
complex interplay between recharge zones, discharge zones and surficial drainage
networks over the B-Q Transect still requires a detailed knowledge of surface regolithlandform
characteristics whilst reinforcing the need for a multidisciplinary approach to
gain a 3D perspective.
Catchment analysis has been performed on drainage systems within the Bland Creek
Catchment and has helped explain the strong effect different catchments have had on
sediment supply to the Bland Basin. Catchment analysis results have been used in basic
calculations of salt loads in the Bland Creek Catchment. An estimated 18,780 Tonnes/yr
of salt enter the Bland Creek catchment and as stream flow out of the Bland Creek
Catchment is intermittent, salt stores are increasing in the upper margins of the soil
profile and groundwater reserves.
Reconstruction of the palaeotopography of the B-Q Transect has been made possible
using a mutli-disciplinary approach incorporating information from regolith-landform
mapping, drill hole information, gamma-ray spectrometry and GILMORE Project
datasets. The production of large-scale regolith-landform mapping, the development of
a shallow fluid flow model and reconstruction of palaeotopography builds on and
contributes to knowledge of the Bland Creek Catchment allowing for detailed farmscale
and paddock-scale land management decisions.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/218735 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Creators | Holzapfel, Michael, n/a |
| Publisher | University of Canberra. Resource, Environmental & Heritage Sciences |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Rights | ), Copyright Michael Holzapfel |
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