Land Systems

condition. For land systems with few land systems observations « 20), the scores may not be representative; for example, often only the lower, A final classification of 74 land systems is described more accessible parts of hill systems were here, to comprise the entire land surface of the survey traversed or sampled by sites. area. Thirty of the land systems are described for the first time; the remaining 44 have been described • A locality map indicating distribution of the previously in adjacent areas. Those systems system throughout the region and the map previously described are indicated by a letter (the sheet(s) on which it occurs. report name) following the name in the general • A listing of the component land units normally description and are as follows: comprising the system numbered in sequence (W) Wiluna-Meekatharra survey (Mabbutt et al. from the highest to the lowest units. 1963) to the east: 25 land systems in common. • A perspective diagram or plan view depicting (G) - Gascoyne catchment survey (Wilcox and the physical features of the system. McKinnon 1972) to the north: 16 systems. The tabulated descriptions of the land units (CB) - Carnarvon Basin survey (Payne et al. 1987) to summarise the biophysical component patterns and the west: 3 systems. their normal variation. An approximate gUide to the proportion of each unit within the system is given, In all cases, the descriptions focus on the best based on interpretation of aerial photo information available information on regional patterns in and field observation. The units are described under vegetation composition, geological formations (some three category headings. changes in their classification or estimated antiquity in accordance with more up-to-date findings) or in the Landform and soils: the salient features of the unit's proportions of the component land units actually landform - its type, usual dimensions, slopes, relief, encountered in the survey area. surface features and relationship with other units or A summary description of each system's major systems. The nature of the soil profile and its normal features precedes the more detailed accounts of the range of variation is summarised in terms of surface units that comprise each system. The format and colour, surface features and texture, basic profile conventions used for the summary descriptions are as textures, surface pH and soil reaction trend through follows. the profile, depth and underlying material.

• Land system name (and reference to past Vegetation, formations and major species: a reports), area and the percentage of the survey measure of the areal cover (projected foliar cover) area. comprised by the whole (woody) perennial plant • The land type as mapped on the accompanying community, the predominant formation type (tall 1:250,000 map series. shrubland, low woodland, tussock grassland, etc.) encountered, followed by the species which • Pastoral potential (in good condition) on a predominate in the total perennial cover of individual regional scale of relativities. sites. Species listed are those found to be most • A brief encapsulation of the system's abundant and I or widespread on the unit. Where predominant landform(s) and vegetation sufficiently distinctive, rather than variants on a features. theme, two or more different associations commonly encountered are described separately under (a), (b), • The major geological formations or land surface etc. types, listed according to stratigraphic development. Comments and condition indicators: the • An indication of the system's pastoral value and predominant regional vegetation type(s) to which the limitations on a regional scale of relativities; particular association(s) can be ascribed are indicated. particular reference is made to the productive This is generally followed by a short list of key potential of the system under continuous palatable perennial species which confer seasonal grazing, susceptibility to erosion and special resilience under grazing usage. These species can considerations or management requirements. generally be used as indicators, being those with vulnerable populations which successful management • Estimated over summer (November-April) of the land unit will benefit. Under unresponsive carrying capacity assuming good range management these species tend to decrease and condition and a preceding effective winter eventually disappear (from vegetation in poor season, expressed as hal dry sheep equivalent condition). A second short list of increaser (dse). (unpalatable) species, to which the converse applies in • A statement of the observed condition of the soil pastoral management, indicates species which may surfaces and perennial vegetation of the land tend to predominate on degraded sites of the system. This is expressed as; (a) the percentage particular land unit. Pastoral use limitations are those of active erosion scores according to severity; (b) major factors of risk of degradation, or constraints the percentage of vegetation assessments otherwise limiting usefulness of the land for livestock, according to standard criteria for vegetation which need to be constantly borne in mind.

48 Finally, where observations are sufficient, a present report is more restricted than that originally summary of soil and vegetation condition (derived described, to reflect the conclusion that most of the from survey traverse records) is presented for the original upper units 1, :1 and 3 are more accurately individual unit; VG / G ~ very good / good, F ~ fair, P / mapped and described as parts of adjacent non­ VP ~ poor / very poor, for definitions see under' survey saline wash systems, e.g. Yanganoo or Belele. Some methods'. large areas previously mapped as Belele I.s. show such poor and intermittent development of wanderrie banks that they have been re-mapped as Development of land system definition on the Belele Yanganoo I.s. Areas previously mapped as map sheet Trennaman I.s. are more consistent with Jundee I.s. Examination of the Belele map sheet as re-mapped on the ground and have been redesignated by the present survey reveals a number of features accordingly, so Trennaman I.s. has been deleted which differ from those shown by the CSIRO map of from the Belele sheet. Mabbutt et al. (1963). 3. Lower areas of the original delineation of Mindura While the overall identification and distribution of I.s. are indistinguishable from Koonmarra and have particular land systems is predominantly similar, there been re-mapped accordingly. are several general points to note on the new map. 4. There has been improved definition of Wiluna I.s. 1. Spatial discrimination and delineations between and more consistent discrimination from Violet l.s. adjacent system polygons are more accurate (less and adjacent low' greenstone' hills which lack the 'rounding' error). distinctive remnants of Old Plateau surfaces. Such hills are re-mapped as Gabanintha I.s., which now 2. The relative positions of wash systems, tributary includes most Yagahong I.s. and the Edenhope I.s. and river drainage systems now reflect the reality of in its entirety (where it has not been otherwise an ordered sequence in the landscape. For example, redesignated on the sheet). Beringarra l.s. never lies above adjacent Ero l.s., nor is it encountered surrounding 'islands' of non­ saline wash plains, e.g. Yandill.s. Yandil is not Land system summary found occupying the lower, concentrated drainage plains off broad wash systems such as Yanganoo. Table 13 indicates the area of each land system and Such areas of concentrated drainage are invariably the intensity of sampling on each system in the survey more or less saline, with some development of area. Summary data on the condition status of each duplex soils and are more accurately mapped as system is presented in the 'Condition of the land Ero. Ero I.s. as mapped and defined within the resource' section of this report (Tables 61 and 62).

Table 13. Land system areas and sampling intensity

Area Per cent of No. of No. of Traverse sampling intensity Land system (km~ total area inventory condition sites No. of ratings Density Sq km per sites index rating

Agamemnon 423 0.49 1 0 6 0.09 71 Augustus 83 0.10 0 0 Not traversed 0.00 0 Austin 155 0.18 14 5 57 2.32 3 Badgeradda 124 0.14 4 1 16 0.81 8 Bayou 491 0.57 17 12 177 2.27 3 Beasley 138 0.16 1 0 8 0.37 17 Belele 4,701 5.47 9 73 773 1.04 6 Beringarra 2,629 3.06 32 68 626 1.50 4 Bidgemia 221 0.26 4 3 25 0.71 9 Boulder 832 0.97 11 20 146 1.11 6 Breberle 115 0.13 3 0 27 1.48 4 Bullimore 67 0.08 3 3 21 1.98 3 Bunny 485 0.56 8 6 108 1.40 4 Byro 497 0.58 12 10 94 1.19 5 Carnegie 1,281 1.49 22 5 107 0.53 12 Challenge 5,159 6.01 21 80 834 1.02 6 Channel 94 0.11 1 0 12 0.80 8 Cole 1,196 1.39 2 13 151 0.80 8 CoolabuUa 50 0.06 3 1 12 1.51 4 Cunyu 1,083 1.26 26 14 234 1.36 5 Ero 1,589 1.85 25 39 518 2.06 3 Eurardy 195 0.23 2 0 17 0.55 11 Farmer 81 0.09 3 0 19 1.48 4 Flood 439 0.51 3 11 60 0.86 7 Frederick 36 0.04 0 0 3 0.53 12 Gabanintha 962 1.12 11 9 133 0.87 7 Holmwood 355 0.41 5 3 27 0.48 13 Horseshoe 204 0.24 5 1 30 0.93 7 Jimba 36 0.04 0 0 Not traversed 0.00 0

49 Table 13-continued

Area Per cent of No. of No. of Traverse sampling intensity Land system total area inventory Sq km per (km~ condition sites No. of ratings Density sites index rating

Jundee 1,346 1.57 13 32 328 1.54 4 Kalil 6,097 7.10 23 70 704 0.73 9 Koonmarra 5,335 6.21 17 91 696 0.82 8 Liver 752 0.88 8 9 91 0.76 8 Mantle 155 0.18 4 0 6 0.24 26 Merbla 76 0.09 4 3 19 1.58 4 Mileura 1,007 1.17 37 35 301 1.88 3 Millex 500 0.58 19 7 87 1.10 6 Millrose 535 0.62 7 7 95 1.12 6 Mindura 3,661 4.26 16 31 322 0.55 11 Mongolia 456 0.53 6 8 72 0.99 6 Moogooloo 20 0.02 0 0 Not traversed 0.00 0 Naluthanna 26 0.03 3 0 10 2.43 3 Narryer 2,510 2.92 16 39 300 0.75 8 Nerramyne 848 0.99 12 10 146 1.09 6 Nerren 110 0.13 3 0 Not traversed 0.00 0 Norie 1,321 1.54 11 4 71 0.34 19 Outcamp 44 0.05 2 3 12 1.72 4 Peak Hill 503 0.59 1 0 2 0.03 252 Pells 4 < 0.01 0 0 Not traversed 0.00 0 Roderick 407 0.47 8 6 74 1.15 6 Sandi man 347 0.40 5 4 33 0.60 11 Sandplain 2,884 3.36 7 16 209 0.46 14 Sherwood 4,839 5.63 38 64 762 0.99 6 Siberia 43 0.05 3 0 19 2.79 2 Thomas 458 0.53 6 2 31 0.43 15 Tindalarra 3,091 3.60 17 64 741 1.51 4 Trillbar 131 0.15 10 3 56 2.70 2 Violet 1,078 1.26 15 23 260 1.52 4 Waguin 748 0.87 6 6 102 0.86 7 Weenyung 153 0.18 3 4 33 1,36 5 Weld 350 0.41 7 0 59 1.06 6 Wiluna 1,294 1.51 15 15 253 1.23 5 Wolarry 368 0.43 9 7 78 1.34 5 Wongong 317 0.37 3 11 62 1.23 5 Woodline 2,932 3.41 10 44 542 1.17 5 Woodrarrung 371 0.43 6 0 15 0.25 25 Wooleen 55 0.06 2 0 11 1.26 5 Wooramel 56 0.07 0 0 Not traversed 0.00 0 Yagahong 141 0.16 3 0 8 0.36 18 Yalbalgo 127 0.15 2 0 16 0.79 8 Yandil 3,402 3.96 16 60 610 1.13 6 Yanganoo 12,433 14.48 18 217 1,976 1.00 6 Yarrameedie 519 0.60 7 9 98 1.19 5 Yewin 316 0.37 13 8 70 1.40 5

Total 85,887* 100.00 679 1,289 13,621 1.00 6

• Does not include some vacant Crown land which occurs in the survey area . + Sampling density index: measure of sampling intensity relative to the mean (1.0) of the survey area.

References Mabbutt, J.A, Litchfield, W.H., Speck, N.H., Sofoulis, J., Wilcox, D.G., Arnold, J.M. and Wright, R.L. (1963). General report on lands of the Wiluna-Meekatharra area, Western Australia 1958. CSIRO Land Research Series No.7. Payne, AL., Curry, P.J. and Spencer, G.P. (1987). An inventory and condition survey of rangelands in the Carnarvon Basin, Western AustraJia. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Technical Bulletin No. 73. Wilcox, D.G. and McKinnon, E.A (undated, circa 1972). A report on the condition of the Cascoyne catchment. Department of Agriculture, Western Australia.

50 Land type 1. Rough hills with acacia shrublands; greenstone Land type 1. Rough hills with acacia shrublands; granite ranges of the Weld land system, Glen station. domes, Norie land system, Jingemarra station.

Land type 2. Hills and plains with mulga, snakewood - halophyte shrublands: Sandiman land system, Innouendy station.

Land type 3. Low hills and quartz strewn plains with mulga Land type 4. Breakaways, stony plains and sandy surfaced shrublands: Mindura land system, Beringarra station. plains on granite with mulga and halophytic shrublands: Challenge land system in very good condition, Meka station.

51 Land type 5. Plains with mulga-snakewood-halophyte Land type 6. Stony plains and rises with patchy shrublands: shrublands: Byro land system, Curbur station. Boulder land system, Curbur station .

Land type 7. Irregular plains on laterite and parent rock, with mulga, bowgada and halophyt ic shrublands: Waguin land system , Jin gemarra station.

Land type 8. Sali ne stony plains with halophytic shrublands: Land type 9. Sand plains with acacia - mal lee shrublands and Austin land system, Austin Downs station. hard spini!ex: Bu llimore land system, Wondinong station.

52 Land type 10. Sand plains with grassy shrublands: Kalli land Land type 11. Sandplains with acacia - mallee shrublands: system, Woolgorong station. Eurardy land system, Bullardoo station.

Land type 12. Sandplains and drainage floors with grassy and halophytic shrublands: Liver land system, Curbur station.

Land type 13. Wash plains and sandy banks on hardpan, with Land type 14. Wash plains on hardpan with mulga shrublands: wanderrie and mulga shrublands: Yanganoo land system, Woodline land system, Wynyangoo station. Coodardy station.

53 Land type 15, Calcreted river plains with grassy shrublands: Land type 16, River plains with bluebush, saltbush and other Cunyu land system, Nalian station, shrublands: Roderick land system, Twin Peaks station,

Land type 17, Alluvial plains and salt lakes with halophytic shrublands: Carnegie land system, Yarraquin station,

Land type 18, Clay plains with bluebush and saltbush Land type 19, Lake beds with halophytic shrublands and shrublands and grasslands: Merbla land system, Wondinong grasslands: Wooleen land system, Wooleen station, station .

54 Agamemnon land system (0) 423 km2 (0.49% of survey area) Land type: 1; Pastoral potential: very low. Rugged hills with peaks and ridges above extensive stony slopes supporting scattered tall shrub lands of mulga and other Acacia spp. Geology: Proterozoic gneiss, schist, and quartzite mainly of the Morrissey metamorphic suite. Geomorphology: Erosional surfaces, mainly low rough hills, with gneissic outcrops, peaks and ridges to 60 m, with pebble strewn footslopes draining across short flats with duplex soils into channelled tributaries with sandy bedloads. Vegetation and pastoral use: Mainly unproductive Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland with large areas poorly accessible to stock; the lower units 3 and 4 are more productive and accessible but are susceptible to degradation and water erosion through overgrazing; units 1 and 2 are not prone to erosion owing to protective mantles. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 30 ha I dse. Range condition summary (6 traverse observations): Insufficient data are available, but general condition can be expected to be similar to that in adjacent areas of the Gascoyne catchment, where Wilcox and McKinnon (1972) reported the higher major units to be in mainly good condition but the small lower units (3 and 4) were often degraded and eroded.

40, 80 , 120 KILOMETRES ,------,------

.F' ,II- ...... -. < • GLENBURGH ROBINSON RANGE P . , ,.' • BYRD I BELELE Meekatharra 0 Murchison • 0

oCue

Unit: 1. Peaks, outcrops and ridges. ~t Magnet 2. Rounded summits and stony slopes. 3. Drainage flats. 4. N arrow drainage floors and channels.

56 Agamemnon I.s. (adapted from Payne et al. 1987)

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Peaks, outcrops and ridges (35%)

Rocky hills to 75 m with strike ridges of schist and quartzite with Partly unvegetated, isolated low shrubs mainly Pasture type: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland. occasional gneissic outcrops; locally heavily strewn with Eremophila exilifo/ia and E. freelingii. Pastoral use limitations: Mainly inaccessible to stock. boulders. Soils are limited to isolated pockets of lithosols.

Unit 2: Rounded summits and stony slopes (50%) 1 site inventory and traversed

Rounded hilltops and concave slopes, with grades to 10% relief Very scattered (PFC < 10%) shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland. up to 40 m, lightly to moderately strewn with quartzite pebbles. Acacia aneura, A. xiphophylla or Eremophila spp. Trees or tall Palatable perennials include: Maireana spp., Ptilotus obovatus, Soils are shallow dark red fine sandy loams, pH 6.5 with a shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, A. xiphophylla, A. victoriae, Scaevola spinescens. neutral trend. Principal profile form: Uc1.43. A. tetragonophylla. Eremophila freeHngii, E. macmillaniana, Pastoral use limitations: Local inaccessibility to stock. Solanum lasiophyllum, Scaevola spinescens, Rhagodia sp. Perennial grass: Cymbopogon ambiguus.

Unit 3: Drainage flats (5%) Traversed

Very restricted alluvial fans and drainage plains, slopes up to Scattered (PFC 10-20%) shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Mulga Chenopod Shrubland. 4%. Soils are dark red duplex types, loamy sands or sandy Acacia aneura or A. victoriae and Frankenia spp. on saline Palatable perennials include: Frankenia spp., Maireana spp. loams grading to sandy clay loams and sandy clays, > 1 m sites. Pastoral use limitations: Moderate susceptibility to water erosion deep, pH 6.5-7.5. Principal profile form: Dr4.12. if perennial vegetation is degraded. en Unit4: Narrow drainage floors and channels (10%) Traversed " Drainage zones of moderate intensity, radially dendritic around Moderately close (PFC 20-50%) to close tall shrublands Vegetation type: Creekline Grassy Shrubland. isolated ridges, trellised or rectangular elsewhere. Soils are dark dominated by Acacia aneura, A. tetragonophylla and patchy Palatable perennials include: Chrysopogon fallax, red duplex (as unit 3) bordering the channels while the bed loads perennial grasses. Trees and tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, Ptilotus obovatus, Scaevola spinescens. are of sands, pebbles and cobbles. A. tetragonophylla, A. kempeana, A. victoriae, Hakea suberea. Pastoral use limitations: Slight susceptibility to erosion when Low shrubs « 2 m): Cassia helmsii, Corchorus walcottH, degraded. Abutilon spp., Ptilotus obovatus, Rhagodia eremaea. Perennial grass: Chrysopogon fa/lax. Augustus land system (G) 83 km2 (0.10% of survey area) Land type: 1; Pastoral potential: very low. Rugged ranges of hills, ridges and plateaux with skeletal soils supporting tall acacia shrub lands. Geology: Middle to late Proterozoic metamorphosed sandstone, quartzite, dolerite, shale or conglomerates of the Bangemall and Mt James formations. Geomorphology: Ranges and hills with steep escarpments and upper slopes; erosional surfaces: restricted lower slopes, valley plains and narrow drainage floors; dendritic and rectangular drainage patterns of moderate density; relief mainly 100 to 200 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: The sparsely vegetated uplands of unit 1 are largely inaccessible to domestic stock; mainly Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland with many annual species; the lower units are more accessible but lack drought reserves owing to a paucity of perennial forage species. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 30 ha / dse. Range condition summary: Not traversed, of very minor occurrence within the survey area, presumably in fair to good condition owing to inaccessibility.

40, 80 , 120, KILOMETRES -- - - - ,------GlENBUAGH..

0 Meekatharra Murchison 0

aCue

Mt Magnet Unit: l. Summits, ridges and rocky uplands. 0 2. Lower footslopes. 3. Stony undulations and interfluves. 4. Drainage floors. 5. Channels and creeks.

1Km

58 -,

Augustus I.s. (adapted from Payne et al. 1987)

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Summits, ridges and rocky uplands (65%) Rugged sandstone summits and hilltops of up to 300 m relief. Very scattered to scattered (PFC < 20%) tall shrublands Vegetation type: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland. Soils are confined to isolated pockets of lithosols. dominated by Acacia aneura or A. grasbyi. Low shrubs include Pastoral use limitations: Limited accessibility to stock, low Cassia spp., pti/otus spp. and Eremophila spp. productivity and lack of drought durability.

Unit 2: Lower footslopes (20%)

Concave slopes up to 5% with boulder outcrops and locally Very scattered (PFC < 10%) tall shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Rocky Hill Mixed Shfubland. abundant mantles of loose rocks. Soils are lithosols. Acacia aneura. Low shrubs: Eremophi/a freelingH, Solanum spp. Pastoral use limitations: Grazing productivity mainly from annuals only.

Unit 3: Stony undulations and interfluves (10%) Undulating rocky surfaces, slopes up to 4%, with locally Very scattered (PFC < 10%) tall shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland. abundant mantles of Gobbles and pebbles; marginal dissections Acacia spp., denser in the dissections receiving run-on. Sparse perennials augmented by annual grasses and forbs in are mostly narrow. Soils are shallow red loams over parent rock favourable seasons. Pastoral use limitations: Grazing or hardpan. Principal profile form: probably Um6.24. productivity mainly from annuals only.

Unit4: Drainage floors (2%)

Angular to rectangular drainage zones, slopes < 0.3%. Soils are Tall shrublands or low woodlands dominated by Vegetation type: Creekline Shrubland. en variable alluvial sands or loams, locally saline. Acacia citrinoviridis, A. kempeana and A. aneura. Low shrubs: Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. 'D Eremophila forrestii, Maireana spp.

Unit 5: Channels and creeks (3%)

Irregular incised watercourses, soils are mainly unsorted coarse Fringing woodlands dominated by Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Vegetation type: Creekline Shrubland. sands to pebbles, more loamy at margins. Acacia aneura and A. citrinoviridis. Low shrubs: Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Eremophila margarethae, E. treelingii and Solanum spp. Austin land system 155 km2 (0.18% of survey area) Land type: 8; Pastoral potential: high. Saline stony plains with low rises and drainage foci supporting low halophytic shrublands with scattered mulga; occurs mainly adjacent to lakes Austin and Annean, below greenstone hill systems. Geology: Quaternary colluvium and alluvium with isolated Precambrian greenstone intrusives and Archaean granitic outcrops. Geomorphology: Mainly erosional surfaces: gently undulating saline stony plains with scattered drainage foci and associated internal sluggish drainage lines; low rises and ridges up to 20 m high, but usually 5 to 10 ffi. Vegetation and pastoral use: Bluebush and Stony Snakewood Shrub lands; palatable saline perennials of moderate quantity provide the bulk of the forage on the larger units; scattered mixed Acacia and EremophiLa spp. are prominent on units 1, 3 and 5. Preferential over-grazing of unit 5 can lead to increased erosion. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 7 hal dse. Range condition summary (57 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 73 18 9 o 34 41 25

80, '''', KILOMETRES ,------~- - - -

BElElE '"0 Meekatharra Murchison 0 .

~cue , Unit: 1. Low ridges and rises. CUE., , 2. Saline stony plains. 3. Non saline stony plains. , Mt Magnet ..... 4. Drainage foci. 5. Drainage tracts.

L-_---""'-KmC-_~

60 § Austin I.s. r ~ Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Low ridges and rises (5%) 2 inventory sites and traversed Stony rises and low ridges of outcropping granite, quartz or Scattered shrublands or woodlands usually dominated by Vegetation type: Mainly Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland. greenstone, up to SOD m long relief 2-25 m and short footslopes Acacia aneura with low shrubs Ptilotus obovatus, Cassia spp., Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. with abundant mantles of cobbles and pebbles. Soils are occasionally Maireana spp. shallow alkaline red earths and hard-setting duplex types; principal profile forms: Uc1.33, Dr2.S3.

Unit2: Saline stony plains (80%) 8 inventory sites, 2 condition sites and traversed

Flat to gently sloping « 1%) plains extending up to 3 km with Very scattered to scattered low shrublands (PFC < 20%) Vegetation type: Bluebush Shrubland. scattered small (generally < 20 m in diameter) drainage foci in dominated by Maireana spp. Trees (occasional, 2-5 m): Palatable perennials include: Maireana pyramidata, parts, commonly with moderately dense to very dense mantles Acacia aneura; Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, A. victoriae, M. platycarpa, M. georgei, M. atkinsiana, Atriplex vesicaria, of quartz or ironstone gravel and pebbles. Soils are A. tetragonophylla, Hakea preissH; Low shrubs « 1 m): Frankenia spp. predominantly shallow, hard-setting duplex types as sandy Maireana pyramidata, M. platycarpa, M. georgei, M. atkinsiana, Pastoral use limitations: High salinity levels of pasture plants loams over light clays, pH 6.5-S.5 with neutral or alkaline M. glomerifolia, M. triptera, Atriplex vesicaria, and mild susceptibility to erosion where perennial vegetation is reaction trends; also clays in lower parts or shallow earthy Rhagodia eremaea, Halosarcia spp., Frankenia spp., degraded. sands over greenstones. Principal profile forms: Dr2.12, 2.13, Ptilotus obovatus. Perennial grass: (occaSional) Vegetation condition %: VG/G 40, F 39, PNP 21. 2.53, Uf6.31, Uc1.43. Eragrostis setifolia. Erosion incidence %: min 15, mod 6. 33 obs.

Unit 3: Non saline stony plains (10%) 2 inventory sites and traversed

Flat to gently sloping « 1%) plains on granite within, or above, Very scattered to scattered low shrublands (PFC < 20%). Tall Vegetation type: Granitic Mulga Shrubland. unit 2; mantles of quartz and granite and occasional granite ," shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia aneura, A. sp., A. tetragonophylfa; Low Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus schwartzii, '""'" outcrop. Soils are shallow, dark red, sandy loams and sandy shrubs « 1 m): Ptilotus obovatus, P. schwartzH, Maireana convexa, Sida calyxhymenia, clay loams over granite, pH 7.0 with neutral reaction trends. Eremophila punicea, E. exilifolia, Solanum lasiophyllum, Spartothamnella teucrittlora. Principal profile forms: Uc5.21, Um5.51. Maireana convexa, M. triptera, Sida calyxhymenia, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Spartothamnella teucriiflora.

Unit4: Drainage foci « 1%) 1 inventory site Small, discrete foci (10-50 m in diameter) occurring sparsely Moderately close or close woodland or tall shrubland (PFC 20- Vegetation type: Mulga Grove Woodland. within units 2 and 5. Soils are dark red clays of variable depth 50%) usually dominated by Acacia aneura or Palatable perennials include: Maireana pyramidata, over hardpan or parent rock, pH 6.0 with neutral reaction trends. A. tetragonophylla. Trees (4-S m): A. aneura; Tall shrubs Enchylaena tomentosa, Rhagodia eremaea. Principal profile form: Uf6.71. (> 2 m): A. aneura, A. tetragonophylla; Mid and low shrubs: Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. A. tetragonophylla, Eremophila youngii, E. forrestii, E. longifolia, Ptilotus obovatus, Maireana pyramidata, Scaevola spinescens, Cassia desolata, Enchylaena tomentosa, Rhagodia eremaea, Sida calyxhymenia.

Unit 5: Drainage tracts (5%) 1 inventory site and traversed Gently sloping linear drainage tracts, mostly unchannelled but Very scattered low woodland or tall shrubland Vegetation type: Hardpan Mulga Shrubland or Bluebush occaSionally incised with rills, gutters and shallow gullies; (PFC < 10%) dominated by Acacia aneura. Shrubland. variable mantles of ironstone and quartz. Soils are red earths Palatable perennials include: Eremophila latrobei, and probably also duplex types. Principal profile form: UmS.52. Enchylaena tomentosa, Rhagodia eremaea, Maireana spp. Pastoral use limitations: Susceptible to erosion if perennial vegetation is degraded. 8adgeradda land system 124 km2 (0.14% of survey area) Land type: 2; Pastoral potential: low. Hills and ridges, often with benched slopes mantled by fl at cobbles, and stony plains on siltstone and silty sandstone; supports moderately saline shrub lands but otherwise similar to Woodrarrung land system. Geology: Late Proterozoic siltstone and sandstone; mostly of the Yarrawolya and Coomberarie fo rmations of the Badgeradda group; also Quaternary colluvium and alluvium. Geomorphology: Erosional surfaces; low hills, ridges and associated benched slopes formed through weathering of old plateau; lower slopes and plains of similar origin but with colluvial and aeolian sand accumulations; alluvial drainage zones to several hundred metres wide; overall relief mainly about 50 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Stony Snakewood Shrublands on upper slopes, hills and ridges, poorly accessible to stock, and of limited use. Also supports saltbush and other saline shrublands on lower plains and drainage floors, producti ve when in reasonable condition; minor susceptibility to erosion on exposed duplex soils. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 20 ha l dse. Range condition summary (16 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 81 6 13 0 37 25 38

0, ", 80, 120, KILOMETRES c------

i

BYRO 0 Meekatharra ~ l' 0 Murchison

Unit: I. Stony hills and ridges. , oCue 2. Hill footslopes. MURGOO 3. Benched lower slopes. 4. Stony plains. Mt Magnet 5. Drainage zones. 0 6. Claypans. 7. Sand sheets.

62 Badgeradda 1.5.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Stony hills and ridges (40%) 1 inventory site and traversed

Hills and low escarpments, undulating crests and crest~!ike Scattered (PFC 10-20%) shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Stony Snakewood Shrubland. ridges with up to 50 m relief, with abundant platy siltstone Acacia xiphophylla and Maireana pyramidata. Tall shrubs Palatable perennials include: Maireana pyramidata, M. georgei, mantles. Soils are probably shallow red duplex types over (> 2 m): A. xiphophyl/a, A. aneura. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Atrip/ex bunburyana, Enchy/aena tomentosa. siltstone, or lithosolloams. Lycium australe, A. tetragonophylla Scaevola spinescens, Pastoral use limitations: Upper parts of unit poorly accessible to A. microcalyx, Cassia phy/lodinea, Eremophila fongifolia. Low stock. shrubs « 1 m): Maireana pyramidata, M. georgei, Ptilotus obovatus, P. po/akii, M. triptera, M. tomentosa, Enchylaena tomentosa, Eremophila compacta, Halosarcia sp. Unit 2: Hill footslopes (10%) Traversed Slopes around 10% flanking unit 1, abundantly mantled with Scattered (PFC 10-20%) shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Stony SnakewQod Shrubland as unit 1. siltstone or fine sandstone cobbles and angular flagstones. Acacia xiphophyl/a, A. cuthbertsonii and Maireana pyramidata, Soils are probably shallow red duplex types over parent rock. similar to unit 1.

Unit 3: Benched lower slopes (20%) 1 condition site and traversed Benched slopes around 1% below steeper footslopes and Very scattered (PFC < 10%) shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Mulga Chenopod Shrubland. breakaway escarpment faces, abundantly mantled by platy Acacia aneura and A. cuthbertsonii, with understorey halophytic Palatable perennials include: Atrip/ex spp., Maireana spp., siltstone fragments. Soils are shallow to moderately deep hard­ shrubs. Mid shrubs: A. tetragonophylla, Cassia nemophi/a, Ptilotus spp. setting duplexes, pH 7.0 with a neutral soil reaction trend. Eremophila lachnocalyx. Low shrubs « 1 m): Maireana triptera, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Principal profile form: Dr2.52. M. planifolia, M. tomentosa, Ptilotus po/akii, P. obovatus, el Enchylaena tomentosa, Atriplex bunburyana, A. vesicaria.

Unit 4: Stony plains (25%) 2 inventory sites and traversed Lower plains, moderately or abundantly mantled by rock Very scattered (PFC < 10%) shrublands, either dominated by Vegetation type: Samphire Shrubland. fragments and with saline or non-saline loamy soils over Acacia spp. and Pti/otus obovatus, with other non-saline browse Palatable perennials include: Maireana spp., Ptilotus obovatus. colluvium. shrubs or Ha/osarcia and Maireana spp. on saline sites. Pastoral use limitations: High salinity levels in pasture plants.

Unit 5: Drainage zones « 5%) 1 inventory site and traversed Restricted drainage tracts with very gentle slopes « 0.5%) and Very scattered (PFC < 10%) low shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Saltbush Shrubland. small channels incised to < 1 m; sandy hummocks to 1 m Atrip/ex bunburyana. Tall shrubs « 2 m): Acacia victoriae. Mid Palatable perennials include: Atriplex bunburyana, common. Soils are shallow crusted duplexes to 60 cm; pH 7.5- shrubs (1-2 m): Hakea preissii, A. sc/erosperma, A. victoriae. Chenopodium gaudichaudianum, Enchylaena tomentosa, 8.0 with neutral trend. Principal profile form: Dr1.55. Low shrubs « 1 m): Atrip/ex bunburyana, Maireana integra, M. pyramidata, M. tomentosa, Enchylaena tomentosa, Maireana integra, M. tomentosa, Enteropogon acicu/aris. Increaser species include: Chenopodium gaudichaudianum. Perennial grass: Acacia victoriae, Hakea preissii. Enteropogon acicu/aris. Pastoral use limitations: Soils are susceptible to erosion if disturbed or overgrazed.

Unit 6: Claypans « 1%) Small pans, some stony, mainly unvegetated.

Unit 7: Sand sheets « 1%) Marginal sandy plains. Bayou land system 491 km2 (0.57% of survey area) Land type: 16; Pastoral potential: high. Saline alluvial meander plains and river floodplains with anastomosing river channels supporting halophytic shrublands with overstorey shrubs and Eucalyptus trees. Geology: Quaternary alluvium with areas of recent deposition; also minor aeolian sand. Geomorphology: Depositional surfaces; flat riverine alluvial plains with low sandy banks over minor hardpans tracts on system margins; strongly saline plains 2 to 5 km wide flanking undulating 'bayou' deposits on channel margins; some alluvial surfaces with hummocky redistributed juvenile soils; large meandering channels with eroding banks and sandy bedloads; total system relief < 3 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Saltbush and Bluebush Shrublands succeeded in parts by increasing Acacia, Eremophila and Hakea spp.; saline shrublands highly productive in areas with access to fresh water; erodible nature of exposed duplex soils is accentuated by regular flood events and preferential grazing of dominant species. Unit 2 is highly susceptible to continuing water erosion following the depletion of halophytic perennials. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 7 hal dse. Range condition summary (177 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 50 33 14 3 26 25 49

40 80 120 ! , ! KILOMETRES

Unit: l. Sandy banks. 2. Alluvial plains. 3. Alluvial meander plains. 4. Floodplains. 5. Saline alluvial plains. 6. Ephemeral swamps 7. Major channels.

64 -1

Bayou 1.5.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Sandy banks (5%) 1 inventory site and traversed Sand banks and low dunes up to 80 m wide and raised up to Scattered (PFC 10-20%) shrub lands dominated by Vegetation type: Saltbush/Sand Dune Shrub land. 2 m above adjacent unit 2. Soils are deep earthy sands or Hakea preissii. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia sclerosperma, Palatable perennials include: Atriplex amnicola, duplex loamy sands over sandy clay loam> 1 m deep. Principal Hakea preissii, Exocarpus aphyl/us. Mid and low shrubs « 2 m): Enchylaena tomentosa. profile form: Or2.52. Atriplex amnicola, Gunniopsis quadrifida, Scaevola spinescens, Pastoral use limitations: Susceptible to wind erosion if perennial Cassia phyl/odinea, Enchylaena tomentosa, Sida aft. cover lost. calyxhymenia.

Unit 2: Alluvial plains (50%) 6 inventory sites, 8 condition sites and traversed Flat to gently sloping « 0.5%) alluvial plains subject to periodic Scattered to moderately close (PFC 10-30%) shrublands with Vegetation type: Saltbush/Bluebush Shrubland. flooding from river. Soils are deep crusted and hard~setting occasional trees. Trees: (6-10 m) Eucalyptus coolabah. Tall Palatable perennials include: Atrip/ex vesicaria, Cratystylis duplexes, occasionally with hardpan at shallow depth. pH 6.0- shrubs (> 2 m): Hakea preissii, Acacia xiphophyl/a. Mid shrubs subspinescens, Maireana platycarpa, M. pyramidata. Increaser 9.0 with alkaline or neutral reaction trends. Principal profile (1-2 m): Eremophila pterocarpa, Acacia microcalyx, A. sp., species include: Hakea preissii, Eremophila pterocarpa. forms: Or1.12, Dr1.23, Dr1.52, Dr2.23, Or2.52. Cassia phyllodinea, C. sturtii. Low shrubs « 1 m): Pastoral use limitations: moderately to highly susceptible to Atriplex vesicaria, Cratystylis subspinescens, shrub invasion and accelerated erosion where perennials are Maireana platycarpa, M. pyramidata. Perennial grass: degraded. Stipa e/egantissima. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 20, F 29, PNP 51. Erosion incidence %: min 46, mod 26, sev 4.82 obs.

Unit 3: Alluvial meander plains (10%) 3 inventory sites and traversed '" Alluvial deposits in ox-bow or bayou formations receiving Moderately close (PFC 20-30%) mixed shrublands. dominated Vegetation type: Saltbush Shrub land. regular channel overflow, little or no slope, sandy hummocks to by Hakea preissii and Acacia sclerosperma. Trees: Eucalyptus Palatable perennials include: Atriplex amnicola, A. bunburyana, 1-2 m above surrounding plain. Soils are deep, reddish-brown coolabah. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia sc/erosperma, Rhagodia eremaea, Enchylaena tomentosa, alluvial types, generally loamy or clayey sands with an alkaline Hakea preissii. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): A. sclerosperma, Chenopodium gaudichaudianum. Increaser species include: reaction trend at depth. Principal profile forms: Uc5.21 , Um5.12. A. victoriae, Scaevola spinescens, Rhagodia eremaea. Low Hakea preissii. shrubs « 1 m): Atriplex amnico/a, A. bunburyana, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Enchylaena tomentosa.

Unit4: Flood plains (20%) 5 inventory sites, 4 condition sites and traversed Plains marginally lower than units 2 and 3, subject to fairly Scattered shrublands (PFC 10-20%) with some sites very dense Vegetation type: Saltbush/Riverine Mixed Shrubland. regular flooding. Soils are> 1 m deep, yellowish-red clayey with low to medium shrubs (PFC > 50%). Trees (6-10 m): Palatable perennials include: Atriplex amnicola, loams or clays, pH 7.0-9.0 with alkaline reaction trends. Eucalyptus coolabah. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Eremophila youngii, Scaevola spinescens, Ptilotus lazaridis. Principal profile forms: Uf6.71, Uf6.12, Uf6.31. Acacia aneura, A. victoriae, A. tetragonophylla. Mid shrubs (1- Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. 2 m): A. microcalyx, A. victoriae, Scaevola spinescens, A victoriae, Atriplex amnicola. Low shrubs « 1 m): Atriplex amnico/a, Cassia stUltii, Eremophila maculata, Ptilotus lazaridis.

Unit 5: Saline alluvial plains (10%) 1 inventory site and traversed

Flat, highly saline plains marginally lower than units 2 and 3. Scattered (PFC 10-20%) low shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Samphire Shrubland/Mixed Halophytic Soils are uniform yellowish-red clayey loams with an alkaline Halosarcia doleiformis, Frankenia spp. or Shrubland. reaction trend. Principal profile form: Uf6.12. Cratystylis subspinescens. Occasional Acacia victoriae and Pastoral use limitations: High salt content of dominant species. Atriplex amnicola. Bayou I.s.-continued

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition 'Indicators

Unit 6: Ephemeral swamps « 1%) Rounded drainage foci within units 4 and 5. Soils are clayey Close or closed shrublands dominated by Melaleuea uncinata types. and Atriplex amnicola.

Unit 7: Major channels (5%) 1 inventory site and traversed Major river beds and secondary channels to 5 m deep Scattered trees, shrubs and rushes (PFC 10-20%). Beds are Vegetation type: Riverine Mixed Shrubland or unvegetated. and> 50 m wide. Sandy channel beds often fringed by clayey generally bare of vegetation, banks and terraces are frequently Palatable perennials include: Atrip/ex amnico/a, terraces. Soils are mostly deep alluvial types. dominated by Juncus aridicola and Eucalyptus coolabah. Trees: Ptilotus divaricatus, Frankenia spp. (8-10 m) Eucalyptus coolabah. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Pastoral use limitations: Channel banks and margins are highly Melaleuea aft. leiocarpa, Acacia sclerosperma. Mid shrubs (1- susceptible to accelerated erosion if vegetation degraded. 2 m): Muehlenbeckia cunningham;;, Hakea preiss;;. Low shrubs « 1 m): Atrip/ex amnico/a, Franken;a spp., Halosarcia spp., Ptilotus divaricatus.

'" Beasley land system (G) 138 km2 (0.16% of survey area) Land type: 2; Pastoral potential: low. Low ridges, hills and lateritised residuals above stony footslopes and broad, stony lower plains supporting scattered mulga and snakewood-dominated shrublands. Geology: Lower Proterozoic metamorphic rocks of the Padbury group: hematite shale, banded ironstone, arenite and sandstone; also Tertiary laterite and Quaternary colluvium. Geomorphology: Erosional surfaces; low ridges, mesas, hills, stripped surfaces and outcrops with stony footslopes and gently sloping stony lower plains and interfluves; moderately spaced tributary drainage patterns; relief mostly < 50 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland with more productive Stony Snakewood Shrubland on lower units; mostly resistant to erosion owing to stony mantles; minor erosion is possible on unit 3. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 20 hal dse. Range condition summary (8 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 100 o o o 25 75 o

", ", 120 , KILOMETRES ,------,- - - - -

1f - GLEN BURGH ROBINSON RANGE ~ ;' , - •

BElElE 0 Meekatharra Murchison 0

oCue Unit: 1. Crests and hills. 2. Stony slopes and interfluvial plains. 3. Drainage tracts with groves. Mt Magnet 4. Stony rises. 0 5. Stony plains.

68 Beasley I.s. (adapted from Wilcox and M'Kinnon, 1972)

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Crests and hills (35%) Traversed

Rough, discontinuous ridges with frequent quartz intrusions Very scattered (PFC < 10%) mixed shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland. extending up to 2 km long with peaks to 60 m or more; rounded Acacia aneura. Tall and mid shrubs (> 1 m): A. aneura, Pastoral use limitations: Poorly accessible to domestic stock; lateritised summits and low hills to 30 m occurring in clusters up Cassia deso/ata, Eremophila treelingii, 8aeckea sp., generally very low pastoral value throughout. to 3 km in extent; usually mantled with ironstone, quartz or Micromyrtus sp. Low shrubs « 1 m): ptilotu$ obovatus, shale fragments. Soils are lithosols confined to small pockets of So/anum /asiophyllum. dark red loamy or clayey sands < 30 em deep with a mostly neutral trend.

Unit 2: Stony slopes and interfluvial plains (40%) 1 inventory site and traversed

Slopes and rounded interfluves with slopes < 10% in upper Scattered to moderately close (PFC 10-30%) tall Acacia aneura Vegetation type: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland or Stony Mulga parts and extending up to 1 km wide below unit 1 grading into shrubland with halophytes on lower drainage plains. Trees and Mixed Shrubland. flatter stony drainage plains dissected by unit 3, moderately to tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, A. grasbyi. A. ramuJosa,A. alf. Palatable perennials include: Maireana spp., abundantly mantled by fragments of shale and manganiferous citrinoviridis, A. pruinocarpa, A. cuthbertsonii. Mid shrubs (1- Eremophifa compacta, pti/otus spp. Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. ironstones. Soils are reddish-brown clay loams or light clays 2 m): Cassia deso/afa, C. pruinosa, C. sturtii, Eremophila over hardpan, usually < 1 m; duplex profiles probably common g/utinosa, E. treeHngii, E. /anata. Low shrubs « 1 m): on lower plains. E. compacta, Maireana georgei, M. triptera, M. thesioides, Pti/otus obovatus, P. schwartzii.

Traversed Unit 3: Drainage tracts with groves (10%) Vegetation type: Mulga Grove Woodland or Creekline Broad disorganised flow zones with irregular grove formations Groves: Moderately close to close (PFC 20 - > 50%) Acacia '" aneura woodland. Trees and tall shrubs (2-8 m): A. aneura, Shrubland. '" grading into more concentrated drainage tracts to 100 m wide Palatable perennials include: Eremophila compacta, E. latrobei, with small channels incised to 1 m deep and 10m wide. Soils A. pruinocarpa, A. tetragonophylla. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Cassia desolata, C. pruinosa, C. sturtii, Eremophi/a g/utinosa, Ptilotus spp. are red-brown sandy clays to 1 m deep in flow zones; Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. intergroves are < 1 m deep over hardpan. E. treelingii, E. /anata, E. /atrobei. Low shrubs « 1 m): E. compacta, Ptilotus obovatus. Intergroves: very scattered shrublands of similar composition.

Unit 4: Stony rises (5%) Very scattered (PFC < 10%) shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland. Low rises with minor outcrops of parent rock, 1-5 m above Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus. Acacia aneura. surrounding plains (units 3 and 5). Soils are lithosols. Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing.

UnitS: Stony plains (10%) Vegetation type: Stony Snakewood Shrubland. Lower plains mantled with quartz and ironstone. Very scattered to scattered (PFC < 20%) shrublands dominated by Acacia xiphophylla. Palatable perennials include: Maireana spp., Soils are shallow hardpan loams or red clays. Rhagodia eremaea, Enchylaena tomentosa. Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. 8elele land system (W) 4701 km2 (5.47% of survey area) Land type: 13; Pastoral potential: moderate. Hardpan wash plains interspersed by low sandy (wanderrie) banks supporting tall shrub lands of mulga with understorey shrubs on the hardpan plains and non-saline shrubs with perennial grasses on the banks. Geology: Quaternary cemented alluvium and aeolian sand. Geomorphology: Depositional surfaces, almost flat alluvial plains with water and wind-modified broad banks of aeolian sand; hardpan plains subject to sheet wash passing around the wanderrie banks and sand patches which are mainly transverse to direction of flow but also oblique or elongate downslope and forming connected patterns locally; central drainage tracts receiving more concentrated flow; most banks < 1 m and total relief is generally < 5 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Hardpan Mulga Shrub lands of moderate value and Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland with reasonable drought durability but susceptible to invasion by unpalatable shrubs when degraded; vegetation on units 2 and 3 frequently degraded, minor susceptibility to soil erosion when degraded. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 12 hal dse. Range condition summary (773 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 90 7 3 0 20 36 44

•, ... .,, " ,. KILOMETRES

GLEN BURGH ROBINSON RANGE 1fJ .' •

BYRD

Murchison o

CUE Unit: 1. Wanderrie banks and sand sheets. 2. Hardpan plain and interbank areas. Mt Magnet o 3. Drainage tracts.

70 Belele I.s.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Wanderrie banks and sand sheets (35%) 6 inventory sites, 35 condition sites and traversed Sandy banks to 400 m wide and 3 km long, 0.5 to 1 m above Tall or mixed shrublands with tussock grasses or shrubby Vegetation type: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland or Sandplain unit 2, mostly arranged transverse to the direction of slope but grasslands (shrub PFC > 20%). Wanderrie Grassy Shrubland. also reticulate and elongate downslope; occasional larger Trees: Acacia aneura; Tall shrubs (> 2 m) A. aneura, Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestii, E. latrobei, patches of sand sheet. Soils are red earthy sands, usually> 1 m A ramulosa, Grevillea sp.; Low shrubs « 1 m): Eremophila Rhagodia eremaea, Grevillea deffexa, Monachather paradoxa, deep. pH 6.0-7.0 with neutral reaction trend. Principal profile margarethae, E. forrestii, E. aft. foliosissima, Cassia deso/ata, Eragrostis er;opoda, E. lanipes, Thyridolepis multiculmis. form: UcS.21. C. sturtii, Ptilotus obovatus, Solanum lasiophyllum, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Rhagodia eremaea. Perennial grasses: Monachather paradoxa, Vegetation condition %: VG/G 37, F 40, PNP 23. 219 obs. Eragrostis eriopoda, E. lanipes, Eriachne helms;;.

Unit2: Hardpan plains and interbank areas (40%) 3 inventory sites, 37 condition sites and traversed Plains and flats (slopes mostly < 0.3%) subject to sheet flow. Scattered tall or mixed shrublands (PFC 10-20%) sometimes Vegetation type: Hardpan Mulga Shrubland. Soils are mostly 20-50 em deep, dark red sandy clay loams over weakly groved. Trees (4-6 m): Acacia aneura, A. pruinocarpa. Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus, P. schwartzii, hardpan. pH 5.5-6.5 with neutral or acidic reaction trends. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, A. aff. quadrimarginea, Eremophila latrobei, E. compacta, Rhagodia eremaea, Principal profile form: Um5.31. A kempeana, Mid and low shrubs (< 2 m): A tetragonophylla, Maireana planifo/ia, M. convexa, Sida calythymenia. Cassia desolata, Ptifotu$ obovatus, P. schwartzii, Eremophila Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. forrestii, E. fraseri, Rhagodia eremaea, Maireana p/anifo/ia, Vegetation condition %: VG/G 13, F 35, PNP 51. Solanum /asiophyllum. Erosion incidence %: min 7, mod 3. 467 obs.

Unit 3: Drainage tracts (25%) 1 condition site and traversed

;::J Alluvial drainage tracts up to 750 m wide receiving more Shrublands very similar to those on unit 2, with more Vegetation type: Hardpan Mulga Shrubland. concentrated through flow than unit 2, locally with deposited Cassia deso/ata, C. helmsii and Eremophila spp. Palatable perennials as for unit 2. sealed surfaces or with shallow runnels and incised channels Pastoral use limitations: Moderate susceptibility to accelerated with hardpan exposures in parts. Soils are red sandy clay loams water erosion when degraded. over hardpan at shallow depth. Principal profile form: Um5.31. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 8, F 32, PNP 60. Erosion incidence %: min 35, mod 8, sev 5. 40 obs. Beringarra land system (W) 2629 km2 (3.06% of survey area) Land type: 16; Pastoral potential: high. Major riverine plains with active lower floodplains flanking channell ed watercourses; supports mostly halophytic shrublands and mixed acacia shrub lands and low woodlands with minor perennial grasses; severely degraded and eroded in many areas. Geology: Quaternary alluvium, partly cemented . Geomorphology: Depositional alluvial surfaces over variable underlying materials including extensive red-brown hardpan, clays and calcreted gravels; fl at alluvial plains, often with windblown scalds and hummocks and/ or active water erosion; ri ver floodplains carrying regional drainage to 16 krn wide, with major charmel development; river channels (with isolated semi-permanent pools) to 200 m wide and 6 m deep; otherwise relief <3 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Bluebush and Saltbush Shrublands, Riverine Mixed Shrub land and minor Alluvial Tussock Grassland, widely invaded by Acacia, Cassia and Hakea species on major units, particularly those with duplex soils. Elsewhere, duplex plains, drainage tracts and floodplains with clay soils are highly productive with d iverse and abundant perennial forage plants. Widespread historical overuse and erodible soils have resulted in large areas being degraded and eroded: 37% of the system area traversed showed moderate to severe erosion. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 7 ha / dse. Range condition summary (626 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Mi n. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 31 32 31 6 7 18 75

", '", eo, '''' , KILOM ETRES

GLENBURGH ROBINSON RANGE f ,I

BELELE 0 Meekatharra Murchison o

Unit: 1. Hardpan plains. ~- 2. Alluvial plains. MURGOO CUE 3. Floodplains. Mt Magnet 4. Wide drainage floors. o 5. Channels.

72 Beringarra I.s.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Hardpan plains (30%) 3 inventory sites, 13 condition sites and traversed Almost flat « 0.3%) alluvial plains on margins of system. Soils Scattered to moderately close (PFC 10-30%) mixed shrublands Vegetation type: Mulga Hardpan Shrubland. are hardpan loams and red earths (0.35 to 1 m) over hardpan. dominated by Acacia aneura and lower storey shrubs. Trees: Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus, Principal profile forms: UmS.31, Gn2.16. Acacia aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, A. victoriae. Mid Rhagodia eremaea. shrubs (1-2 m):A. tetragonophylla, A. kempeana, Pastoral use limitations: Susceptible to increase in unpalatable Cassia helmsii, Eremophila fraseri. Low shrubs « 1 m): shrubs and moderate susceptibility to accelerated erosion when C. helmsH, C. desolata, Ptilotus obovatus, Rhagodia eremaea, perennials degraded. Maireana aff. tomentosa. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 1, F 29, PNP 70. Erosion incidence %: min 35, mod 10, sev 1.135 obs.

Unit2: Alluvial plains (40%) 14 inventory sites, 43 condition sites and traversed

Very gently sloping (O.S%) saline alluvial plains receiving run~on Patchy (PFC 10-20%) mixed shrublands, often dominated by Vegetation type: Bluebush, Saltbush and Mixed Halophyte via adjacent unit 1 and subject to periodic flooding from river. Acacia victoriae, Cassia desolata, Eremophila pterocarpa or Shrubland. Soils are generally deep (to 1 m) crusted or hardwsetting Hakea preissii. Trees: Eucalyptus coolabah, Acacia aneura, Palatable perennials include: Atriplex amnicola, A. bunburyana, duplexes with occasional red earths and clays with alkaline A. distans, A. sibulans, Hakea preissii. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Maireana pyramidata, M. platycarpa, Scaevola sp/nescens, reaction trends. Principal profile forms: Or1.16, Or1.13, Or1.33, A. sclerosperma, A. aneura, A. victoriae, H. preissii, Frankenia spp., Eremophila maculata. Increaser species include: Or2.53, Or2.52, Or2.13, Gn2.13, Ob3, Ob3.3, Ob1.33, Uf3, A. tetragonophylla, A. sibulans. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Hakea preissii, Acacia victoriae, Cassia desolata, UfB.71. Eremophila pterocarpa, Cassia helmsii, C. desolata, Eremophila pterocarpa. A. victoriae, Scaevola spinescens. Low shrubs « 1 m): Pastoral use limitations: Highly susceptible to sheet deflation, Maireana pyramidata, Eremophila maculata, Ptilotus beardH, rilling, gullying and scalding and unpalatable shrub invasions P. obovatus, Solanum lasiophyflum, Frankenia aff. magnifica, when perennials are degraded. Atriplex amnicola, A. bunburyana. Perennial grasses: Vegetation condition %: VG/G 6, F 10, PNP 84. (;l Eragrostis falcata, E. spp. Erosion incidence %: min 32, mod 44, sev 9. 389 obs.

Unit3: Flood plains and inter~channelzones (20%) 6 inventory sites, 11 condition sites and traversed

Almost flat, active flood plains with locally cracking or gilgai Moderately close to closed (PFC 20- > 50%) woodlands with Vegetation type: Saltbush, Riverine Mixed Shrubland and Non­ surfaces, relief to 1 m; traversed by shallow channels and upper storey of Acacia distans or low shrublands dominated by Calcareous Shrubby Grassland. subject to regular flooding. Soils are variable crusted duplexes Atriplex amnicola and Maireana pyramidata. Trees (8-10 m): Palatable perennials include: Atriplex amnicola, and yellowish-red to brown clays, pH 6.5-7.5 with alkaline or Acacia sibulans, A. distans, Eucalyptus coolabah, Cratysty/is subspinescens, Maireana pyramidata, Scaevola neutral reaction trends. Depth mostly> 1 m, although some GrevUlea striata. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. tetragonophylla, spinescens, Eriachne flacc/da, Eragrost/s setitolia. sites have calcrete at shallow depth. Principal profile forms: Eremophila lanata, E. sp., Hakea preissii. Pastoral use limitations: Locally highly susceptible to UfB.12, UfB.71, Ob1.33, Or1.73. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Cratystylissubspinescens, accelerated erosion when perennials are degraded. Scaevola spinescens, Acacia victoriae, A. wiseana, Vegetation condition %: VG/G 41, F 28, PNP 31. A. tetragonophylla. Low shrubs « 1 m): Atriplex amnicola, Erosion incidence: min 38, mod 3. 29 obs. Cassia helmsii, Maireana pyramidata, Scaevola spinescens. Perennial grasses: Fimbristylis sp., Eriachne flaccida, Eragrostis setifolia, Stipa elegantissima.

Unit 4: Wide drainage floors (5%) 5 inventory sites, 1 condition site and traversed Flat drainage zones, w'lth occasional anastomosing channels. Moderately close (PFC 20-30%) woodlands and tall shrublands. Vegetation type: Riverine Mixed Shrubland, Non-Calcareous Soils are yellowish-red to brown clays and duplex types; sandy Trees (6-8 m): Acacia distans, A. aneura, Eucalyptus coolabah. Shrubby Grassland. loams or fine sandy loams over loamy clays, with an alkaline Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. tetragonophylla, A. victoriae, Palatable perennials include: Scaevola spinescens, Ptilotus reaction trend. Depth is to 1 m with some sites over calcrete. Eremophila fraseri, E. lanata. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): E. fraseri, lazar/dis, Eriachne flaccida. Principal profile forms: DrS.53, Uf6.71, Uf6.12. Scaevola spinescens. Low shrubs « 1 m): E. fraseri, Pastoral use limitations: Mild susceptibility to accelerated Ptilotus lazaridis, Grevillea deflexa. Perennial grasses: erosion when perennials are degraded. Eriachne flacc/da, Stipa elegant/ssima. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 14, F 42, PNP 44. Erosion incidence: min 29. 29 obs. Beringarra 1.5. -continued

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

UnitS: Channels (5%) 4 inventory sites and traversed

Riverbeds and seasonal watercourses up to 100 m wide and Major channel beds unvegetated, otherwise moderately close to Vegetation type: Saltbush Shrubland or CreekJine Grassy incised to 3 m. Channels carry bed loads of coarse sand, with closed (PFC 20-> 50%) mixed woodlands with dense under Shrubland. exposed red-brown hardpan and salt encrustat'lons. Soils on shrubs on banks of major channels and floors of minor Palatable perennials include: Atrip/ex amnico/a, banks are reddish-brown alluvial silty clays and fine sandy channels. Trees (6-8 m): Casuarina obesa, Eucalyptus Scaevola spinescens, Cratystylis subspinescens, loams, pH 7.0-8.5 mostly with neutral reaction trends. camaldulensis, E. coolabah, Hakea suberea, Acacia distans. Enchylaena tomentosa, Frankenia sp. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia tetragonophylla, A. cyperophylla, Pastoral use limitations: Unconsolidated banks susceptible to Me/a/euca spp. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Scaevo/a spinescens, trampling and damage if stock concentrate on river banks. Cassia deso/ata, A. sc/erosperma. Low shrubs « 1 m): AMp/ex amnico/a, Mirbe/ia viminalis, Ha/osarcia spp, Frankenia spp. Perennial grasses: Eriachne sp., Chrysopogon fallax.

:;: Bidgemia land system (G) 221 km2 (0.26% of survey area) Land type: 12; Pastoral potential: moderate. Alluvial drainage plains with minor linear sand dunes and sandy banks, supporting patchy halophytic and tall acacia shrublands. Geology: Quaternary (Pleistocene and more recent) dune and playa deposits of clay, silt, sand and grave\. Geomorphology: Depositional surfaces: level or gently undulating alluvial plains with internal drainage patterns interspersed with elliptical or longitudinal dunes and sandy banks lying approximately parallel to direction of fl ow; relief between dunes and drainage floors rarely exceeds 4 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Moderately productive Bluebush and Saltbush Shrublands on alluvial plains and drainage fl oors; favoured parts near to water tend to be somewhat overgrazed with desirable shrubs succeeded by invading Acacia and Eremophila spp., alluvial units (3 and 4) are sli ghtly prone to erosion under these circumstances. Also Sand Dune or Wanderrie Bank Shrubland with a moderate complement of halophytes on units 1 and 2 which are not usually susceptibJe to erosion. Estimated carrying, good condition: 12 ha / dse. Range condition summary (25 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 80 16 4 o 48 40 12

o 40 80 120 ! , , 1

KILOMETRES - - - --,- - - -- ".G LE NBURG H /,!¥"

BYRD 0 Meekatharra Murchison 0

Unit: 1. Sand dunes. oCue 2. Sandy banks. 3. Alluvial plainS. 4. Wide drainage floors. Mt Magnet 5. C1aypans. 0 6. Drainage foci and small swamps.

76 Bidgemia I.s. f landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Sand dunes (30%) Traversed Linear and reticulate dUnes arranged mostly longitudinal to Moderately close (PFC 20-30%) tall shrubland of Acacia Vegetation type: Sand Dune Shrubland. direction of sheet water flow; mostly < 1 km long and up to 4 m ramulosa. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A ramulosa, A sclerosperma, A Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestii, Rhagodia above adjacent units 2 and 3. Soils are deep dark red sands. tetragonophylla. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Eremophila forrestii, spp. E. granitica, E. maitland;;, Rhagodia spp. Low shrubs « 1 m): Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Cassia spp., Corchorus walcottii. Perennial grass: Eriachne helmsH.

Unit 2: Sandy banks (30%) 1 inventory site and traversed Gently sloping or undulating (slopes < 1%) sand banks to 2 m Moderately close (PFC 20-30%) mixed shrubland dominated by Vegetation type; Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland. above surrounding unit 3, and extending to 2 km down slope on Acacia ramulosa. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A ramu/osa, Palatable perennials include: Maireana lanosa, M. pyramidata, unit 3. Soils are dark red clayey sands> 1 m deep; pH 6.5-7.5 A sclerosperma. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Cassia deso/ata, Scaevola spinescens, S. tomentosa. with a neutral trend. Principal profile form: Uc5.21. C. helmsH, Maireana lanosa, M. pyramidata, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Scaevola spinescens, S. tomentosa, Pimelia microcephala, Eriachne helmsii.

Unit 3: Alluvial plains (30%) 2 inventory sites, 2 condition sites and traversed Gently sloping « 0.3%), interduna] plains to 200 m wide, Scattered (PFC 10-20%) low shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Saltbush/Bluebush Shrubland. widening downslope, slightly to moderately mantled by gravels Cratystylis subspinescens and Atriplex vesicaria. Mid shrubs (1- Palatable perennials include: Atriplex vesicaria, Eremophila and pebbles. Soils are crusted duplexes, red clayey sands over 2 m): Acacia tetragonophylla, A. victoriae, macu/ata, Cratystylis subspinescens, Ptilotus beardii, Frankenia :::j yellowish red light medium clays> 1 m; pH 7.0-9.0 with an Eremophila pterocarpa, Cassia desolata, C. subspinescens. pauciflora, Maireana platycarpa, M. integra. alkaline trend. Principal profile form: Dr1.33. Low shrubs « 1 m): C. subspinescens, Atrip/ex vesicaria, Pastoral use limitations: Moderately susceptible to accelerated Pti/otus beardii, Eremophila maculata, Maireana tomentosa, erosion when perennials are degraded and susceptible to M. integra, Frankenia paucifloria, Halosarcia spp. increases in unpalatable shrubs such as Eremophila pterocarpa.

Unit4: Wide drainage floors (5%) 1 inventory site

Gently sloping « 0.4%) saline drainage tracts receiving sheet Very scattered (PFC < 10%) mixed shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Bluebush Shrubland. flow from unit 3, often with shallow, braided channels and Eremophila pterocarpa. Tall shrubs (> 2 m); Acacia cuspidifolia. Palatable perennials include: Eremophila maculata, runnels; extending to 1 km wide, although more commonly < 0.5 Mid shrubs (1-2 m): E. pterocarpa, A. tetragonophylla, Scaevola spinescens, Ptilotus polakii, Maireana platycarpa, km. Soils are deep crusted duplexes pH 6.0 with an alkaline Cassia deso/ata. Low shrubs « 1 m): E. crenulata, E. macu/ata, M. pyramidata. reaction trend. Principal profile form: Dr1.16. Scaevola spinescens, PtHotus po/akii, Maireana p/atycarpa, Pastoral use limitations: Susceptible to erosion if vegetation is M. pyramidata. depleted; prone to increases in unpalatable shrubs such as Eremophila pterocarpa, E. crenulata, Acacia cuspidifolia.

Unit 5: Claypans (3%) Traversed Variably shaped flat claypans to 500 m wide but more No perennial vegetation. commonly < 250 m. Soils are deep clays.

Unit 6: Drainage foci and small swamps « 2%) Traversed Isolated seasonally inundated small swamps to 500 m in Tall close shrublands, sometimes fringing perennial grasslands diameter. Soils are deep clays or clay loams. in lower parts of unit. Boulder land system 832 km2 (0.97% of survey area) Land type: 6; Pastoral potential: moderate. Gently undulating stony plains and low rises supporting patchy, slightly saline, shrublands. Geology: Tertiary silcrete and colluvium overlying Permian sedimentary rocks of the Lyons formation (Sakmarian series): sandstone, sil tstone and shale with glacial pebbles. Geomorphology: Erosional surfaces; minor low breakaways with short slopes above gently undulating stony plains with dense silcrete or variable, mixed mantling and shallow pans, draining onto lower, saline plains with occasional sandy banks; restricted drainage floors dissecting upper parts and broadening downslope to 0.5 km wide; relief usually < 20 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Granitic Mulga Shrubland, Stony Mulga Mixed Shrubland and Stony Snakewood Shrubland variably distributed on plateaux, stony slopes and higher plains; saline plains and drainage floors (units 4 and 5) support sparse halophyti c shrubs and are moderately productive; units 4 and 5 are susceptible to water erosion and in vasion by undesirable species. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 12 ha / dse. Range condition summary (146 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 87 12 1 0 25 54 21

o, .. , 80 , '" , KILOMETRES - - - --,------

GlE.. NBURGH

.~ " ~ ,. ~ .~ . I-fl BYR~ 0 ,;,(...... ',. Meekatharra ~. oMurchlson

"

f. oCue

MUAGOO Unit: 1. Low hills and breakaways. ,

2. Stony plains. Mt Magnet 3. Sand sheets. 0 4. Saline lower plains. 5. Drainage floors.

78 Boulder 1.5.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Low hills and breakaways (10%) 1 inventory site, 1 condition site and traversed

Rough boulder strewn low hills and occasional dissected Very scattered (PFC < 10%) mixed shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland. plateaux to 15 m. Soils are stony lithosols over silcrete with a Solanum lasiophylfum, Eremophila frased or E. latrobei. Trees Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus, P. schwartzii, pH range of 5.5-6.5 with an acidic trend. Principal profile form: (2-4 m): Acacia aneura. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Eremophila fraseri, Eremophila latrobei, Eragrostis lanipes. Uc1.43. E. latrobei, Thryptomene baeckeacea, Calytrix sp. Low shrubs Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. « 1 m): Solanum lasiophyllum, Ptilotus obovatus, P. schwartzii, Hemigenia sp. Perennial grass: Eragrostis lanipes.

Unit 2: Stony plains (60%) 7 inventory sites, 13 condition sites and traversed

Extensive, (up to 5 km in extent) undulating and gently sloping Scattered (PFC 10-20%) shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Stony Mulga Mixed Shrub land. « 1.5%) densely mantled plains with occasional silcrete Acacia aneura, A. grasbyi or Maireana triptera. Palatable perennials include: Maireana georgei, M. convexa, outcrops to 3 m high; partly saline in lower parts. Soils are red Trees (2-4 m): A. aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. cuthbertsonii, Ptilotus obovatus, P. schwartzii, Rhagodia eremaea, earths, stony lithosols or occasionally hardpan types with a A. grasbyi, A. xiphophylla, A. aneura, A. acuminata. Mid shrubs Prostanthera tysoniana. silcrete pan at < 50 em deep; pH 5.5-8.0. Principal profile forms: (1-2 m): Eremophilaplatycalyx, Cassia desolata, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Gn2.12, Gn2.13, UcS.21, Uc1.43, UmS.S1, UmS.31. A. tetragonophylla, A. grasbyi, E. latrobei. Low shrubs « 1 m): Vegetation condition %: VG/G 32, F 52, PNP 16. 88 obs. Maireana triptera, M. convexa, M. georgei, Ptilotus obovatus, P. schwartzii, Rhagodia eremaea, Eremophila punicea, Solanum lasiophyllum, Hemigenia spp.

Unit 3: Sand sheets (5%) Traversed

:i Occasional flat or gently sloping tracts of sand plain to 1 km long Moderately dense (PFC 20-30%) mixed shrublands with Vegetation type: Sand plain Wanderrie Grassy Shrubland. and 0.5 km wide. Soils are probably deep sands over silcrete. Acacia ramulosa, Thryptomene sp., Eremophila aft.latrobei, Palatable perennials include: Monachather paradoxa, Principal profile form: Uc5.21. Prostanthera sp. and Monachather paradoxa. Eremophila latrobei. Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing.

Unit4: Saline lower plains (20%) 2 inventory sites, 6 condition sites and traversed

Gently sloping saline plains, lightly mantled with quartz and Very scattered (PFC < 10%) low shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Bluebush/Stony Snakewood Shrubland. Permian pebb~es.Soils are duplex types, yellowish-red loamy Eremophila pterocarpa and Maireana platycarpa. Tall shrubs Palatable perennials include: Maireana p/atycarpa, M. sand over yellowish-brown fine sandy clays on silcrete at (> 2 m): E. pterocarpa, E. platyca/yx, Acacia tetragonophylla, pyramidata, PtiJotus beardii, P. polakii. variable depth; pH 7.0-9.0 with an alkaline trend. Principal Hakea preissii. Pastoral use limitations: Moderate susceptibility to erosion when profile form: Db3.33, Dr2.53. Low shrubs « 1 m): Ptilotus beardii, P. po/akii, M. p/atycarpa, vegetation is degraded, may be subject to increases in M. pyramidata, Solanum lasiophyllum, Cassia phyllodinea. unpalatable shrubs such as Eremophila pterocarpa and Hakea preissii.

Unit 5: Drainage floors (5%) 1 inventory site and traversed Narrow and commonly braided drainage tracts up to 0.5 km Moderately close to close (PFC 20-50%) tall shrublands Vegetation type: Creekline Shrubland. wide, occasionally with incised channels to 2 m deep. Soils are dominated by Acacia tetragonophylla. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Desirable perennials include: Maireana pyramidata, clay types, yellowish-brown clay loams over red light clays; pH A. tetragonophylla, A. sclerosperma. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Rhagodia eremaea, Ptilotus divaricatus, P. obovatus. 6.5-7.5 with a neutral trend. Principal profile form: Uf6.71. Eremophila platycalyx, Exocarpus aphyllus. Low shrubs « 1 m): Pastoral use limitations: Local susceptibility to water erosion Maireana triptera, M. pyramidata, Rhagodia eremaea, when degraded. Pti/otus divaricatus, P. obovatus, Solanum lasiophyllum. Perennial grass: Stipa elegantissima. Breberle land system 115 km2 (0.13% of survey area) Land type: 12; Pastoral potential: moderate. Level saline drainage plains adjacent to ephemeral lakes, claypans and swampy drainage foci with sandy margins and occasional sand dunes; supports tall acacia shrublands and other fringing sluublands with zonations of perennial grasses and halophytes. Geology: Quaternary lake and playa deposits of sand, clay and gypsum; aeolian sands in dune formations. Geomorphology: Alluvial and aeolian depositional surfaces; slightly elevated sandplain tracts with low dunes fringing saline alluvial plains, interspersed with numerous drainage foci with deep duplex soils and occasional gilgai micro relief; drainage partly internal, widely disorganised but locally well defined and channelled; overall relief mainly < 3 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: A minor system with moderately productive mixed vegetation: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland on sand plains and low banks; intervening saline plains support Samphire or Mixed Halophyte Shrubland, varying in productivity according to degree of salinity; stands of palatable halophytes commonly degraded through overuse; drainage tracts with dense Mulga Grove Woodland support some perennial grasses and abundant annuals in good season but generally few edible shrubs; drainage foci and pans locally bare but often carry highly productive Alluvial Tussock Grassland. System not normally susceptible to erosion. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 12 ha / dse. Range condition summary (27 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 100 a a a 4 41 55

40 80 120 , ! KILOMETRES

Unit: 1. Sand sheets and low banks. 2. Saline alluvial plains. 3. Groved drainage tracts. 4. Lakes, swamps and claypans.

80 Breberle los.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Sand sheets and low banks (50%) 1 inventory site and traversed

Confused and reticulate low sandy banks to 2 m high grading Close (PFC 30-50%) tall shrub lands or mixed woodlands Vegetation type: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland. into more extensive gently sloping « 2%) sheets down slope. dominated by Melaleuca uncinata. Palatable perennials include: Monachather paradoxa, Soils are red earthy sands to> 1 m deep; pH is 6.5-7.5 with a Tall shrubs (> 2 m): M. uncinata, Acacia distans. Thyrido/epis multiculmis. neutral trend. Principal profile form: Uc5.21. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): M. uncinata, A. ramulosa. Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Low shrubs « 1 m): Solanum lasiophyllum, Cassia nemophila. Perennial grasses: Monachather paradoxa, Thyridolepis multiculmis.

Unit 2: Saline alluvial plains (20%) 1 inventory site and traversed Flat to very gently sloping interconnected strongly saline alluvial Scattered (PFC 10-20%) low shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Samphire Shrubland. plains. Soils are either brown duplex types, loamy sands over Halosarcia indica. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia victoriae. Low Palatable perennials include: Frankenia paucifloria, Eragrostis fine sandy clays overlying calcrete hard pan at 35 em; pH 9.0 shrubs « 1 m): H. indica, Frankenia pauciflora. Perennial grass: die/sU. with a strongly alkaline trend, or clay types in lower areas. Eragrostis dielsU. Pastoral use limitations: High salt content of pasture plants. Principal profife form: DbO.53.

Unit 3: Groved drainage tracts (10%) 1 inventory site and traversed

Very gently sloping, densely vegetated (often in groves) tracts Closed (PFC > 20%) woodland dominated by Acacia distans. Vegetation type: Mulga Grove Woodland. receiving overland sheet flow and draining into unit 4. Soils are Trees: Eucalyptus coo/abah (6-8 m), Acacia distans (4-6 m). Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. clayey types often overlying calcrete as in unit 2. Tall shrubs (2-4 m): Melaleuca uncinata. 00 '""' Unit 4: Lakes, swamps and claypans (20%) Traversed

Irregularly shaped drainage depressions to 3 km long and 2 km Vegetation of variable density; swamp margins mostly fringed Vegetation type: Bare or scattered Samphire (or lignum) wide (Lake Breberle), but more commonly < 0.5 km in diameter; with dense Mela/euca uncinata and Halosarcia spp. Seasonally Shrubland, also open Eucalyptus coo/abah woodland with grass locally with gilgaied surfaces. Soils are probably deep clays. inundated areas may have moderately dense perennial grass. understorey. (Eragrostis dielsii or Eriachne flaccida) with scattered Pastoral use limitations: Seasonally inundated, but generally no Eucalyptus coolabah to 8 m and Muehlenbeckia cunninghamii. limitations under controlled grazing. Bullimore land system (W) 67 km 2 (0.08% of survey area) Land type: 9; Pastoral potential: very low. Gently undulating sandplain with occasional linear dunes and stripped surfaces supporting tall shrublands and hard spinifex. Geology: Quaternary aeolian sand derived primarily from gneiss and granite. Geomorphology: Depositional surfaces of the 'old plateau' type, extensive elevated sandplain with infrequent low linear dunes; mainly without drainage features but locally with broad, poorly developed drainage zones with more soil development; relief to 10 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Sand plain Mallee-Acacia-Spinifex Shrubland of very low productivity, mainly through annual forbs and grasses in good seasons after fire; unit 3 is slightly more productive with a larger component of desirable shrubs and grasses. Not normally susceptible to erosion. A very minor system in this area. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 30 ha I dse. Range condition summary (21 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 100 o o o 90 10 o

•, .., eo, " ,• KILOMETRES ------

0 Meekatharra Murchison 0

oCue

CUE ~ Mt Magnet 0 Unit: 1. Sand sheet. 2. Gravelly plains. 3. Drainage zones.

82 Bullimore 1.5.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Sand sheet (85%) 3 inventory sites, 3 condition sites and traversed

Almost flat (slopes < 0.3%) plains with isolated low dunes. Soils Spinifex (Triodia basedowit) hummock grasslands with Vegetation type: Mallee~Acacia~SpinifexSandplain Shrubland.

are deep, dark red earthy sands and clayey sands with an acid scattered (PFC 1 O~200/0)low trees and shrubs, mostly Generally few desirable shrubs; some forage is provided by reaction trend. Principal profile form: UcS.21. Eucalyptus spp. and Acacia ramulosa. Trees: annuals. Eucalyptus kingsmiffii, E. spp. Acacia aneura. Tall shrubs Pastoral use limitations: Very low grazing value; prescribed (> 2 m): Duboisia hopwoodii, Acacia ramulosa, A. aneura, burning may improve value by promoting more palatable forbs

Grevillea spp. Mid shrubs (1~2m):A. aneura, A. ramufosa. Low and grasses. shrubs « 1 m): Pityrodia sp, Eremophila granitica, E. glabra. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 90, F 10, PNP O. 21 obs. Perennial grasses: Triodia basedowii, Monachather paradoxa, Eriachne helmsii, Paraneurachne muelleri, Amphipogon strictus.

Unit 2: Gravelly plains (5%) Traversed

Gently sloping or undulating stripped surfaces mantled by Vegetation similar to unit 1 but less cover. Generally dominated Vegetation type: SandpJain Mallee~Acacia~SpinifexShrubland. lateritic grave! or ironstone pebbles. Soils are probably earthy or by Acacia ramulosa, Eucalyptus kingsmiffii and Pastoral use limitations: As for unit 1. gravelly sands. Triodia basedowii.

Unit 3: Drainage zones (10%) Traversed

Gently sloping, flat surfaced drainage tracts receiving some More cover than units 1 and 2. Dominated by Acacia aneura Vegetation type: Mulga Grove Woodland. local sheet flow. Soils are probably earthy sands, red earths or and A. ramulosa; occasional Rhagodia eremaea, Palatable shrubs include: Rhagodia eremaea, Maireana vil/osa. occasionally hardpan types. Maireana viffosa, Monachather paradoxa and Eriachne helmsii. Pastoral use limitations: None. el Bunny land system 485 km2 (0.56% of survey area) Land type: 13; Pastoral potential: moderate. Hardpan wash plains with very broad sandy (wanderrie) banks and thin veneers of sand plain up to 5 km wide and minor channelled drainage lines; supports tall acacia shrublands with wanderrie grasses and is sinUlar to Belele land system, but occurs only in the south-west. Geology: Quaternary alluvium with cemented colluvium and aeolian sand. Geomorphology: DepOSitional surfaces; flat alluvial plains on red-brown hardpan, carrying sheet flow between slightly elevated plains masked by thin aeolian sand; minor lateritic plains with stripped surfaces and light ironstone mantles; alluvial drainage tracts with narrow channels not incised; isolated, small daypans; relief mostly < 5 m . Vegetation and pastoral use: Wanderrie Bank Shrublands or sandplain Wanderrie Grassy Shrublands; moderately productive with a balance of desirable perennial shrubs and grasses when in good condition. Hardpan Mulga Shrub land; scattered to moderately dose on units 2 and 3, providing reasonable shrub reserves. System is not usually susceptible to erosion. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 12 hal dse. Range condition summary (108 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 97 3 a a 32 46 22

40, 80, 120 KILOMETRES r------

, • - BYRO 0 Meekatharra Murchison , 0 \ (II:;." .< J .. , . oeue MURGOO Unit: 1. Sandy banks and thin sand sheets.

2. Hardpan plains. 41 Mt Magnet 3. Drainage tracts. ~ 0 4. Drainage foci and daypans.

84 Bunny los.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Sandy banks and thin sand sheets (60%) 3 inventory sites, 4 condition sites and traversed

Gently sloping « 0.5%) sandy banks and minor, thin sand Scattered to moderately close (PFC 10~30%)mixed grassy Vegetation type: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland. sheets up to 1 km in extent. Soils are brown or red earthy sands shrublands. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia ramulosa, A. aneura, Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus schwartzii, P. obovatus, over hardpan at 0.5 to 1 m; pH 5.5-6.5 with a neutral or acidic Hakea arida, Grevilleajuncifolia. Mid shrubs (1~2m): Eremophila forrest;;, Monachather paradoxa, reaction trend. Principal profile forms: UcS.21 and Uc5.22 Eremophila forrest;;, A. tetragonophylla. Low shrubs « 1 m): Thyridolepis multiculmis. E. forrest;;, Solanum lasiophyllum, Calytrix spp., Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing; not Ptilotus schwartz;;. Perennial grasses: Monachather paradoxa, normally susceptible to accelerated erosion. Thyridolepis multiculmis, Eragrostis eriopoda, Eriachne helms;;. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 80, F 18, P/VP 2. 41 obs.

Unit2: Hardpan plains (30%) 3 inventory sites, 2 condition sites and traversed

Mostly flat plains underlain by hardpan; locally with ironstone or Scattered (PFC 10~20%)mid shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Hardpan Mulga Shrubland.

weathered sandstone gravelly mantle. Soils are hardpan types, Hakea arida and Acacia grasbyi. Trees (4~6m): A. aneura. Tall Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus, red, or dark red clay loams or sandy clay loams to 40 em over shrubs (> 2 m):A. grasbyi, A. tetragonophylla. Mid shrubs Sida calyxhymenia, Maireana villosa, Grevillea deflexa. Pastoral

hardpan; pH 6.0-7.0 with a neutral or acidic reaction trend. (1 ~2m): H. arida, A. tetragonophylla, A. ramu/osa, use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Principal profile form; Um5.31. Eremophi/a platycalyx, Grevillea deflexa, E. aft. mackin/ayi, Cassia nemophila. Low shrubs « 1 m): Ptilotus obovatus, Sida calyxhymenia, C. phyllodinea, Hemigenia sp., So/anum lasiophyllum, Maireana villosa, Dianella revoluta. Perennial grass: Stipa elegantissima.

{Jj'" Unit 3: Drainage tracts (5%) 2 inventory sites and traversed

Very gently sloping drainage tracts to 0.5 km wide, but more Scattered to close (PFC 10~50%)tall shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Creekline Shrubland or Hardpan Mulga commonly < 200 m with braided narrow channels incised in Acacia burkittii or A. grasbyi. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. burkittii, Shrubland. hardpan. Soils are dark red or brown earthy sands or hardpan A. grasbyi, A. aneura, A. tetragonophylla, Hakea recurva Mid Palatable perennials include: Maireana thesioides, M. triptera, types to 0.5 m over hardpan or weathered granite; pH 6.0~6.5 shrubs (1-2 m): A. tetragonophylla, A. xiphophylla, Ptilotus obovatus, Rhagodia sp., Enchylaena tomentosa, with a neutral or acidic trend. Principal profile forms: Uc5.21, Cassia nemophila, Eremophila georgei. Low shrubs « 1 m): Scaevola spinescens. Um5.31. PtilotU5 obovatus, Maireana triptera, M. thes;oides, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Rhagodia sp., Enchylaena tomentosa, Scaevola spinescens. Perennial grass: Stipa elegantissima.

Unit 4: Drainage foci and claypans (5%) Traversed Occasional foci < 200 m in diameter. Soils probably shallow Mostly bare, but where vegetated probably moderately close tall clays. shrublands with Acacia tetragonophylla being dominant. Byro land system 497 km2 (0.58% of survey area) Land type; 5; Pastoral potential; moderate. based on sedimentary rocks, with very Gently undulating or slightly terraced, extensive saline stony plains variable mulga, snakewood and halophytic shrublands. stones and siltstones of the Byro group; also Geology: Permian sedimentary rocks of the Artinskian series: sand lian deposits. thin veneers of Quaternary alluvium and colluvium plus minor aeo irregular plains with isolated low sandstone Geomorphology: Erosional and depositional surfaces; complex and fringed with low dunes) with similarly rises and breakaways; highly variable alluvial lower plains (occasionally saline and gypsiferous in parts; drainage variable sedimentary or ferruginous mantles, lower plains strongly eroding dlannelled zones and incised major mostly poorly developed, with throughflow from plains draining to channels; scattered discrete drainage foci; overall relief is < 10 m. Bluebush and Samphire Shrublands, highly Vegetation and pastoral use: Mixed Halophytic, Stony Snakewood, degraded to primaril y annual species. Erosion is productive when in good condition but some extensive areas are age zones, with large tracts of scalding, rilling, common and particularly serious on lower plains and across drain are widespread. minor gullies and pedestalling; increases by unpalatable shrub species Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 12 ha / dse. Range condition summary (96 traverse observations); ) (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (% Fair Poor Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good 60 42 38 19 1 6 34

40 80 120 , , . KILOMETRES -- - --r- - - --

J GLEN BURGH

~

BYRQ 0 Meekatharra Murchison 0

Unit: 1. Sand dunes and banks. oCu e 2. Outcrops and breakaway remnants. 3. Pebbly plains. plains. 4. GypsHerous Mt Magnet 5. Saline plains. 0 6. Drainage foci. 7. Major chaIUlels and drainage tracts.

86 Byro 1.5.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Sand dunes and banks (4%) 1 inventory site and traversed Reticulate and elongate dunes to 200 m wide and 5 m high, Scattered (PFC 10-20%) tall shrublands dominated by Cafytrix sp Vegetation type: Sand Dune Shrubland. slopes mostly < 10%; extending to 2 km in length parallel to the and Grevi/lea stenobotrya. Tall shrubs (> 2 m); G. stenobotrya. Palatable perennials include: Enchylaena tomentosa, Rhagodia direction of flow. Soils are deep red earthy sands with a neutral Mid shrub Eremophifa maitlandH. Low shrubs « 1 m): Calytrfx sp, eremaea, Scaevola tomentosa. trend. Principal profile form: UcS.21. Scaevola tomentosa, Rhagodia eremaea, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Enchylaena tomentosa.

Unit 2: Outcrops and breakaway remnants (2%) Residuals of sandstone and siltstone with indurated crests and Patchy shrublands, non-saline in higher parts of the unit, saline short, steep foots lopes, up to 7 m above surrounding plains. in lower parts. Soils are skeletallithosols.

Unit 3: Pebbly plains (75%) 4 inventory sites, 9 condition sites and traversed

Gently sloping « 1 %) colluvial and alluvial plains with relief to 2 Very scattered to scattered (PFC < 20%) shrublands, variably Vegetation type: Stony Snakewood Shrubland, Saltbush and m above adjacent unit 4; with sparse to moderate mantle of dominated. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia cuspidifofia, Bluebush Shrubland. weathered sandstone or ferruginous pebbles and gravels. Soils A. xiphophylla, A. aneura. Mid shrubs (1-2) m: Hakea preissii, Palatable perennials include: Maireana platycarpa, Ptilotus spp., are deep duplex types: yellowish red or brown loamy to clayey Eremophila p/atycalyx, A. victoriae. Low shrubs (< 1 m): Frankenia pauciflora, Atriplex spp. Rhagodia eremaea, Maireana p/atycarpa, M. pyramidata, Increaser species include: Eremophila p/atycalyx, E. crenulata, 00 sands over fine sandy clays to light clays over bedrock; pH 7.0- B.O with alkaline reaction trend. Principal profile form: Db3.33, M. aphylla, Frankenia pauciflora, Ptilotus po/akU, P. beard;;, Hakea preiss;;. " Dr1.13, Dr1.33. P. obovatus, Solanum lasiophyllum, Atriplex vesicaria, Pastoral use limitations: Moderately susceptible to accelerated A bunburyana, Enchy/aena tomentosa, Eremophi/a maculata. erosion where vegetation is degraded. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 3, F 35, PNP 62. Erosion incidence %: min 39, mod 20, sev 2.59 obs.

Unit4: Gypsiferous plains (5%) 1 inventory site and traversed

Mostly flat (slope < 0.3%) plains of gypsiferous materials with Scattered (PFC 10-20%) low shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Samphire Shrubland. puffy, thinly crusted saline surfaces; relief to 2 m. Soils are very Ha/osarcia pruinosa. Low shrubs « 1 m): H. pruinosa, Palatable perennials include: AMplex vesicaria, shallow loams with gypsiferous sediments overlying a shale pan AMp/ex vesica ria, Maireana aphylla, So/anum /asiophyllum, Maireana aphylla, M. amoena, Rhagodia eremaea. Pastoral use at 25-50 cm; pH 7.5 with a neutral reaction trend. Principal Rhagodia eremaea, Eremophila lachnocalyx. limitations: High levels of salinity in pasture plants combined profile form: Um1.23. with poor availability of good stock water.

Unit 5: Saline plains (10%) 3 inventory sites, 1 condition site and traversed

Flat to gently sloping « 0.5%) strongly saline alluvial plains with Very scattered (PFC < 10%) low shrub lands dominated by Vegetation type: Samphire Shrubland low stony ridges or rises to 2 m above surrounding plains. Halosarcia species. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia cuspidifolia. Mid Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus po/aW, P. obovatus, Mostly covered with very sparse to very dense sandstone shrubs (1-2 m): A. cuthbertsonil; Eremophila /achnocalyx. Low Rhagodia eremaea, Atriplex vesicaria, Maireana spp. mantle. Soils are red, soft surfaced mottled duplexes overlying shrubs « 1 m): Ptilotus po/akii, P. obovatus, Ha/osarcia spp., Pastoral use limitations: High salt content of pasture plants. sedimentary rock; pH 6.5 with a neutral reaction trend. Principal H. prulnosa, Frankenia spp., Solanum lasiophyllum, profile form: Dr4.12. Rhagodia eremaea, AMp/ex vesica ria, Maireana amoena, M. integra. Byro I.s.---continued

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 6: Drainage foci « 2%) 1 inventory site and traversed Scattered drainage foci and small swamps to 0.5 km long and Close (PFC 30-50%) tall shrubland or low woodland dominated Palatable perennials include: Eremophila maculata, 0.2 km wide. Soils are probably deep red earths. by Acacia tetragonophylla. Enchylaena tomentosa, Maireana aphylla, M. pyramidata, Trees (4-6 em): A. aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): M. platycarpa, Ptilotus obovatus. A. tetragonophylla, Santa/urn spicatum. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. A. cuthbertsonii. Low shrubs « 1 m); Eremophila maculata, Enchylaena tomentosa, Maireana aphylla, M. platycarpa, M. pyramidata, Ptilotus obovatus.

Unit 7: Major channels and drainage tracts (2%) 2 inventory sites and traversed

Major drainage lines partly with narrow flood plains flanking Close to closed (PFC 30 - > 50%) tall shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Creekline Grassy Shrubland. incised channels to 3 m deep. Soils are deep red earths or light Acacia tetragonophylla and A. sclerosperma. Trees (8-10 m): Palatable perennials include: Atriplex amnicola, clays or juvenile profiles fringing main channels which carry Eucalyptus camaldulensis. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, Scaevola spinescens, Ptilotus obovatus, Rhagodia eremaea, deep sandy bedloads. A. tetragonophylla, Heterodendrum oleaefolium, Maireana pyramidata, Eragrostis setifolia, Cenchrus spp. A. sclerosperma. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): A. sclerosperma, Pastoral use limitations: Susceptible to accelerated erosion by Rhagodia eremaea, Maireana pyramidata, Atriplex amnicola, major flows when vegetation is degraded. Scaevola spinescens. Perennial grasses: Eragrostis setifolia, Cenchrus setigerus, C. ciliaris, Dichanthium sp, Eulalia fulva.

&5 Carnegie land system (W) 1281 km2 (1.49% of survey area) Land type: 17; Pastoral potential: high. Salt lakes with extensive fringing saline plains, dunes and sandy banks, supporting low halophytic shrublands and scattered tall acacia shrublands; lake beds are highly saline, gypsiferous and mainly unvegetated. Geology: Quaternary lacustrine sand and clay deposits; also aeolian deposits on margins. Geomorphology: Depositional surfaces; salt lakes and dunes: large lake beds up to 70 km long containing saline muds, receiving ep~odicmajor catchment flows via ca!creted tributary flood plains. Smaller pans with associated lunettes in areas of impeded drainage; bare lake beds with scattered low gypsiferous or higher greenstone islands. Alluvial marginal plains with tributary fans and channels interrupted by minor sandplain with fringing dunes and low banks away from lake margins; restricted interdunal alluvial swales or claypans; occasional kopi dunes mainly on sides of lake edges. Overall relief is mostly < 7 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Sand Dune Shrubland and Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland on sand plain units; moderately productive and generally in a stable condition. Mixed Halophytic Shrubland with varying levels of salinity; low to moderate on units 2, 3 and 7; moderate to extreme on units 4, 5 and 8; pastoral value is mostly dependent on salinity levels; pasture condition is fair to good for much of the system; erosion susceptibility is generally low. Lower lake beds represent mostly no pastoral value and should be considered accordingly. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 7 ha / dse. Range condition summary (107 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 93 7 o o 77 19 4

40 80 120 ! , KILOMETRES

Unit: 1. Sand sheets, dunes and low banks. 2. Hardpan plains. 3. Alluvial plains. 4. Kopi dunes and platforms. 5. Saline plains and lake margins. 6. Drainage tracts. 7. Swamps and drainage foci. 8. Lake beds.

90 Carnegie I.s.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formatEons and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Sand sheets, dunes and low banks (10%) 10 inventory sites and traversed

Gently undulating sand sheets on outer margins of system with Scattered to moderately close (PFC 10-30%) tall or mixed Vegetation type: Sand Dune Shrubland, Wanderrie Bank Grassy associated cut off relict dunes to > 5 m high fringing unit 5 or on shrub lands with a prominent mid storey dominated by Shrubland or Saltbush Shrubland. lakebed; also low elliptical banks (distinct from dunes) to 2 m high Acacia aneura, A. sc/erosperma and A. xiphophylla; Trees Palatable perennials include: Maireana spp., Atriplex spp., surrounding small « 300 m diameter) saline interbank plains with (2-6 m): A. aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, A. grasbyi, Rhagodia spp., Cratystylis subspinescens, Eragrostis spp., duplex soils. Soils are dark red deep earthy sands on the sand A. murrayana, A. ramu/osa, A. sclerosperma, A. tetragonophylla, Monachather paradoxa. sheets and deep siliceous sands on the dunes; pH 6.0-7.0 wfth a A. xiphophylfa, Eremophila miniata, Hakea preissii. Mid shrubs Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. mainly neutral reaction trend. Principal profile forms: Uc1.23, (1-2 m): Jacksonia spp., Eremophila forrestii, E. margarethae, Vegetation condition %: VG/G 62, F 33, PNP 5. 21 obs. UcS.21. E. miniata, E. glabra, Cassia nemophila. Low shrubs « 1 m): Atriplex bunburyana, A. vesicaria, Ptilotus obovatus, E. granitica, Maireana convexa, M. triptera, M. pyramidata, M. thesioides, M. tomentosa, Cratystylis subspinescens, Rhagodia eremaea, R. drummondii, Gunniopsis quadrifidum, Frankenia spp., Solanum lasiophyllum. Perennial grasses: Eriachne helmsii, Eragrostis eriopoda, E. lanipes, Monachather paradoxa.

Unit 2: Hardpan plains (2%) 1 inventory site, 1 condition site and traversed ~,... Minor areas of hardpan plain near system boundary; slopes Scattered (PFC 10-20%) mixed acacia shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Mulga Chenopod Shrubland. < 0.5% with infrequent undulations to 1 m relief. Soils are dark Acacia aneura. Trees (to 6 m): A. aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Palatable perennials include: Atrip/ex spp., Maireana spp., red shallow hardpan types or hard-setting duplexes over hardpan A. aneura, A. tetragonophylla, A. grasbyi. Mid-shrubs (1-2 m): Ptilotus obovatus, Rhagodia eremaea. at < 50 cm deep; pH 7.0 with a neutral trend. Principal profile A. ramulosa, Eremophila forrestii, Cassia nemophila, Rhagodia Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing and not form: Or2.52, Um5.31. eremaea. Low shrubs « 1 m): Atriplex bunburyana, normally susceptible to accelerated erosion. Maireana pyramidata, M. triptera, M. georgei, M. thesioides, Vegetation condition %: VG/G 65, F 21, PNP 14. 14 obs. Ptilotus obovatus, Solanum orbiculatum, S. lasiophyllum.

Unit 3: Alluvial plains (10%) 3 inventory sites, 3 condition sites and traversed

Mostly flat (slopes < 0.5%) broad interdunal plains, mostly saline, Very scattered to moderately close (PFC < 30%) low shrublands Vegetation type: Saltbush or Bluebush Shrubland. Palatable occasionally strewn with gravelly ironstone mantles. Soils are red mainly dominated by Atrip/ex vesicaria or Maireana pyramidata. perennials include: Atriplex spp., Maireana spp., duplex types, clayey sands or loamy sands over light clays Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Melaleuca uncinata, Acacia aneura, Cratystylis subspinescens. < 50 cm deep over hardpan; pH 7.0-8.5 with neutral or alkaline A. xiphophylla, Hakeapreissii. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Increaser species include: Hakea preissii, reaction trend. Principal profile forms: Or2.12, Or2.53. Eremophila pterocarpa, A. xiphophylla. Low shrubs « 1 m): Eremophila pterocarpa. Maireana amoena, M atkinsiana, M. g/omerifolia, M integra, Pastoral use limitations: Areas overgrazed and degraded are M platycarpa, M. pyramidata, M. triptera, M. tomentosa, susceptible to invasion by Hakea preissii, Solanum lasiophyllum Atriplex amnicola, A. vesica ria, Cratystylis subspinescens, and Eremophila pterocarpa. Mild to moderate susceptibility to Solanum lasiophyllum, Sida filiformis. accelerated erosion where perennial vegetation is degraded. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 77, F 20, PNP 3. Erosion incidence %: min 35. 35 obs.

sp. sp.

and and

traversed traversed

Traversed Traversed

traversed traversed

Traversed Traversed

traver~ed traver~ed

spp. spp.

grazing grazing

plants plants

and and

and and

and and

Eriachne Eriachne

dominant dominant

of of

potential. potential.

limits limits

of of

site site

locally. locally.

site site

Maireana Maireana sites sites

levels levels

Unvegetated. Unvegetated.

Shrubland. Shrubland.

indicators indicators

grazing grazing

water water

or or

salinity salinity

amnico/a, amnico/a,

spp., spp.,

260bs. 260bs.

of of

inundation inundation

inventory inventory

limit limit

condition condition

salinity salinity

1 1

inventory inventory

1 1

ground ground

100. 100.

3 3

Samphire Samphire

Atriplex Atriplex

condition condition

levels levels Atrip/ex Atrip/ex

or or

Shrubland Shrubland

Shrubland. Shrubland.

species species

sites, sites,

and and

Seasonal Seasonal

Extreme Extreme

VG/G VG/G

quality quality

High High

include: include:

%: %:

include: include:

good good

Saltbush Saltbush

Samphire Samphire

Frankenia Frankenia

desirable desirable

inventory inventory

limitations: limitations:

Comments Comments

limitations: limitations:

4 4

limitations: limitations:

few few

type: type:

type: type:

condition condition

type: type:

perennials perennials

perennials perennials

use use

use use

use use

and and

accessible accessible

of of

Pastoral Pastoral

access. access. Palatable Palatable

Vegetation Vegetation

Vegetation Vegetation lack lack

Pastoral Pastoral

Palatable Palatable

Vegetation Vegetation

Vegetation Vegetation

Pastoral Pastoral

species species

or or

bare bare

m): m):

aff. aff.

1 1

by by

5; 5;

low low

(> (>

shrublands shrublands

amnicola, amnicola,

mostly mostly

unit unit

striaticaJyx. striaticaJyx.

or or

A. A.

woodlands woodlands

low low

to to

indica, indica,

sp., sp.,

£ £

Maireana Maireana

grass: grass:

shrubs shrubs

m): m):

areas areas

A. A.

sclerosperma. sclerosperma.

species species

dominated dominated

scattered scattered

1 1

shrublands shrublands

m): m):

striatacalyx, striatacalyx,

Halosarcia Halosarcia

30%) 30%)

30%) 30%)

6 6

mid mid

or or

doleiformis, doleiformis,

« «

similar similar

< <

< <

of of

shrubs shrubs low low

sp. sp.

he/msii, he/msii,

Frankenia Frankenia

quinil, quinil,

H. H.

(to (to

saline saline

major major

and and Acacia Acacia

Perennial Perennial

or or

Halosarcia Halosarcia

A. A.

Mid Mid

(PFC (PFC

(PFC (PFC

and and

shrubs shrubs

Tall Tall

spp. spp.

shrublands shrublands

m): m):

Trees Trees

patches patches

spp., spp.,

Eucalyptus Eucalyptus

uncinata; uncinata; probably probably

spp., spp.,

spp., spp.,

1 1

spp. spp.

flooded flooded

Atriplex, Atriplex,

Eriachne Eriachne

by by close close

Low Low

close close Lawrencia Lawrencia

M. M.

mid mid

spp. spp.

« «

auricu/ata, auricu/ata,

by by

with with

or or

H. H.

indica. indica.

bunburyana. bunburyana.

shrubs, shrubs,

grass: grass:

formations formations

low low

indica, indica,

Ha/osarcia Ha/osarcia

Me/aJeuca Me/aJeuca

shrubs shrubs

MeJaJeuca MeJaJeuca

preissH. preissH.

sp. sp.

Lawrencia Lawrencia

frequently frequently

spp., spp.,

MelaJeuca MelaJeuca

H. H.

uncinata, uncinata,

or or

or or

(infrequent). (infrequent).

dominated dominated

moderately moderately

mixed mixed

F. F.

moderately moderately

Ha/osarcia Ha/osarcia

dominated dominated

m): m):

Low Low

50%) 50%)

m): m):

Atrip/ex Atrip/ex

vegetation, vegetation,

M

to to

1 1

or or to to

more more

2 2

Halosarcia Halosarcia

m) m)

Hakea Hakea

Perennial Perennial

of of

sp., sp.,

30

with with

« «

Senecio Senecio

(> (>

spp. spp.

infrequent infrequent

by by

low low

fa/cata fa/cata

spp., spp.,

heJmsii heJmsii

Vegetation: Vegetation:

and and

0.5 0.5

sp. sp.

amnico/a amnico/a

Melaleuca Melaleuca

bare bare

< <

for for

(PFC (PFC

shrublands shrublands

scattered scattered

scattered scattered

shrubs shrubs

m): m):

shrubs shrubs

uncinata, uncinata,

halocnemoides, halocnemoides,

~2 ~2

communities. communities.

Mostly Mostly

shrublands shrublands

Senecio Senecio M. M.

Close Close

Atr/p/ex Atr/p/ex

except except

tomentosa, tomentosa,

Scattered Scattered

channels channels (mostly (mostly

Carpobrotus Carpobrotus H. H. Halosarcia Halosarcia

Very Very

Low Low

(1 (1 Frankenia Frankenia

Eragrostis Eragrostis dominated dominated

mixed mixed

Lawrencia Lawrencia Tall Tall

Very Very

m m

1 1

to to

offs offs

< <

for for

as as

to to

cut cut

surface. surface.

deep, deep,

to to

3; 3;

sediments sediments

to to

similar similar

flats flats

em em

mostly mostly

crystalline crystalline

except except

either either

many many

and and

15 15

fringing fringing

2 2

calcrete calcrete

close close

incised incised

adjacent adjacent

saline saline

with with

raised raised

to to

clays. clays.

with with

or or

of of

(10%) (10%)

probably probably

absent absent

as as

wide wide

units units

red red

diameter, diameter,

depressions. depressions.

clays clays

m m

plains plains

or or

occurring occurring

are are

wide wide

(3%) (3%)

on on

in in

or or

alluvia alluvia

(2%) (2%)

or or

quartz quartz

channels channels

consist consist

m m

km km

mostly mostly

500 500

soils soils foci foci

margins margins

Soils Soils

pits pits

lower lower

6 6

water~tables water~tables

lakes; lakes;

fine fine

with with

> >

500 500

are are

in in

located located

and and

material material

beds beds

and and

shallow shallow

> >

to to lake lake

with with

duplexes duplexes

and and

bases. bases.

lakes. lakes.

(3%) (3%)

foci foci

platforms platforms to to flow, flow,

major major

alluvial alluvial

high high

Soils Soils

with with

reddish~brown reddish~brown

m m

sands sands drainage drainage

and and

of of

lakes; lakes;

often often

deep deep

(60%) (60%)

and and

crusts crusts

shrub shrub

major major

10m 10m

100 100

fine fine

tracts tracts

and and

Landform Landform

lakebeds lakebeds

areas areas

gypsiferous gypsiferous

< <

drainage drainage

of of

to to

minor minor mostly mostly

plains plains

into into

beds beds

lakebeds. lakebeds.

saline saline

dUnes dUnes

gypsum, gypsum,

probably probably

gypsiferous gypsiferous

are are

around around

concentrated concentrated

shorelines shorelines

from from

saline saline

dunes dunes

thin thin

Lake Lake

aeolian aeolian

Swamps Swamps

Drainage Drainage

are are

Saline Saline

pockets pockets

Kopi Kopi and and

forming forming

major major

irregular irregular

flat flat

size size

draining draining

Soils Soils

I.s.-continued I.s.-continued

of of

5. 5.

Occasional Occasional

to to

in in

with with

or or

carrying carrying

Soils Soils

western western

8 8

mounded mounded curved curved

3 3

spurs spurs

crystalline crystalline

6: 6:

saline saline

blown blown

deep, deep,

4: 4:

and and

and and Extensive Extensive

Unit Unit

ranging ranging

deep. deep.

Scattered, Scattered,

Unit7 Unit7

units units

1 1 m

Tracts Tracts Unit Unit

mantles. mantles.

often often Flat, Flat,

UnitS: UnitS:

lakebeds. lakebeds.

gypsum gypsum

mainly mainly

adjacent adjacent

wind wind

Expanses Expanses

linear linear

Unit Unit

Carnegie Carnegie

tv tv ~ ~ Challenge land system 5159km2 (6.01% of survey area) Land type: 4; Pastoral potential: moderate. and minor breakaways, supporting mulga Gently sloping gritty and sandy-surfaced plains with granite outcrops and some halophytic shrublands. and minor alluvial deposits and Geology: Massive Archaean granite with veneers of Quaternary colluvium Tertiary laterite. to 20 m high with quartz strewn slopes; tor Geomorphology: Mainly erosional surfaces; breakaways and hills extensive sandy-surfaced plains below lulls fi elds or occasional large batholiths above sandy or stony footslopes; es and restricted saline plains below and tor fields; stony interfluves (non-saline and saline); alluvial footslop lower margins of system; alluvial sandy fans weathered granite outcrops; hardpan plains carrying sheet flow on Overall relief to 30 m. and sinuous drainage tracts with incised channels and sandy bedloads. Chenopod Shrub land of moderate Vegetation and pastoral use: Granitic Mulga Shrub land and Mulga on unit 2 with good drought reserves where productivity, with minor Bluebush or Mixed Halophytic Shrub lands ion except on alluvial footslopes and drainage not overgrazed; system not normally susceptible to accelerated eros but occasionally on sandy fans and in floors. Kite-leaf poison occurs locally, mainly around domes and tors creeklines, rendering some areas unsuited to stocking. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 12 ha I dse. Range condition summary (834 traverse observations): Vegetation condition (%) (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Good Fair Poor Nil Min. Mod. Sev. 25 50 25 91 7 2 a .w I!O, 120 -----I

BELELE BYA0 1 jl 0 Meeiraltiarll:l MUrchiSO"of So. "," '~ It ~ ..,"~~., ~. ' MURGOO~;~1 tn ~~,~t.cu~c", ' ,,,\:~- 'J." 't~W . #"t.'\1 ,-...I,l ...."

Kalli

94 Challenge 1.5.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Domes, tor fields and low breakaways (10%) 1 inventory site, 5 condition sites and traversed Irregular aggregations of exfoliating granite protrusions and (a) Scattered or very scattered (PFC < 20%) mixed or tall Vegetation type: (a) Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland. outcrops, of mainly unweathered rocks but also occasional low shrublands dominated by Acacia aneura or A. grasbyi; with (b) Mulga Grove Woodland. breakaways with weathered profiles and laterite; occasionally to Cassia nemophila, EremophiJa macmillaniana or E. p/atycalyx Palatable perennials include: Maireana spp., 25 m high but generally < 10m. Surfaces are usually strewn often co-dominant. Rhagodia eremaea, Enchylaena tomentosa, Sida spp., with moderately dense mantles of quartz or granite fragments. (b) Close to closed (PFC < 30%) tall shrublands or low Ptilotus spp. Soils are red or dark red granitic siliceous sands mainly less woodlands very locally at run-on sites below domes, dominated Pastoral use limitations: Kite leaf poison, Gastr%bium Jaytonii, than 30 em deep; pH 6.0-6.5 with a mainly neutral trend. by Acacia rhodophJoia, A. quadrimarginea and occurs fairly widely, mainly in discrete thickets. Principal profile form: Uc1.43. Gastr%bium laytonii. Trees and tall shrubs (to 6 m): Acacia rhodophloia, A. quadrimarginea, A. aneura, A. grasbyi, A. burkittii, A. cuthbertsonii, Canthium lineare, C. latifolium, Santalum spicatum, Pittosporum phylliraeoides. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): A. tetragonophylla, A. victoriae, Cassia sturtN, C. nemophila, Eremophila p/atycalyx, E. macmillaniana, E. forrest;;, Gastr%bium layton;;. Low shrubs « 1 m): C. nemophiJa, Solanum Jasiophyllum, PtHotus obovatus, S. ashbyi, Corchorus walcottii, $ida spp., Rhagodia eremaea, Enchylaena tomentosa, Maireana melanocoma, M. thesioides, M. triptera. Perennial grasses: Cymbopogon ambiguus, Digitaria brownii.

Unit2: Footslopes and saline plains (5%) 2 inventory sites, 6 condition sites and traversed :;: Gently sloping saline plains mainly adjacent to and receiving Very scattered to scattered (PFC < 20%) low shrublands usually Vegetation type: Bluebush Shrubland or Stony Snakewood run-off from unit 1, sparse quartzy mantles of pebbles and dominated by Maireana spp. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia Shrubland. gravels. Soils are dark red duplexes or earthy sands, mainly xiphophylla, A. burkittii, A. aneura, A. tetragonophylla, Palatable perennials include: Maireana spp., Atrip/ex vesicaria, loamy sands over sandy clay loams < 30 cm deep, pH 6.0-7.0 A. grasbyi, Hakea preiss;;. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): M. pyramidata, Enchy/aena tomentosa, Rhagodia eremaea, Ptilotus obovatus, with a neutral reaction trend. Principal profile forms: Or1.52, Dr Cassia sturt;;. Low shrubs « 1 m): M. triptera, M. georgei, P. beardff, Eremophila forrestii, 2.52, Uc5.21. M. tomentosa, Atriplex ves/caria, Enchylaena tomentosa, Chenopodium gaudichaudianum, Frankenia pauciflora. Rhagodia eremaea, Solanum fasiophyllum. Pastoral use limitations: Mild to moderate susceptibility to erosion where perennial vegetation is degraded. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 29, F 39, PNP 32. Erosion incidence %: min 31, mod 8. 49 obs.

Unit 3: Grit-surfaced plains (50%) 5 inventory sites, 36 condition sites and traversed

Extensive, undulating gritty surfaced plains with sandy soils and Scattered to very scattered (PFC < 20%) mixed or tall Vegetation type; Granitic Mulga Shrubland slopes < 2%; frequent low granite outcrops. Often characterised shrublands dominated by Acacia aneura, A. ramulosa, Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestii, E. compacta, by pale pinkish appearance of the ground, due to extensive A. quadrimarginea, Cassia deso/ata or C. helms;;. Ptilotus obovatus, Maireana spp., Rhagodia eremaea. mantling of quartz grit and outcrops of granite bed rock. Soils Trees (to 6 m): A. aneura, A. pruinocarpa. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. are usually granitic siliceous sands to 70 cm over decomposing A. aneura, A. ramulosa, A. quadrimarginea, A. tetragonophylla, Vegetation condition %: VG/G 26, F 52, PNP 22. granite; occasionally with thin hardpan and frequently with A. craspedocarpa, A. victoriae. Mid shrubs (1-2 m):A. grasbyf, Erosion incidence %: min 3. 380 obs. inclusions of quartz fragments throughout profile; pH 6.5-7.0 A. ramulosa, Cassia he/msii, C. sturt;;, C. nemophila, Eremophila with a neutral trend. Principal profile form: Uc5.21. forrestH, E. p/atycalyx. Low shrubs « 1 m): Cassia deso/ata, C. helmsii, Ptilotus obovatus, EremophiJa compacta, Solanum lasiophyllum, S. orbiculatum, Maireana convexa, M. planifolia, Rhagodia eremaea. Perennial grasses: (occasional) Monachather paradoxa, Eragrostis lanipes.

spp., spp.,

traversed traversed

Mulga Mulga

traversed traversed

traversed traversed

traversed traversed

obovatus. obovatus.

E. E.

area. area.

accelerated accelerated

paradoxa, paradoxa,

schwartzii, schwartzii,

and and

site site

and and

of of

and and

to to

Eremophila Eremophila

poison, poison,

sp., sp.,

Stony Stony

P. P.

S S

where where erosion

34. 34.

30. 30.

grazing. grazing.

24. 24.

grazing. grazing. site site

or or

Ptilotus Ptilotus

in in

to to

leaf leaf

sites sites

sites sites

Sfda Sfda

obs. obs.

Shrubland. Shrubland.

compacta, compacta,

PNP PNP

PNP PNP

P/VP P/VP

spp., spp.,

spp., spp.,

Kite Kite

56 56 indicators indicators

inventory inventory

obovatus, obovatus,

mainly mainly

obovatus, obovatus,

52, 52,

1 1

Monachather Monachather

susceptible susceptible

48, 48,

44, 44,

14. 14.

controlled controlled

F F

controlled controlled

F F inventory inventory

P. P.

Shrubland Shrubland

area). area).

F F

Grassy Grassy

obs. obs.

Shrubland. Shrubland.

condition condition

1 1 sp., sp.,

susceptible susceptible

obs. obs.

obovatus, obovatus,

condition condition

of of

14, 14,

8 8

22, 22,

with with

mod mod

22, 22,

locally, locally,

with with

Ptilotus Ptilotus

Maireana Maireana

condition condition

Rhagodia Rhagodia

25 25

Eremophila Eremophila

113 113

degraded. degraded.

Bank Bank

Shrubland. Shrubland.

NW NW

34, 34,

is is

Mulga Mulga

beardii, beardii,

6. 6.

3.151 3.151

Moderately Moderately

VG/G VG/G

in in

Slightly Slightly

sites, sites,

None None

VG/G VG/G

Ptilotus Ptilotus

None None

VG/G VG/G

Chenopod Chenopod

occurs occurs

sites, sites,

min min

Maireana Maireana

min min

%: %:

include: include:

min min

%: %:

include: include:

include: include:

%: %:

include: include:

cafyxhymenla. cafyxhymenla. Sida

%: %:

%: %:

Ptilotus Ptilotus

Creekline Creekline

(mainly (mainly Hardpan Hardpan

Wanderrie Wanderrie

Mulga Mulga

vegetation vegetation

faytonll, faytonll,

inventory inventory

limitations: limitations:

and and Comments

degraded. degraded.

limitations: limitations:

limitations: limitations:

limitations: limitations:

tomentosa, tomentosa,

condition condition

2 2

inventory inventory type: type:

condition condition

type: type:

is is

type: type:

condition condition

lanipes. lanipes.

type: type:

perennials perennials

perennials perennials

perennials perennials

9 9

eremaea, eremaea, spinescens, spinescens,

use use

perennials perennials

georgel, georgel,

use use

incidence incidence

use use

where where

incidence incidence

use use

%: %: incidence

Erosion Erosion

Vegetation Vegetation erosion erosion

Pastoral Pastoral

Gastrolobium Gastrolobium

Palatable Palatable

forrestii. forrestii.

Vegetation Vegetation

Erosion Erosion

Pastoral Pastoral

Vegetation Vegetation

Pastoral Pastoral

vegetation vegetation

Palatable Palatable

Eragrostis Eragrostis

Vegetation Vegetation

Palatable Palatable

Enchylaena Enchylaena

$caevola $caevola Vegetation Vegetation

Erosion Erosion

Pastoral Pastoral

Vegetation Vegetation

Rhagod/a Rhagod/a Palatable Palatable

Maireana Maireana Shrubland Shrubland Mixed

Vegetation Vegetation

m): m):

m): m):

Trees Trees

2 2

or or

1 1

Cassia Cassia

m): m):

A. A.

preissii. preissii.

(> (>

by by

victoriae, victoriae,

Tall Tall

« «

obovatus, obovatus,

H. H.

m): m):

eremaea, eremaea,

obovatus, obovatus,

spp. spp. A. A.

(1-2 (1-2

grasbyi, grasbyi,

shrubs. shrubs.

ramu/osa. ramu/osa.

shrublands shrublands

he/msii, he/msii,

shrublands shrublands

grasbyi, grasbyi,

foliosissima, foliosissima,

A. A.

(1-2 (1-2

shrubs shrubs

shrublands shrublands

forrestii, forrestii,

Maireana Maireana

A. A.

aneura, aneura,

shrubs shrubs

sturtii/desolata, sturtii/desolata,

A. A.

thesioides, thesioides, low low

tall tall

tall tall

suberea. suberea.

Ptilotus Ptilotus

species species

E. E.

aft. aft.

tetragonophylla. tetragonophylla.

or or

Ptilotus Ptilotus

shrubs shrubs

A. A.

dominated dominated

Tall Tall

M. M.

spinescens, spinescens,

m): m):

Rhagodia Rhagodia

E. E. Low Low

A. A.

mixed mixed

m): m):

pterocarpa, pterocarpa,

2 2

shrubs shrubs

m): m):

m): m):

Eriachne Eriachne

creeklines), creeklines),

50%) 50%)

Mid Mid

Eremophila Eremophila

helmsii, helmsii,

rhodophloia, rhodophloia,

/asiophylfum. /asiophylfum.

victoriae, victoriae,

lasiophyllum, lasiophyllum,

Cassia Cassia

major major

2 2

1 1

m): m):

(> (>

> >

Hakea Hakea

E. E.

macmillaniana, macmillaniana,

(in (in

15-25%) 15-25%)

(1-2 (1-2

grasbyf grasbyf

1 1

Mid Mid

A. A.

A. A.

lanipes. lanipes.

(> (> « «

halophytic halophytic

20%) 20%)

with with

m): m):

triptera, triptera,

E. E.

and and

20-

nemophila, nemophila,

« «

aneura, aneura,

arida. arida.

< <

tomentosa, tomentosa,

Scaevo/a Scaevo/a

ramu/osa. ramu/osa.

shrublands shrublands

obovatus, obovatus,

Cassia Cassia

M. M.

C. C.

laslophyllum, laslophyllum,

(PFC (PFC

grasses: grasses:

A A

with with

shrubs shrubs H. H.

(1-2 (1-2

A. A.

burkittii, burkittii,

Solanum Solanum

Solanum Solanum

sp., sp.,

shrubs shrubs

Acacia Acacia

(PFC (PFC

shrubs shrubs

shrubs shrubs

(PFC (PFC

grasbyi. grasbyi. aneura aneura

A. A.

Tall Tall

shrubs shrubs

mixed mixed

calyxhymenia. calyxhymenia.

tetragonophylla. tetragonophylla.

Eragrostfs Eragrostfs

close close

Mid Mid

A. A.

phoenlceus phoenlceus

Tall Tall

Sida Sida

Ptilotus Ptilotus

Low Low

compacta, compacta,

formations formations

he/msii, he/msii,

shrubs shrubs

forrestii, forrestii,

georgei, georgei,

burkittii, burkittii,

preiss;;, preiss;;,

macmillaniana, macmillaniana,

A. A.

cuthbertsonii, cuthbertsonii,

aneura, aneura,

Solanum Solanum

Low Low

closed closed

Enchy/aena Enchy/aena

Perennial Perennial

E. E.

Sida Sida

C. C.

E. E.

Acacia Acacia

M. M.

tetragonophyfla, tetragonophyfla,

E. E.

A. A.

obovatus, obovatus,

Mid Mid

xiphophylJa xiphophylJa

to to

aneura, aneura,

aneura. aneura.

teucriif/ora, teucriif/ora,

scattered scattered

m): m):

A. A.

10-20%) 10-20%)

P. P.

fOliosissima, fOliosissima,

A. A.

A. A.

aneura. aneura.

Hakea Hakea

laytonii. laytonii.

A. A.

1 1

Acacia Acacia

Acacia Acacia

ramulosa, ramulosa,

paradoxa, paradoxa,

ramulosa. ramulosa.

either either

grasbyi, grasbyi,

moderately moderately

plan/folia, plan/folia,

forrestIi; forrestIi;

m): m):

close close

fraseri, fraseri,

very very

« «

aff. aff.

Callistemon Callistemon

by by

m): m):

fraseri, fraseri,

and and

by by

desolata. desolata.

m): m):

A. A.

A. A.

2 2

by by

A. A.

(PFC (PFC

to to

eremaea, eremaea,

Vegetation: Vegetation:

eremaea, eremaea, p/anifolia. p/anifolia.

M. M.

or or

lasiophyllum, lasiophyllum, convexa, convexa,

C. C.

(> (>

Acacia Acacia

beardii, beardii,

(4-6 (4-6

phyllodinea, phyllodinea,

(2-4 (2-4

shrubs shrubs

m): m):

he/msli: he/msli:

sc/erosperma. sc/erosperma.

aneura, aneura,

aneura, aneura,

tetragonophylfa, tetragonophylfa,

victoriae victoriae

xiphophylfa, xiphophylfa,

gaudichaudianum. gaudichaudianum. Chenopodium

Gastrolobium Gastrolobium C. C.

Eremophila Eremophila

shrubs shrubs

Trees Trees

Moderately Moderately

dominated dominated

A. A.

Spartothamnella Spartothamnella

Eremophila Eremophila

Monachather Monachather

convexa, convexa,

Scattered Scattered

Maireana Maireana

dominated dominated

ramu/osa, ramu/osa,

Solanum Solanum

Rhagodia Rhagodia

Scattered Scattered

he/msii, he/msii,

A. A.

Trees Trees

Eremophila Eremophila

Low Low

A. A. Rhagodia Rhagodia

Ptilotus Ptilotus

Maireana Maireana

Cassia Cassia

(2-4 (2-4

Eremophila Eremophila

dominated dominated

Scattered Scattered A. A.

A. A.

A. A.

a a

units units

a a

em em

Soils Soils

with with

higher higher

incised incised

sands sands

on on

granite; granite;

30 30

with with

forms: forms:

< <

with with

often often

from from

and and

some some

at at

6.5-7.0 6.5-7.0

over over

Principal Principal

sandplain sandplain

narrow narrow

earthy earthy

mainly mainly

Uc5.21. Uc5.21.

of of

pH pH

6.0-6.5 6.0-6.5

fragments. fragments.

profile profile

with with

plains plains

Uc5.21. Uc5.21.

are are

saline saline

run-on run-on

with with

deep deep

parts. parts.

pH pH

granite granite

form: form:

tracts tracts

em em

deep; deep;

m; m;

Soils Soils

quite quite

form: form:

earths earths

granite granite

wide, wide,

occurring occurring

1 1

over over

65 65

development, development,

lower lower

Principal Principal

cm cm

m m

< <

soils soils

red red

in in

receiving receiving to to

profile profile

and and

often often

50 50

at at

wide wide

profile profile

or or

750 750

types types

< <

and and

restricted restricted

profile profile

trend. trend.

km km

to to

at at

(6%) (6%)

plains plains

or or

sands sands

(7%) (7%)

creeklines. creeklines.

rises; rises;

alkaline alkaline

little little

sands sands

pebbles pebbles

(2%) (2%)

Principal Principal

0.2 0.2

(20%) (20%)

hardpan hardpan

duplex duplex

low low

undulating interfluvial interfluvial undulating

Principal Principal

floors floors

neutral neutral

lines lines

Um5.51. Um5.51.

banks banks

or or

earthy earthy

with with

plains plains

usually usually

Landform Landform

and and

a a

thin thin

hardpan hardpan

and and

earthy earthy

trend. trend.

quartz quartz

banks banks

or or

plains plains red red

Dr1.12. Dr1.12.

developed developed

gently gently

trend. trend.

long long

with with

by by

red red

sandy sandy

earths earths

drainage drainage occasionally occasionally

granite granite

are are

UC5.21, UC5.21,

km km

well well

Drainage Drainage

very very

sloping sloping

Hardpan Hardpan neutral neutral

are are

Sandy Sandy

low low

red red

I.s.-continued I.s.-continued

Stony Stony

sediments sediments

acidic acidic

outcrops outcrops

granite granite

or or

a a

or or

0.5 0.5

over over

6.0-7.0 6.0-7.0

Soils Soils

Um5.41, Um5.41,

or or

valley valley

trend; trend;

mantled mantled

forms: forms:

flat flat

Soils Soils

4. 4.

pH pH

7: 7:

with with

gently gently

6: 6:

5: 5:

than than

4: 4:

alluvial alluvial

is is

shallow shallow

and and

neutral neutral

overlying overlying

Unit Unit Sandy Sandy or or

channels channels

profile profile

neutral neutral

hardpan hardpan

units. units.

Very Very

Unit Unit

pH pH

2 2 Occasional Occasional

less less

Unit Unit

Um5.51, Um5.51,

deep; deep;

are are

variably variably

Mostly Mostly

occasional occasional

Unit Unit

Challenge Challenge

'D 'D '" '" Channel land system (CS) 94 km2 (0.11% of survey area) Land type: 14; Pastoral potential: low. Deeply incised creeklines and major channels carrying concentrated drainage from the Wooramel River catchment; flanked by narrow, sharply dissected stony hardpan plains supporting acacia shrublands. Geology: Permian sandstones overlain by cemented Quaternary alluvium and colluvium (red-brown hardpan); patches of Tertiary calcrete and early Proterozoic metamorphic rock. Geomorphology: Erosional surfaces; narrow plains and truncated slopes with frequent dendritic, tributary drainage lines, sharply incised into hardpan and sandstone and joining major channels; bed loads of coarse sand, gravels and rocks; overall relief to 20 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Scattered non-saline shrublands similar to Hardpan Mulga Shrublands, with sparse desirable shrubs and grasses; lower units often inaccessible to stock. No accelerated erosion evident. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 12 ha / dse. Range condition summary (12 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) N il Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 100 o o o 50 50 o

o , " , '", 'ro, K!LOMETRES -- - --,-- - --

GLENBURGH

- /

0 Meekatharra Murchison 0

oCue

Mt Magnet 0

Unit: 1. Dissected slopes and hardpan plains. 2. Channels.

98 Channel los.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Dissected slopes and hardpan plains (85%) 1 inventory site and traversed Very scattered (PFC < 10%) mixed shrublands dominated by Gently sloping and undulating erosional slopes dissected by Acacia grasbyi, Cassia spp. or Eremophila spp. Trees (2-4 m): Vegetation type: Hardpan Mulga Shrubland. dendritic tributary drainage channels to 20 m deep; occasionally A. aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. grasbyi, A. aneura, Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus, Cassia helmsii, with low breakaways to 20 m high. Often densely mantled by A. kempeana. Mid shrubs (1-2 m):A. kempeana, Tribulus platypterus. quartz pebbles and with frequent outcrops of weathered A. scferosperma, A. cuspidifofia, A. tetragonophyffa, Dodonaea Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. sedimentary rock and hardpan. Soils are probably red hardpan sp., Cassia nemophila. Low shrubs « 1 m): Cassia helmsii, loams, shallow on unit margins and deeper elsewhere. Tribulus platypterus, Ptilotus obovatus, Solanum lasiophyffum.

Unit 2: Channels (15%)

Major channels incised up to 30 m deep and 200 m wide, but Scattered or closed woodland on channel margins dominated Vegetation type: Creekline Shrubland. usually < 20 m deep and < 100 m wide. Channels carry by Eucalyptus coolabah, E. camaldulensis and Melaleuca spp. Palatable perennials include: Chrysopogon fallax. bedloads of coarse alluvial sand and cobbles. over mixed shrubs with some sedges and grasses.

'" Cole land system (W) 1196 km2 (1.39% of survey area) Land type: 13; Pastoral potential: moderate. and mulga groves and more concentrated Hardpan wash plains with reticulate patterns of wanderrie banks . drainage tracts, supporting mixed mulga and wanderrie shrublands Geology: Quaternary cemented alluvium and aeolian sand. ing sheet flows off granitic hills adjacent to Geomorphology: Depositional surfaces; alluvial hardpan plains carry l and often interconnected mulga groves on Gascoyne-Murchison catchment divide; flows intercepted by elliptica patterns of aeolian sand, as wanderrie banks; higher parts; other parts of plains feature reticulate, water-modified nage tracts, with minor channelling and groves; minor tracts of slightly elevated wanderrie sandplain; central drai total system relief is generally < 5 m. Hardpan Mulga Shrubland with patches of Vegetation and pastoral use: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland and forage shrubs and abundant annuals in Mulga Grove Woodland; moderately productive with sparse perennial and deep soils. Preferential overgrazing good seasons; groves are highly prod uctive beca use of flow interception ; shrub composition frequently dominated of intergroves and drainage floors has resulted in extensive degradation lity to erosion when degraded. by unpalatable Acacia, Eremophila and Cassia species; minor susceptibi Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 12 hal dse. Range condition summary (151 traverse observations): condition (%) (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation Fair Poor Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good 2 23 75 94 6 a a

40 110 120 , , . KILOMETRES -----,..----- GLENBUAGH ROBINSON RANGE ~ t'"jJ /JIi

0 Meekatharra Murchison 0

oCue

Unit: 1. Sand sheets. Wanderrie banks. 2. Mt Magnet 3. Hardpan plains. 0 4. Mulga groves. 5. Broad drainage zones.

100 Cole los.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Sand sheets (5%) 1 condition site and traversed Isolated tracts of slightly elevated sand plain up to 1 km wide, Scattered (PFC 10-20%) tall shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland. occurring centrally generally at the confluence of smaller, often Acacia aneura, A. ramulosa or Eremophila forrestii; grassy layer Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestii, radial sandy banks; extending downslope for up to 3 km, mostly prominent in places. Trees and tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, Ptilotus obovatus, Eragrostis eriopoda, Monachather paradoxa. < 1.5 m above surrounding plains. Soils are probably earthy A. kempeana, A. ramulosa, GrevHlea sp. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. sands to 1 m deep. Principal profile form probably Uc5.21. E. forrestii, E. margarethae, E. aft. foliosissima, Cassia desolata, C. sturtii. Low shrubs « 1 m): Ptilotus obovatus, Solanum lasiophyllum. Perennial grasses: Eragrostis eriopoda, Eriachne helmsii, Monachather paradoxa.

Unit 2: Wanderrie banks (25%) 11 condition sites and traversed

Complex networks of interconnecting wanderrie banks to 1 m Scattered shrublands of a composition similar to unit 1, but with Vegetation type: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland. relief, occurring in a mostly reticulate or 'cobweb' pattern more perennial grasses. Palatable perennials: As for unit 1. upslope, 50-300 m wide and becoming slightly more elongate Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. downslope. Soils are probably similar to unit 1, though probably shallower on margins.

Unit 3: Hardpan plains (45%) 11 condition sites and traversed o"'" Level plains up to 2 km in extent and carrying sheet flow Very scattered to scattered (PFC < 20%) tall shrublands Vegetation type: Hardpan Mulga Shrubland. "'" between sandy banks (unit 2) and groves (unit 4); often dominated by Acacia aneura. Trees (to 4 m): A. aneura, Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestii, E. latrobei, sandy-surlaced with sparse quartz and ironstone gravel A. pruinocarpa, A. quadrimarginea, Grevillea striata, Ptilotus spp., Rhagodia eremaea, Maireana spp., Sida mantles. Soils are probably dark red sandy clay loams or light Hakea suberea. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. tetragonophyfla, calyxhymenia. clays < 50 cm over red brown hardpan. A. kempeana, A. aft. citrinoviridis, Eremophila fraseri. Mid Pastoral use limitations: Vegetation widely degraded, loss of shrubs (1-2 m): E. forrestii, E. latrobei, E. margarethae, many desirable species has reduced grazing potential. Slightly Cassia desolata, C. sturtii, C. helms;;. Low shrubs « 1 m): susceptible to accelerated erosion where vegetation is C. helms;;, Ptilotus obovatus, P. schwartz;;, E. macmillaniana, degraded. E. spathulata, Rhagodia eremaea, Sida calyxhymenia. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 3, F 15, PNP 82. Erosion incidence %: nil 5. 110 obs.

Unit 4: Mulga groves « 5%) 1 inventory site and traversed

Numerous arcuate groves up to 100 m wide and 1 km long on Moderately close to closed (PFC 20 - > 50%) low mulga Vegetation type: Mulga Grove Woodland. unit 3; some with sandy accumulations and grading into woodland dominated by Acacia aneura, A. tetragonophylla or Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestii, E. latrobei, wanderrie banks. Soils are mostly dark red hardpan sandy clay Eremophila fraseri. Trees (2-10 m): A. aneura, A. pruinocarpa, Cassia chatelainiana, Ptilotus spp., Scaevola spinescens, loams or sandy clays, about 50 cm deep over hardpan; A. tetragonophylla, A. distans, Canthium lineare, Grevillea striata. Sida spp., Rhagodia eremaea, Maireana aft. villosa, occasionally deeper. Principal profile forms: Um5.31, Uf6.71. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. tetragonophylla, A. cuthbertsonii, Eragrostis eriopoda, Eriachne flaccida, Chrysopogon fal/ax, A. kempeana, E. fraseri. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): E. forrestii, Monachather paradoxa. E. fraseri, E. latrobei, E. macmillaniana, E. spathulata, Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. Cassia desolata, C. helmsii, C. sturti/. Low shrubs « 1 m): C. helmsii, C. chatelainiana, Ptilotus obovatus, P. schwartzii, Scaevola spinescens, Sida calyxhymenia, S. sp., Rhagodia eremaea, Maireana planifolia, M. convexa. Perennial grasses: Eragrostis eriopoda, Eriachne helmsii, E. flaccida, Chrysopogon faflax, Monachather paradoxa.

traversed traversed

tomentosa, tomentosa,

and and

Creekline Creekline

accelerated accelerated

site site

and and

flaccida, flaccida,

to to

forrestii, forrestii,

E. E.

indicators indicators

Enchylaena Enchylaena

land land

inventory inventory

Shrub Shrub

1 1

susceptible susceptible

condition condition

benthamii, benthamii,

Eremophila Eremophila

eremaea, eremaea,

Mulga Mulga

and and

Mildly Mildly

include: include:

Eriachne Eriachne

Rhagodia Rhagodia

Hardpan Hardpan

Comments Comments

fallax. fallax.

limitations: limitations:

type: type:

perennials perennials

use use

obovatus, obovatus,

Shrubland. Shrubland.

calyxhymenia, calyxhymenia,

Pastoral Pastoral

erosion. erosion.

Palatable Palatable

Grassy Grassy Ptifotus Ptifotus

Chrysopogon Chrysopogon

Sida Sida

Vegetation Vegetation

and and

m): m):

Trees Trees

Rhagodia Rhagodia

grasbyi, grasbyi,

benthamii, benthamii,

shrublands shrublands

sturtiJ; sturtiJ;

(1~2 (1~2

A. A.

tomentosa, tomentosa,

species species

. .

Cassia Cassia

shrubs shrubs

obovafus, obovafus,

Eriachne Eriachne

major major

fallax fallax

10-30%) tall tall 10-30%)

Mid Mid

and and

tetragonophylla. tetragonophylla.

tetragonophylla, tetragonophylla,

Enchylaena Enchylaena

cyperophyffa, cyperophyffa,

Ptilotus Ptilotus

A. A.

A A

(PFC (PFC

grasses: grasses:

A. A.

or or

m): m):

suberea. suberea.

close close

craspedocarpa, craspedocarpa,

« « 1

formations formations

Chrysopogon Chrysopogon

aneura, aneura,

A. A. aneura aneura

Perennial Perennial

lasiophyllum, lasiophyllum,

kempeana, kempeana,

Hakea Hakea

A. A.

A. A.

shrubs shrubs

m): m):

flaccida, flaccida, Acacia Acacia

forrestii, forrestii,

moderately moderately

fraseri, fraseri,

Low Low

E. E.

by by

(2-8 (2-8

Vegetation: Vegetation:

E. E.

Solanum Solanum

to to

cafyxhymenia. cafyxhymenia.

shrubs shrubs

helmsii. helmsii.

helmsii, helmsii,

cuthbertsonii, cuthbertsonii,

fraseri, fraseri,

Sida Sida

E. E.

C. C. E. E.

eremaea, eremaea,

Eremophifa Eremophifa

dominated dominated

tall tall Scattered Scattered

A A

1 1 m

tracts tracts

profile profile

occur. occur.

to to

drainage drainage

up up

deep deep

channels; channels;

Principal Principal

2 2 m

loams loams

unchanneled unchanneled

to to

or or

braided braided

trend. trend.

and and

broad, broad,

earths earths

soils soils

small small

(20%) (20%)

concentrated concentrated more

as as

wide wide

neutral neutral

red red

and and

a a

m m

or or

zones zones

30 30

with with

carrying carrying

to to

numerous numerous

occurring occurring

6.0 6.0

Landform Landform

with with

pH pH

plains plains

drainage drainage

mostly mostly

channels channels

yellowish-red yellowish-red

3; 3;

locally locally

Broad Broad

inclined inclined

large large

unit unit

hardpan; hardpan;

mostly mostly

wide, wide,

Um5.31 Um5.31

than than

over over

are are

gently gently

5: 5:

I.s.--continued I.s.--continued

km km

1 1

elsewhere elsewhere deep deep

Soils Soils

to to

form: form:

flows flows

Very Very

Unit Unit

Cole Cole

f3 f3 ...... •

Coolabulla land system 50 km2 (0.06% of survey area) Land type: 16; l'a,tor,,1 potential: high.

River f1oodplain~with calcrete or hardpan at ..,hallow dt.'pth and 10\\'I..'f claye~pl,llJl'" adjacent to 111l'clndcring channel ...; "upport.., halophytic ..,hrubland.., and fringing eucalypt woodland.

Geo logy: Quaternary iltiuviUIl1 with patche ... of latc Tl~rtiarycalcretc.

Geo morph ology: Dcpol.,itional ..,urfacc<.,; alluvial plain ... 2 to'" kill wide, higher ,Heel', ot cemented hardpan with light ...urfacc mantle.., of calcrete and iron<.,to!1c; lowcr floodplain ....recei\'ing [egul,H ilooding ...ubj cct to "urfacC' fed i.,tribution and accelerated ..,treambanl-. ero...,ion; watefcour..,c.., ilfe variable - major river channe l.., about 50 III \-vide, or ..,n1aller braided channel.., with pronounccd rncander..,. Vegetation and pastoral use: Ilig hl)' productive Saltbu.,h Shrubland, Riverine Mi\ed ShrublilJ1d cllld Calcrete Eucalypt Woodland, mo<..,tly degraded through overgra/ing; der.,irablc .,hrubr., ilnd perennial gra.,r.,c., w idely replaced by invading Acacia, Ca ....ia and [n'111of1hila "'pecie.,. Channel., not important in term ... of forage \'alue, but highly .,u..,ceptible to accelerated erchioll. A very minor "y<..,tel11in the .,urvey area.

Estimated carrying capacity, good co ndition : 7 ha / d ...e. Range condition summary (12 traver se observa tion s);

(n) Era,ion ,tatl" (";,) (b) \'c~ctationcondition (";.) Nil Min. Mod, Se\', Cood Fair Poor 92 8 o o o 92

~(J 80 '20 • ------l

0 ~eekatharfa

~urthlson 0

oCue - MUAGOO Unit: I. Calcrete plain.,. 2. Alluvial plain., on hardpfln. o"lt Magl1et 3, Flood plain, . 4, Drainage foci. 5, Major chann el..,.

104 Coolabulla I.s.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Calcrete plains (5%) 1 inventory site Gently sloping calcrete plains usually < 1 km wide and < 2 km Scattered (PFC 10-20%) low woodland with prominent lower Vegetation type: Riverine Mixed Shrub land or * Calcrete long, mainly on outer parts of the land system. Often strewn with storey dominated by Cassia sturm or PfUotus obovatus. Trees Eucalypt Woodland. calcrete pebbles and gravels. Soils are yellowish-red fine sandy (to 8 m): Eucalyptus coolabah, Hakea suberea, Casuarina Desirable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus, P. diVaricatus, clay loams with abundant calcrete inclusions throughout the obesa. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia victoriae, Santalum Eragrostis setifolia. profile overlying calcrete at variable depth; pH 9.0 with an alkaline spicatum, A. tetragonophylla. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Cassia sturtii, Increaser species include: Cassia spp., Acacia victoriae. reaction trend. Principal profile form: Gc1.12. C. helmsii. Low shrubs « 1 m): P. obovatus, P. divaricatus. Pastoral use limitations: Susceptible to increases by Perennial grass: Eragrostis setifolia. unpalatable shrubs if degraded.

Unit 2: Alluvial plains on hardpan (30%) Traversed Very gently sloping alluvial plains marginal to adjoining wash Very scattered or scattered (PFC < 20%) eucalypt woodland Vegetation type: Riverine Mixed Shrubland or * Calcrete systems (Bunny, Tindalarra and Yanganoo); frequently similar to unit 1 or scattered low shrublands with understorey Eucalypt Woodland. overlying hardpan at shallow depth. Soils are probably red Maireana pyramidata, Acacia victoriae and Cassia spp.; Palatable perennials include: Maireana spp., Eremophila laanii, earths or hardpan types < 1 m deep with some ironstone mantle composition otherwise similar to unit 3. Pfilotus divaricatus and Eragrostis setifolia. and inclusions. Duplex types to 1 m also probably occur. Increaser species include: Cassia spp.,Acacia victoriae. Pastoral use limitaitons: Susceptible to increases by unpalatable shrubs if degraded.

Unit 3 Flood plains (60%) 2 inventory sites, 1 condition site and traversed Almost flat plains receiving regular flooding from overilow of Scattered or moderately close (PFC 10-30%) eucalypt Vegetation type: Saltbush Shrubland or * Calcrete Eucalypt >-' major channels. Soils are deep (> 1 m) yellowish-red clays with woodland dominated by Eucalyptus coolabah with Atriplex Woodland. 5i calcareous nodules throughout profile; pH 8.5 with an alkaline amnicola and Acacia victoriae. Trees (to B m): E. coolabah. TaU P~latableperennials include: Atriplex amnicola, Pti/otus reaction trend. Principal profile form: UfB.12. shrubs (> 2 m): A. victoriae, A. sclerosperma. Mid shrubS obovatus, P. divaricatus, Rhagodia eremaea. (1-2 m): Eremophila laanii, A. victoriae, Cassia helmsii. Low Increaser species include: Acacia victoriae, Cassia and shrubs « 1 m): Atrip/ex amnicola, Pfilotus obovatus, Eremophila spp. P. divaricatus, Rhagodia eremaea, Solanum lasiophyllum. Pastoral use limitations: Subject to invasion by unpalatable Perennial grass: Eragrostis sp. shrubs if degraded; not normally susceptible to accelerated erosion.

Unit 4: Drainage foci (1%)

Scattered small depressions in units 1 or 3 with clayey soils. Associations dominated by E. coolabah, Acacia tetragonophylla Vegetation type: Non-Calcareous Shrubby Grassland. and Eriachne f/accida. Palatable perennials include: Eriachne flaccida. Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing.

Unit 5: Major channels (5%) Traversed

Meandering major channels and river beds up to 100 m wide Scattered (PFC 10-20%) Eucalypt woodlands dominated by Vegetation type: Riverine Mixed Shrubland. and incised to B m deep with sandy, terraced banks; often with large Eucalyptus coolabah (to 12 m) with distinctive mid and Pastoral use limitations: Weakly consolidated soils on banks or frequent oxbow and distinctive billabong formations adjacent to lower storeys characterised by tall shrubs Melaleuca spp., terraces may be erodible if exposed through vegetation major channels. Soils on bank margins are probably red earths Acacia sclerosperma and low shrubs Muehlenbeckia removal. or alluvial deposits (often with exposed calcrete bedrock) while cunningham;;, Atrip/ex amnico/a, Juncus spp., Frankenia spp., channel beds carry bed loads of coarse sand and calcrete Halosarcia spp. on banks and terraces. Riverbeds are generally rubble. bare of vegetation except for occasional Melaleuca spp.

* Calcrete Eucalypt Woodland, very limited occurrence in survey area, not described in report.

tllCk. tllCk.

......

/Olll'''' /Olll''''

3 3

.. ..

' '

li\'c li\'c

high, high,

......

degrilded degrilded

to to

m. m.

j j

tln\\

01 01

~ ~

~lagnet ~lagnet

by by

h h

flow, flow,

RANGE RANGE

-lm -lm

Mee~harr Mee~harr

widl''''prL'cld widl''''prL'cld

tt tt

land land

CUE CUE

to to

to to

land land

BElElE

......

ibility ibility

meljor meljor

......

QUclk'flltln' QUclk'flltln'

t

widely widely

......

......

gr,l' gr,l'

by by

relid relid

ROBINSON ROBINSON

ccp

o\'cr-u'-,(' o\'cr-u'-,('

l.ra l.ra

......

u u

) )

by by

......

Poor Poor

',,

Shrublillld; Shrublillld;

platform platform

ectl'd ectl'd

cOl1ccntreltL'd cOl1ccntreltL'd

(,

ld ld

i hrubb: hrubb:

CL'111l'ntl'd CL'111l'ntl'd

overall overall

......

percJ'lniell percJ'lniell ......

M

di di

by by

Shrubby Shrubby

--, --,

......

Mulga Mulga

foci; foci;

Glicrctc Glicrctc

irilble irilble

r r

carrying carrying

......

part part

water. water.

condition condition

cvcrywhere cvcrywhere

.~ .~

BYRO BYRO

29 29

rr rr

\ \

Fai Fai

h h

MURGOO MURGOO

GlEN8URGH GlEN8URGH

/.

Dc Dc

111 111

......

cc1kareou" cc1kareou"

iHdpan iHdpan

platfofll1"i platfofll1"i

\vide \vide

Il

fre fre

urfaccd urfaccd

drainage drainage

urchoson. urchoson.

......

~

almo..,t almo..,t

and and

I I

kill kill

......

I I

with with

Ilat-

10 10

Non-Ca\cc1rcuu"i Non-Ca\cc1rcuu"i

Vegdcltion Vegdcltion

o\'crlclin o\'crlclin

~.S. ~.S.

area) area) , ,

cillcrl'le cillcrl'le

......

~~~~~ ~~~~~

to to 12 12

Shrubland. Shrubland.

i..,o!alcd i..,o!alcd

yielding. yielding.

(b) (b)

cd cd

2 2

and and

......

......

plain plain

l1y l1y

degradl'd degradl'd

broad

00 00

hrublc1lld hrublc1lld

......

rcli rcli

h h

1

......

with with

grclvcl<." grclvcl<."

......

.eI.l. .eI.l.

survey survey

nUl nUl

plclin plclin

been been

with with

",a ",a

s): s):

......

Blul'bu"ih Blul'bu"ih

with with

~ ~

and and

: :

......

n

......

of of

"he. "he.

......

......

o

plclin<., plclin<.,

n n

Shrubland Shrubland

hi! hi!

i

fill fill

bon

% %

and and

......

ilicc) ilicc)

hel hel

......

pla

pi"in pi"in rvati

hardpcln hardpcln

26

: 7 7 :

.

c1nd c1nd

se

n

Mixed Mixed

......

valll'Y valll'Y

b

(1

alluvial alluvial

o

......

nOIl-lltllophytic nOIl-lltllophytic

o

river river

2 2

k'\,e! k'\,e!

or or

platform platform

Saltbu",h Saltbu",h

; ;

opaline opaline

well well

se se

tly tly

......

clllu\'ia! clllu\'ia!

r

......

.lone .lone

km

of of

e

vcrine vcrine

Se\,. Se\,.

onditi

i

c

5, 5,

R

Jl1o Jl1o

with with

hi~h. hi~h.

.lone .lone

calcrctcd calcrctcd

trav

c1aypellh. c1aypellh.

urfacc<.,

flo\\' flo\\'

calcrete calcrete

......

......

ood ood

1083 1083 and and

34 34

Non-..,alinl' Non-..,alinl'

ill..,o ill..,o

g

favoured favoured

) )

patchl'''i patchl'''i

......

hardpan; hardpan;

......

on on

-l -l

(2

,,

and and

y, y,

('

se: se: th th

y y

calcrete calcrete

it

tform tform

\'ruiable \'ruiable

i

on on

(W) (W)

u

fe",idual fe",idual c

cl

drainc'gl' drainc'gl'

...... floor floor

polcnllel: polcnllel: foci foci

plain plain

l l

w

unit.., unit..,

pielin<..,. pielin<..,. Mod. Mod.

pl

I I

a

around around

apa

llcy' llcy'

animal"i; animal"i;

channelled channelled

,lalli' ,lalli'

on on

tor

.lone .lone

cctcd cctcd ummar

s

g g c

'va

Dcpo.,itiollal Dcpo.,itiollal

......

s

Gra'-,'-,Iand Gra'-,'-,Iand

in

ion ion

pa

(""lora (""lora

......

upporting upporting

system system di., di.,

y

tvliljor tvliljor

Drainilge Drainilge Hardpan Hardpan

Alluvial Alluvial Drainage Drainage

nativc nativc

......

Calcrete Calcrete

10 10

ogy: ogy:

channelled channelled

l

arr

Em,ion Em,ion

cro cro

by by

Min. Min.

and and

c

o

15; 15;

productivity, productivity,

fef!iary fef!iary

: :

by by

drainage drainage

and and

e o\'ergra~ing o\'ergra~ing

land land

(e) (e)

Shrubby Shrubby

ondition ondition

5. 5.

0. 0.

4. 4.

2. 2.

1. 1. 1. 1.

p

rph

c

al al

tion tion

r

y

o

a

t

t

ogy: ogy:

fe

ge ge

m

channl'I.." channl'I.." l

timated timated 79 79

Nil Nil

nd nd

ege

Unil: Unil:

Ran

Es

through through

accelerated accelerated ll''IOderate ll''IOderate

V

and and

Calcrete Calcrete

interrupted interrupted

di"'",C'ctcd di"'",C'ctcd Geo

Geo

c,lluviurn. c,lluviurn.

La

lcllcreted lcllcreted

and and Cunyu Cunyu Cunyu I.s.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Calcrete plaHorms (40%) 10 inventory sites, 7 condition sites and traversed Level or very gently undulating platforms, mainly 0.5-3 km long, Very scattered to moderately close (PFC < 30%) mixed Vegetation type: Calcrete Shrubby Grassland (variably separated by flow zones and elevated 1-10 m above other units shrublands or grassy shrublands dominated mostly by Acacia degraded) or Bluebush Shrubland. Palatable perennials include: with marginal slopes to 2%; sparse to moderately dense mantle aneura, A. sclerosperma and Grevillea spp. Trees: A. aneura, Enneapogon nigricans, E. caerulescens, Eragrostis pergracilis, of calcrete fragments. Soils are red, reddish-brown and Grevillea striata, Pittosporum phylliraeoides, Codonocarpus E. falcata, Maireana spp., Rhagodia eremaea, Ptilotus yellowish-red calcareous red earths or sands, usually shallow, cotinifolius. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. sclerosperma, A. aneura, obovatus, Scaevola tomentosa. over calcrete; pH 8.5 with an alkaline soil reaction trend. A. grasbyi, A. xiphophylla, A. ligulata, A. tysonii. Mid shrubs (1- Pastoral use limitations: Perennial grasses invariably Principal profile forms: Gc1.12, Uc1.31. 2m): A. victoriae, A. aneura, A. sc/erosperma, overutilised and more or less degraded through preferential A. tetragonophylla, Cassia desolata, C. nemophila, Eremophila grazing by stock, goats, kangaroos and rabbits; susceptible to youngii. Low shrubs « 1 m): Maireana pyramidata, shrub invasion by Cassia nemophila, Acacia spp. Oncluding M. trichoptera, Chorizema ericifolium, Cassia desolata, A. aneura) and Dissocarpus paradoxus where degraded; not C. nemophila, Ptilotus obovatus, Rhagodia eremaea, Scaevola normally susceptible to accelerated erosion. tomentosa, Solanum lasiophyllum. Perennial grasses: Vegetation condition %: VG/G 11, F 29, PNP 60. 65 obs. Eragrostis pergracilis, E. falcata, Enneapogon caerulescens, E. nigricans, Stipa scabra.

Unit 2: Drainage foci and claypans (1%) 1 inventory site and traversed Isolated drainage foci up to 500 m wide located on unit 1 and Claypans mostly bare, drainage foci with closed (PFC > 50%) Vegetation type: Mulga Grove Woodland or Non-Calcareous adjacent to unit 3. Soils not sampled, but finer textured or clayey mixed woodland dominated by Acacia aneura. Trees (to 8m): Grassy Shrubland. and deeper than soils of unit 1. Palatable perennials include: Rhagodia eremaea, Scaevola >-' A. aneura, A. distans, Eucalyptus coolabah. Tall shrubS (> 2 m): o A. tetragonophylla. Medium shrubs (1-2 m):A. victoriae. Low spinescens, Eriachne spp. shrubs « 1 m): Scaevola spinescens, Rhagodia eremaea, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. " Cassia desolata. Perennial grass: Eriachne f/accida.

Unit 3: Hardpan plains (25%) 3 inventory sites, 1 condition site and traversed Almost flat « 0.3%) alluvial plains usually on outer margins of Scattered (PFC 10-20%) mixed shrublands. Trees (4-6 m): Vegetation type: Hardpan Mulga Shrubland. system. Soils are dark red deep hardpan types or red earths Grevil/ea striata, Acacia aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus, Maireana with hard-setting duplexes at unit margins, overlying hardpan at A. burkittii, A. craspedocarpa, A. victoriae. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): planifolia, Rhagodia eremaea, Sida calyxhymenia. 1 m, pH 6.0-7.0 with neutral or acidic reaction trend. Principal Eremophila fraseri, A. tetragonophylla. Low shrubs « 1 m): Pastoral use limitations: Mild susceptibility to accelerated profile forms: Um5.31, Dr2.51, Gn2.12. Ptilotus obovatus, Rhagodia eremaea, Maireana planifolia, Sida erosion where degraded. calyxhymenia, Eremophila forrestii, E. maculata, Cassia helmsii, Vegetation condition %: VG/G 7, F 26, PNP 67. Solanum lasiophyllum. Erosion incidence %: min 14, mod 3, sev 3. 76 obs.

Unit 4: Alluvial plains (20%) 2 inventory Sites, 5 condition sites and traversed Almost flat mildly saline alluvial plains with localised calcrete Very scattered to moderately close (PFC < 30%) mixed Vegetation type: Riverine Mixed Shrubland. Palatable rises. Soils are dark red or dark brown duplex types, with a very shrublands. Trees: Eucalyptus coolabah. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): perennials include: Ptilotus spp., Cratystylis subspinescens, sparse to moderately dense gravelly mantle, deep alkaline red A. aneura, A. sclerosperma, A. victoriae. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Atriplex amnicola, Scaevola spinescens, Rhagodia eremaea. earths or hard-setting duplexes. Depth is < 1 m over hardpan or Stylobasium spathulatum, A. victoriae, Scaevola spinescens. Pastoral use limitations: Highly susceptible to accelerated calcrete, pH 7.0-8.0 with alkaline reaction trend. Principal profile Low shrubs « 1 m): CratystyJis subspinescens, Eremophila erosion where degraded. forms: Gn2.13, Dr2.53. margarethae, E. maculata, E. malacoides, Solanum Vegetation condition %: VG/G 5, F 28, PNP 67. lasiophyllum, Scaevola spinescens, Rhagodia eremaea, Ptilotus Erosion incidence %: min 50, mod 15. 40 obs. divaricatus, Frankenia spp., Atriplex amnicola, Halosarcia spp. Cunyu I.s.-{;ontinued

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

UnitS: Drainage floors (12%) 9 inventory sites, 1 condition sites and traversed

Mostly flat non~salinedrainage tracts between calcrete platforms, Scattered to closed (PFC 10-> 50%) woodlands or mixed Vegetation type: Non-Calcareous Shrubby Grassland or up to 1 km wide but usually < 0.5 km wide with occasional shrublands dominated by Eucalyptus coo/abah, E. striaticalyx, * Calcrete Eucalypt Woodland. Palatable perennials include: channels. Soils are yellowish red, red, dark red or brown, red Melaleuca aft. leiocarpa, Acacia aneura, A. burkittii, Scaevo/a spinescens, Rhagodia eremaea, Ptilotus obovatus, earths Or light clays often overlying calcrete at an average depth A. cyperophyJJa, A. tetragonophyJJa or A. tysonii. Trees (to 10 m): Cassia chate/ainiana, Eriachne benthamii, E. flaccida. of 60 em, pH 6.0-9.0 with a mainly alkaline reaction trend. E. coo/abah, E. striatica/yx, A. aneura, M. aff./eiocarpa, Pastoral use limitations: Mildly susceptible to erosion where Principal profile forms: Gc1.12, Gn2.13, Uf6.71 , Uf6.12, Urn5. 11 . A cyperophyl/a. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, A. burkittii, degraded. A. tetragonophylla, A. tyson;;, M. uncinata. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Vegetation condition %: VG/G 24, F 41, P{VP 35. A. tyson;;, Eremophila longifolia, Scaevo/a spinescens. Low Erosion incidence %: min 15, mod B. 34 obs. shrubs « 1 m): Ptilotus obovatus, S. spinescens, Rhagodia eremaea, Solanum lasiophyllum, Cassia chatelainiana. Perennial grasses: Eriachne benthamii, E. flaccida, Stipa elegantissima.

Unit 6: Major channelled flow zones (2%) 1 inventory site and traversed

Flow ZOnes up to 200 m wide with major channels incised to 2 m Moderately close (PFC 20-30%) tall shrublands and fringing Vegetation type: Riverine Mixed Shrubland. into calcrete or hardpan. Soils on banks and levees are dark red woodland. Trees: Acacia aneura, Eucalyptus cama/du/ensis. Tall Palatable perennials include: AMp/ex amnico/a, Rhagodia sandy, silty and clayey alluvial types; pH 7.5-9.0 with neutral or and mid shrubs (1-> 2 m): Grevil/ea aft. stenobotrya, Hakea eremaea, Ptilotus obovatus. alkaline reaction trends; channels carry unsorted bedloads. suberea, A. aneura, A. tysonii, AMp/ex amnico/a. Low shrubs Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. « 1 m): Pimelia microcephala, Ptilotus obovatus, Rhagodia eremaea, Cassia nemophila, Frankenia spp. Perennial grass: ..... Enteropogon acicu/aris . o 00 * Calcrete Eucalypt Woodland, very limited occurrence in survey area, not described in report.

l 16602-8 Ero land system (W) 1589 km2 (1.85% of survey area) La nd type: 16; I'a,t oral potential: high.

Tributary floodplain ... with ..,hallow, erodible duplc", ...nil ...on fed-browll h,udpal1 , more or iL·...... "'( 1 Ii nl.' clnd

...upporting halophytic and non -I1c11ophytic ...hrublclI1d'-lo ; grc1/cd preferentially and widdy dL'~rc1Ckd (UH.i L'rOdl~d.

Geo logy: Quaternary alluviulll with minor depn..,it ... ot Cleoliclll ...and .

Geo m o rph ology : Dcpo'iitional ...urface ...; tribllt~lry ...aline c1l1d non-..,aline allu\ 'ial pl,'I11'" 1-4 "111wide , carrying concentrated drainage from broad \,\Ia..,h plain ... to rnajor drainage..,; nOIl-"'alinc hardpan plain ... f1M1"-ing more ..." llnt' central drainage tracr" with minor ana.,tomo...,ing channel., and widc"prc,H.i accelerated l,'W"'101l and l'\po..,ed fed ­ brown hardpan ; minor internfll drainage foci; ovcrall relief i., < :1 m .

Vege tation and pas to ra l use: Originally , mainl y rl1<)derately to highly productivl' Blucbu ...h , "altbu ...h ,lnd Mi>..ed ll alophyt ic Shrub land.., but now often barely recognisable a .....,uch becclu",c of wide ....prcad dq:;radatioll and ero ....ion or c\tcn.:..ive replacement of dc..,irable ... by invading Acacia and Ert'I/IOJ'hiln ...pecic .... rhc ...y ...tl·m ....provide ... nutritiou ... drought re~erve.,when in good condition and highly palatable annual ....even when .,('vcrl'ly degradcd and eroded . The "y..,tem include.., Hardpan Mulga Shrubland'-. on non- ...aline Illarginal plc1in., and pod ..et ... of highly productive' and re... i1ie nt A lluvial Tu.., ...ock Grac.,..,land in drclinage foci and frequcntly flooded lower plain .....\Vholc ...y..,tem i... preferent ia lly overgrazed by "tock. and other animal ....when provided with permancnt fn:-...h \\'ater ilnd raddock.cd with large area" of wac;h plain "y.,te111..,: 2(" ";, of tr,l\'('r..,(, record ....on the ....y..,tclll ....ho\'\'cd Illoderate or ....('verc ero ...ion . Estimated carry ing capacit y, good conditi o n : 7 h'l d.,c. Ra nge condition s ummar y (518 traverse o bserva ti o ns): (a) Ero,ion qatu, (';, ) (b) Vcgetation condition (", ) Nil Min. Mod. Sc\,. <...ood Fair Poor 39 35 24 10 2S 6S

~ .. . I< -,-'." tAl

~

,VRO ..~ tF BE~~."",,,,",

\ \. '-, ~ "'"I

/ oCUf" Unit: I. Sandv bank .... I f/ 2. Ilard'pall plain..,...... ,-\. ~I ' \ 1\ MURGOO I CUE 1. Alluvi ill plain..,. ,/ 4. Flood plain .... J (~"'.tq""'ll 5. Drainage foci and claypan., . ~ 1\. M inor channel.,.

110 Ero I.s.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Sandy banks (5%) 2 inventory sites and traversed Sandy banks up to 300 m in extent and up to 1 m above Very scattered to moderately close (PFC < 30%) tall shrublands Vegetation type: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland. adjacent unit 2. Soils are dark red earthy sands 0.5- > 1 m deep dominated by Acacia grasbyi and A. aneura. Trees: A aneura. Palatable perennials include: Monachather paradoxa, Ptilotus over hardpan, pH 6.0-6.5 with a neutral soil reaction trend. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, A. grasbyi. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): obovatus, Scaevola spinescens, Rhagodia eremaea. Principal profile form: UcS.21. A tetragonophylla. Low shrubs « 1 m): Eremophila forrestii, E. Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. aft. compacta, Maireana triptera, Solanum lasiophyllum, Cassia helmsH, Ptilotus obovatus, Scaevola spinescens, Rhagodia eremaea. Perennial grasses: Monachather paradoxa, Eriachne helmsH.

Unit2: Hardpan plains (30%) 4 inventory sites, 10 condition sites and traversed Vegetation type: Hardpan Mulga Shrubland. Almost flat (slopes < 0.5%) plains, occasionally with a very Very scattered to moderately close (PFC < 30%) tall shrublands Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus, Rhagodia sparse mantle of pebbles or cobbles. Soils are shallow red frequently dominated by Eremophila fraser;, Acacia victoriae or eremaea, Eremophila forrestii, E. maculata, Maireana spp. or dark red hardpan loams, or crusted duplexes or alkaline red A grasbyi. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): E. fraseri, A. victoriae, Pastoral use limitations: Mildly to moderately susceptible to earths over hardpan at < 0.75 m, pH 6.0-8.0 with a neutral to A grasbyi, A tetragonophylla, A burkittii. Mid and low shrubs erosion where degraded. alkaline reaction trend. Principal profile forms: UmS.31, Dr1.53, « 2 m): E. fraseri, E. forrestii, A. victoriae, A. tetragonophylla, Vegetation condition %: VG/G 11, F 32, PNP 57. Gn2.13. Ptilotus obovatus, P. roei, Solanum lasiophyllum, Cassia Erosion incidence %: min 26, mod 8, sev 3. 223 obs. heJms;;, C. desolata, Rhagodia eremaea, Eremophila maculata .

...... Unit 3: Alluvial plains (50%) 9 inventory sites, 27 condition sites and traversed Vegetation type: Bluebush Shrubland. Gently inclined « 0.3%) saline alluvial plains, often widely Very scattered to scattered (PFC < 20%) low shrublands Palatable perennials include: Maireana pyramidata, degraded. Most areas more or less eroded, with little topsoil and dominated by Maireana or AtripJex spp. when in good condition; M. pJatycarpa, Enchylaena tomentosa, Rhagodia eremaea, hardpan exposures where soil loss is complete. Soils are dark unpalatable shrubs such as Acacia victoriae, Eremophila Ptilotus obovafus, Frankenia spp. red duplexes, hardpan loams or red clays 0.3-> 1 m deep, pterocarpa and Cassia sturtii dominate areas in poor condition. Increaser species include: Hakea preissii, Eremophila mainly over hardpan; pH 6.5-9.0 with an alkaline reaction trend. Trees (2-4m m): A. aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Hakea preiss;;, pterocarpa, Cassia sturtii, C. phyllodinea. Principal profile forms: Or1.52, Or2.52, 0r2.53, Um5.31, Uf6.53. A. victoriae, A. tetragonophyJla, A. xiphophylla. Mid shrubs Pastoral use limitations: Frequently degraded with marked loss (1-2 m): Cassia spp. A tetragonophylla, A victoriae, Eremophila of palatable perennial shrubs, highly susceptible to erosion pterocarpa. Low shrubs « 1 m): Maireana pyramidata, M. where perennials are degraded, susceptible to shrub invasion. pJatycarpa, M. triptera, Rhagodia eremaea, Enchylaena Vegetation condition %: VG/G 7, F16, PNP 77. tomentosa, Frankenia spp, Atriplex bunburyana, Eremophila Erosion incidence %: min 44, mod 39, sev 3. 246 obs. pterocarpa, E. compacta, Ptilotus obovatus, Solanum lasiophyllum, Cassia desolata/sturtii, C. phyllodinea, C. helmsii.

Unit 4: Flood plains (10%) 4 inventory sites, 2 condition sites and traversed Gently inclined lower alluvial plains receiving more regular Scattered to close (PFC 10-50%) tall shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Riverine Mixed Shrubland. flooding than unit 3. Occasional ill-defined shalfow meandering Acacia tetragonophylla. Trees (2-4 m): Hakea suberea, Palatable perennials include: AtripJex bunburyana, Maireana channels < 0.5 m deep. Soils are red brown or dark red, mostly EucaJyptus cooJabah, Acacia distans. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): pyramidata, Scaevola spinescens, Ptilotus obovatus, full depth (> 1 m) light clays or duplexes or alkaline red earths, A. aneura, A. tetragonophylJa. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Eremophila P. divaricatus, Eriachne flaccida. some over calcrete substrates. Soil reaction trend is alkaline. fraseri, A. tetragonophylla, A. victoriae, A sclerosperma. Low Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. Principal profile form: Gn2.13, Uf6.71 , Dr2.53. shrubs « 1 m): PtHotus obovatus, P. divaricatus, Maireana pyramidata, Scaevola spinescens, Enchylaena tomentosa. Perennial grasses: Eriachne fJaccida, Stipa elegantissima. Ero I.s.--continued

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 5: Drainage foci and claypans (3%) 4 inventory sites and traversed Seasonally flooded claypans and rounded drainage foci up to Scattered to close PFC (10-50%) woodlands or tall shrublands Vegetation type: Mulga Grove Woodland or Alluvial Tussock 400 m in diameter (usually smaller) occurring on units 3 and 4. dominated by Acacia aneura, A. kempeana and A. Grassland. Soils are yellowish-red or brown clays and hard-setting duplex tetragonophylla; may occur over whole foci or as fringes around Palatable perennials include: Cratystylis subspinescens, types mostly> 1 m deep, pH 6.0-7.0 with a neutral trend. more open grassy centres. Trees (6-10 m): A. aneura, Scaevola spinescens, Ptilotus obovatus, Enchylaena Principal profile forms: Or2., Uf6.71. Pittosporum phylliraeoides. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. kempeana, tomentosa, Eriaehne flaccida, Enteropogon acicularis, A. victoriae, A. tetragonophylla, Eremophila spp. Mid shrubs Eragrostis xerophila. (1-2 m): Cassia helmsii, E. glabra, A. tetragonophylla. Low Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. shrubs « 1 m): Cratystylis subspinescens, Solanum lasiophyllum, Enchylaena tomentosa, Rhagodia eremaea, Ptilotus obovatus. Perennial grasses: Eriachne f/aceida, Eragrostis xerophila, Enteropogon acicularls.

Unit 6: Minor channels « 2%) 2 inventory sites and traversed Anastomosing channels up to 25 m wide incised to 2 m deep Close to closed (PFC 30- > 50%) fringing woodlands or tall Vegetation type: Saltbush Shrubland or Creekline Shrubland. with hardpan or calcrete exposures. Channel floors carry shrublands dominated by Casuarina obesa or Acacia burkitth'. Palatable perennials include: Atriplex amnicola, Rhagodia bedloads of coarse sand and grit. Soils on banks are alluvial Trees (8-10 m):A. burkittii, C. obesa. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): eremaea, Enchylaena tomentosa, Scaevola spinescens, types of variable depth and with alkaline soil reaction trends. A. burkittii, A. sclerosperma, A aneura. Medium shrubs (1-2 m): Frankenia sp., Ptilotus obovatus. Cassi9 sturtii, C. helmsii, Scaevola spineseens, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. A. tetragonophylla, Grevil/ea stenobotrya. Low shrubs « 1 m): .... C. sturtii, Atriplex amnicola, Pti10tus obovatu5, Rhagodia tv eremaea, Frankenia sp., Enchylaena tomentosa, Halosarcia sp. Eurardy land system 195 km2 (0.23% of survey area) Land type: 11; Pasto ral potential: very low.

Gently undulating sand plain with low dunes , "upporting acacia ..,hrubland'i, patchy 111(111ee and tree form eucalypts and low hcathland,;, rcprc~entinga tran,>ition to the South-Wc'itern Botanical Province; only in far south-west of area. Geo logy: Quaternary aeolian ,and. Geo morph ology: Depositional 'iurfacc'i; cxtcll<.;ivC' undulating o;andplain with occa..,ional rounded dune.., to 5 m; no drainage feature.;; other than scattered drainage foci. Vegetation and pastoral use: Mainly South-Wc,tcrn Sand plain Shrubland-heathy vegetation containing mo,tly South-Western Botanical Province species of vcry little U"ie for grazing; al..,o rninor Sand plain Wandcrric (.ra.,.,)' Shrub land of low productivity. A system unsuited to pa'toral development. Estimated carrying ca pacity, good co ndition : 30 ha I d,e . Range condition s ummary : Insufficiently sampled but in good condition where encountered.

40 80 120

KILOMETRES -- - -- r-- - --

0 Meekatharra MurchIson 0

oCue , MUAGOO Ml Magnet - 0

Unit: 1. Sandplain with low dune.,. 2. Lower plains. 3. Drainage foci and claypan.,.

,

114 Eurardy 1.5.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Sandplain with low dunes (88%) 4 inventory sites and traversed Extensive tracts of gently undulating yellowish sandplain, with Moderately close (PFC 20-30%) mixed height shrublands (and Vegetation type: SandpJain Mallee Acacia Spinifex Shrubland, little relief except for occasional low dunes « 5 m). Soils are heath lands) with many undetermined South-Western Botanical Sandplain Wanderrie Grass Shrubland, * South Western deep, yellowish red earthy sands. Principal profile form: Uc5.21. Province species; also patches of tree and mallee form Sandplain Shrubland. eucalypts. Trees (to 12 m+): Eucalyptus loxophleba, E. foecunda. Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus, Monachather Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia ramulosa, A. sclerosperma, paradoxa, Thyridolepis multiculmis. A. royceii, Melaleuca sp., Callitris columellaris. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): A. ramulosa, A. tetragonophylla, Dononaea attenuata. Pastoral use limitations: Pastoral potential is very low owing to Low shrubs « 1 m): Conospermum sp., Hakea sp., Rhagodia scarcity of palatable species. sp., Solanum lasiophyllum, S. orbiculatum, Ptilotus obovatus, Pimelia microcephala and numerous unidentified species. Perennial grasses: Monachather paradoxa, Thyridolepis multiculmis, Stipa sp., Triodia sp.

Unit 2: Lower plains (10%)

Flat plains with more soil development than unit 1 and receiving Vegetation similar to unit 1. As for unit 1. some local run-on. Soils are probably yellowish-red earthy sands over a calcrete pan at variable depth, pH 7.0 with a neutral reaction trend. Principal profile forms probably: Uc5.21, Uc5.22 ...... c.n Unit 3: Drainage foci and claypans (2%)

Isolated claypans up to 300 m in diameter, mostly located on Generally bare of vegetation although occasionally fringed with lower parts of system. Soils are deep red earths or clays. dense Acacia tetragonophylla or Melaleuca spp.

* South Western Sandplain Shrubland, very limited occurrence in survey area, not described in report. Farmer land system 81 km2 (0.09% of survey area) Land type: 1; Pastoral potential: very low. Rough hills and footslopes of gabbro and dolerite rising steeply from surrounding plains, supporting sparse tall acacia shrublands. Geology: Archaean and early Proterozoic gabbro with frequent intrusive dykes and sills of dolerite; Quaternary colluvium on slopes. Geomorphology: Erosional surfaces; hill crests and peaks with much outcrop and mantle of gabbro and dolerite; slopes variable but mostly> 10% and concave with interfluves dissected by narrow valleys; lower slopes and plains with stony mantles; relief up to 160 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland of mostly very low pastoral value, with upper slopes and crests largely inaccessible to domestic stock; generally in good condition with little erosion owing to extensive protective mantle. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 30 hal dse. Range condition summary (19 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 100 o o o 63 32 5

40 80 120, KILOMETRES

Unit: l. Hills and ridges. 2. Upper slopes. 3. Lower footslopes and marginal plains.

116 Farmer los.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Hills and ridges (50%) 1 inventory site and traversed Rough hill crests and peaks to 160 m with spurs and ridges Scattered (PFC 10-20%) mixed shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland. densely mantled with dolerite and gabbro cobbles and boulders; Acacia spp. or Eremophila platycalyx. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Pastoral use limitations: Poorly accessible to stock and very few rock outcrops frequent in higher parts. Occasional pockets of A. sp., A. aneura, A. tetragonophylla. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): palatable shrubs. soil, very shallow reddish brown duplexes or lithosols with E. platyca/yx, E. forrestH, E. aft. mackin/ayi. Low shrubs « 1 m): dolerite substrates at < 20 em; pH 7.5-8.0 with a neutral reaction Hibiscus sp., pti/otus obovatus, Cassia helmsii, C. sturtii, trend. Pimelia microcephala, So/anum lasiophyllum. Perennial grass: Stipa spp.

Unit 2: Upper slopes (20%) and 2 inventory sites and traversed Unit 3: Lower footslopes and marginal plains (30%) Steep upper footslopes (slopes to > 10%) grading to flatter lower Scattered (PFC 10-20%) mixed shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland. slopes and plains. Very dense gabbro mantles and frequent EremophHa platyca/yx and Acacia MRS 399. Trees (to 4 m): Palatable perennials include: pti/otus obovatus, P. schwartzii, outcrops. Soils are very shallow stony lithosols, reddish brown A. aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. P49, MRS 399, E. platycalyx, Sida sp . . fine sandy loams or clayey sands mostly < 20 cm, overlying A. burkittii, Dodonaea spp. Mid shrubs (1-2 m):A. sp., Pastoral use limitations: Low potential. greenstone or gabbro material; pH 7.0 with a neutral reaction E. p/atycalyx, E. georgei, E. forrestii, Cassia nemophHa, trend. Principal profile forms: Uc1.43, Urn5.51. C. sturtii. Low shrubs « 1 m): pti/otus obovatus, P. schwartzii, Thryptomene decussata, Sida sp., So/anum /asiophyllum, Corchorus spp., Hemigenia macphersonii. Perennial grass: Cymbopogon ambiguus. >-' >-' " Flood land system (G) 439 km2 (0.51% of survey area) Land type: 13; ('a,toral potential: moderate .

Hardpan wa~hplain.., with long, interconnected wandcrric bank ...... upporting mulga and willldcrric ..,hrubland ....; Il)ai ni y in catchment of \Vooramcl River and further north .

Geo logy: Quaternary cemented alluv ium with aeolian dcpo,;"it ....

Geomorphology: Dcpo-,itional ..,urfacc..,; alluvial plain ....carrying ..,hl'ct flow and c).tenr..,ivc winu-dcpo..,itcd, f1ow­ rnodificd wandcrrie bank.., arranged rno';tiy parallel to flow d irection but w ith ,;orne tran<..,vcr..,c interconnect ing

bank ...; hardpan interbank plain.., with inte rmittent grove formation'"); little channel development c1nd overall re lief is generally < 5 Ill .

Vegetation and p astora l use: Wandcrric Ba nk G ra ...... y Shrubl nnd ,)Ild I la rd pan Mul ga Shrubl a nd of rnoderatc producti vity and I.,ome drought reserve..,; rnorc productive pari., o f unil 3 tend to be c,;ol11cwhat ovc rgra.lcd; mi nor ..,u..,ceptibilily to e ro.,io n o n unit 4. Estimated ca rry ing ca pacity, good conditi on: 12 ha/d,e. Ra nge conditi on summary (60 traverse observa tion s):

(a) Ero.,io!1 ..,tatu., e(,) (b) Vegetation condit ion e·,,) Nil Min. Mod . Sc\,. Cood Fair Poor

(1 93 7 o 27 32 ~1

o 40 eo 120 .... .I.. .I.. .I.. ... KILOMETRES ,------~- - -

GLENBUAGH ROBINSON RANGE 'r$ ..

BELELE Meckatharra • MurchISon•

.Cue

Unit: I. Sand y bank..,. 2. Sand ,heet,. Ml Magnel • 3. I lard pa n plain.:;. - 4. Drainage tract.."

3

3

1

4

1KIII

118 .,

Flood I.s.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Sandy banks (30%) 2 inventory sites, 4 condition sites and traversed Reticulate or linear sandy banks to 3 m above surrounding unit Moderately close (PFC 20-30%) grassy shrubland dominated by Vegetation type: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland. 3; slopes < 1 %. Variable in size; mostly < 200 m wide and < 1 Acacia aft. coolgardiensis, A. ramulosa, Eremophila torrestii. Palatable perennials include: Monachather paradoxa, Eragrostis km long but also grading into broader expanses similar to unit 2. Trees (to 6 m): A. pruinocarpa, Grevillea spp. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): lanipes, Tribulus platypterus. Soils are red earthy sands> 1 m deep; pH 5.5 with an acidic A. aft. coolgardiensis. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): A. aft. coo/gardiensis, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. reaction trend. Principal profile form: UcS.21. E. margarethae, A. murrayana, E. torrestii, A. ramulosa. Low shrubs « 1 m): Solanum /asiophyllum, Cassia desolata. Perennial grasses: Monachather paradoxa, Eriachne helmsii, Eragrostis lanipes.

Unit2: Sand sheets (10%) 1 inventory site and traversed

Gently sloping « 0.5%) broad sand sheets extending to 5 km in Very scattered to scattered (PFC > 20%) grassy shrublands Vegetation type: Sand plain Wanderrie Grassy Shrubland. length but more commonly < 2 km long and < 1 km wide dominated by perennial grasses (Eragrostis eriopoda, Palatable perennials include: Eragrostis eriopoda, E. lanipes, arranged longitudinal to direction of water flow. Soils are deep Monachather paradoxa, Eriachne helmsif) and Eremophila Monachather paradoxa. red earthy sands> 1 m deep; pH 6.5-7.0 with a neutral trend. margarethae. Trees (4-6 m): Eucalyptus coolabah, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Principal profile form:, UcS.21. E. dichromophloia. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia ramulosa, A. kempeana, A. aneura. Mid shrubs (1-2 m):A. kempeana, A. murrayana. Low shrubs « 1-2): Eremophila margarethae, Cassia desolata, So/anum /asiophyllum. Perennial grasses: Eragrostis eriopoda, E. lanipes, Eriachne helmsii, Monachather paradoxa, Aristida browniana. ""' '"""' Unit 3: Hardpan plains (50%) 7 condition sites and traversed Vegetation type: Hardpan Mulga Shrubland. Gently inclined (< 0.5%) plains subject to broad sheet flow Scattered (PFC 10-20%) low woodland or mixed shrublands Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus, Sida between sandy banks, grading to more extensive areas with dominated by Acacia aneura and Cassia spp. Trees (2-4 m): calyxhymenia, Maireana planifolia, Canthium lineare. locally groved vegetation formations downslope. Soils are A. aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, A. tetragonophylla. Pastoral use limitations: Mild susceptibility to accelerated probably shallow red earths, sandy clay loams over sandy clays Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Cassia desolata, A. kempeana, Canthium erosion when degraded. on hardpan to < 50 cm deep; pH 6.0-7.0 with a neutral trend. lineare, Eremophila fraseri, E. mackin/ayi, Grevillea def/exa. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 26, F 23, PNP 51. Low shrubs « 1 m): Ptilotus obovatus, Sida calyxhymenia, Erosion incidence %: min 5. 39 obs. Cassia helmsii, Solanum lasiophyllum, Maireana planifolia.

Unit 4: Drainage tracts (10%) Traversed Drainage floors to 1 km wide with occasional small channels, Scattered (PFC 10-20%) to moderately close (PFC 20-30%) low Vegetation type: Hardpan Mulga Shrubland or Creekline but mostly unchannelled. Soils are probably shallow red earths woodlands or mixed shrublands dominated by Acacia aneura, Shrubland. or clays overlying hardpan at about 50 cm. A. tetragonophylla, Eremophila fraseri or Cassia species. Pastoral use limitations: Mild susceptibility to accelerated erosion.

-

cia cia

ca

al al

a

to to

, ,

grove" grove"

tr

no no

t t

e e

elief elief

r r

r

tall tall

, ,

cen

g g

Magne e e o

ptibl

--

in

RANGE RANGE

oCue oCue

Mt Mt

Meekatharra Meekatharra

mulga mulga

Wanderrie Wanderrie

0 0

littl

sce

; ;

banks

u

-

above above

n

>2, >2,

o

y y s

l

minor minor

iti

support

ROBINSON ROBINSON

arcuate arcuate

wide, wide,

80 80

Gac;coyne-Murchison Gac;coyne-Murchison

by by

slight

m m

cond

with with

. .

of of

wanderrie wanderrie

-,--

banks banks

KILOMETRES KILOMETRES

fair fair

'100 '100

ear ear

rrie rrie

-

plains plains in in

c

~-::"::':'==-~' ~-::"::':'==-~'

, ,

lin

y y

and and

tl

-

intercepted intercepted

Woodland Woodland

boundary boundary

os

; ;

wand

0 0

ong ong

-' -'

l

m

GLENBUAGH GLENBUAGH

minor minor

the the

; ;

m m

drainage drainage

flow

and and

Grove Grove

Murctuson Murctuson

ong ong

l

flow

500 500

,---

a

area) area)

ands; ands;

sheet sheet to to

probably probably shrubs. shrubs.

groves groves

Mulga Mulga

e e

up up

only only

0 0

hrubl

s

12

and and

and and

survey survey

mulga mulga

carrying carrying

occur., occur.,

concentrated concentrated

of of

vegetation vegetation

it it

unpalatabl

; ;

zones. zones.

a/dse. a/dse.

plains plains

orc orc

h

plains plains

perennial perennial

by by

ticulate ticulate

m

area area

e

Shrubland Shrubland

12 12

r

y y

flow flow

: :

mpled

deposit'. deposit'.

n

. .

(0.04% (0.04%

htl

o

sa

g

2 2

hardpan hardpan

alluvial alluvial

li

lian lian

~urvey ~urvey

Mulga Mulga

broad, broad,

increases increases

nditi

g g s

km

productive productive

in in

aeo

to to

by by

co

aces; aces;

e e

moderate

ivin

36 36

n

: :

urf

concentrated concentrated

with with

o

s

ece

intergrove intergrove

Hardpan Hardpan

r

nsufficiently nsufficiently good good

pr

(G) (G)

I

, ,

erstorey; erstorey;

with with

oderately oderately

se: se:

banks. banks.

plains. plains.

u

and and

m

ary: ary:

potential

und

tracts tracts

alluvium alluvium

characterised characterised

ral ral

ndy ndy

ove ove

r

capacity

sa

g

umm

system system

sto

r

g g

Depositional Depositional

s

e

broad broad above

: :

grassy grassy

divide. divide.

in

pa

plains plains

Pastoral Pastoral

degraded degraded

Low Low

Floodplains Floodplains

Int

Groves. Groves.

drainage drainage

. .

; ;

Shrubland; Shrubland;

ogy

nd nd

land land

l

a

m

with with

carry

13

s s

lled lled

5 5

Quaternary Quaternary

evated evated

wash wash

. .

l

e

where where

4

2. 2.

< <

1. 1.

3. 3.

condition condition

y y e

Grassy Grassy

catchment catchment

type: type:

ion ion

ubland

timated timated

nk nk

ually ually

osion. osion.

Unit: Unit:

a

r

s

lightl

Range Range

e

Es

B

Vegetation Vegetation

eros

u

unchann

Geomorpho

s

Geology: Geology: River River

Hardpan Hardpan

Land Land

shr Frederick Frederick Frederick 1.5. (adapted from Wilcox and McKinnon, 1972)

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Groves (15%) Traversed Parts of almost flat alluvial plains characterised by pronounced Moderately close to close (PFC 30-50%) mulga Acacia aneura Vegetation type: Mulga Grove Woodland. arcuate groves of dense mulga and shrubs arranged transverse woodlands. Trees and tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, A. grasbyi, Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestii, Rhagodia to the slope; often interconnected and up to 500 m long and A. pruinocarpa. Mid and low shrubs « 2 m): Eremophila forrestii, eremaea, Ptilotus obovatus, Monachather paradoxa. 100 m wide. Soils are red-brown sandy loams or sandy clay E. fraseri, E. exilifolia, E. gilesii, Canthium sp., Pti/otus obovatus, Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. loams < 1 m deep; frequently over hardpan; pH 6.0-7.0. Rhagodia sp. Perennial grasses: Monachather paradoxa, Eriachne helmsH.

Unit 2: Intergrove plains (65%) Traversed

Flat plains interspersed with groves (unit 1) and sandy banks Very scattered (PFC < 10%) mixed shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Hardpan Mulga Shrubland. (unit 4); extending up to several kilometres downslope and up to Acacia aneura. Trees and tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus spp. 500 m wide; surfaces are usually sealed and strewn with light Grevillea striata, Eremophila fraseri. Mid and low shrubs « 2 m): Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. quartz mantles. Soils are reddish-brown sandy clay loams over E. margarethae, E. spathulata, Ptilotus obovatus, P. schwartzii. hardpan < 50 cm deep; pH 5.0-7.0.

Unit 3: Flood plains with concentrated flow Traversed zones (15%) Almost flat plains similar to unit 2 but receiving more concentrated Scattered (PFC 10-20%) mixed shrublands similar to unit 2 but Vegetation type: Hardpan Mulga Shrubland. sheet flow, up to 5 km long and up to 500 m wide often with small with more frequent low shrubs (Ptilotus obovatus, P. schwartz;; Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. '-'tv braided central channels; outer plains are usually lightly to and Solanum lasiophyl/um). '-' moderately mantled with small quartz pebbles. Soils are reddish­ brown gritty clays < 1 m deep, over hardpan.

Unit 4: Low sandy banks (5%) Sandy banks, up to 500 m wide, and slightly elevated « 1 m) Scattered (PFC 10-20%) mixed shrublands with Acacia aneura, Vegetation type: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland. above unit 3, extending up to 2 km downslope. Soils are reddish A. ramu/osa, Eremophi/a forrestii, Ptilotus obovatus and Cassia Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestii, Ptilotus brown loamy sands> 1 m deep. spp. and infrequent perennial grasses Monachather paradoxa, obovatus, Monachather paradoxa. Eriachne helmsii. Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. Gabanintha land system (W) 962 km2 (1.12% of survey area) Land type: 1; Pastoral potential: low. (greenstones), supporting sparse acacia and Ridges, hills and footslopes of various metamorphosed volcanic rocks other mainly non-halophytic shrub lands. mainly jaspilite /banded ironstone, basaltic Geology: Metamorphosed Archaean volcanic and sedimentary rocks; also minor residual material from former intrusives and felsic volcanics; with thin Quaternary colluvium veneers; Tertiary laterite cappings. outcrops of schist, jaspilite Erosional surfaces, long ranges of low hills and ridges with extensive Geomorphology: footslopes with incised more or less and other parent rocks; peaks to 120 m; rough rounded crests and concave development on lowest units; minor sandy rectangular drainage; level stony plains with minor shallow hardpan surfaced lateritic plains; overall relief is < 130 m. Mulga Mixed Shrubland; mostly low in Vegetation and pastoral use: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland and Stony footslopes and stony plains below weathering productivity, but with halophytic understorey shrubs on accessible in fair condition, except for areas of outcrops; productivity of annuals moderate in good seasons; mostly generally susceptible to grazing-induced halophytes selectively overgrazed; hills mostly poorly accessible; not erosion but widely scarred by past mining activities. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 20 ha / dse. Range condition summary (133 traverse observations): condition (%) (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation Fair Poor Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good 42 92 7 1 0 22 36

120 40, 80, KILOMETRES -- - --,- - -- RO~INSON RANGE,

BELElE 1 Metlkatha(ra i I Murchison 0 -1,,<,. -! ',~t~:.";:)i" v, .I • I . C . '< :j> (Ie MURGOO ! . cu~,;" Ij Unit: 1. Hill crests, ridges and hill spurs. .'f ,;. .- . , . 2. Upper slopes. ~ » Mt Magnet 3. Lower slopes. ,"\ 4. Stony plains. 5. Gravelly plains. 6. Creeks and drainage tracts.

122 "

Gabanintha 1.5.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit I: Hill crests, ridges and hill spurs (30%) 1 inventory site

Rough greenstone hill crests, spurs and ridges with peaks to Scattered (PFC 10~20%)mixed shrublands. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Vegetation type: Stony Mulga Mixed Shrubland or Rocky Hill 120 m; slopes variable but usually 5 to 10%. Dense surface Acacia aneura, A. MRS 399. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Acacia Mixed Shrubland. mantles of greenstone, quartz or schist, also frequent rock aneura, A. MRS 399, Eremophila macmillaniana, Dodonaea Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus, Maireana outcrop. Soils are stony lithosols overlying greenstone; pH 6.0 pinifolia, Cassia sturtH, C. nemophila. Low shrubs « 1 m): georgei, M. triptera, M. melanocoma, Sida sp., Tribulus with a neutral trend. Principal profile forms: Uc1.43, UrnS.51, Kallstroemia platypterus, D. pinifolia, Solanum lasiophyllum, platypterus. Um5.41. E. ex;lifolia, Calytrix muricata, Hybanthus f/oribundus, pti/otus Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. obovatus, Sida sp., Maireana georgei, M. melanocoma, M. triptera.

Unit 2: Upper slopes (20%) 5 inventory sites, 1 condition site and traversed

Densely mantled concave upper stopes to 10%; relief is Scattered (PFC 1 0~20%)mixed shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland or Stony Mulga occasionally to 50 m but usually less; outcrops of ironstone, Acacia aneura or A. quadrimarginea. Trees (to 6 m): Mixed Shrubland. schist, dolerite or other parent material. Soils are shallow stony A. pruinocarpa. Tall shrubs (> 2 my: A. aneura, Palatable perennials include: ptilotus rotundifolius, lithosols dark red fine sandy loams or sandy clay loams with A. quadrimarginea, A. grasbyi. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): A. aneura, P. schwartzii, P. obovatus, P. roei, Maireana georgei, inclusions of decomposing parent material throughout the Eremophila macmillaniana, A. tetragonophylla, E. latrobei. Low M. triptera, M. vil/osa, Atriplex bunburyana, Tribulus platypterus,

profile; pH 6.0~6.5with an acidic or neutral trend. Principal shrubs « 1 m): Cassia desolata, Ptilotus rotundifolius, Rhagodia eremaea. profile forms: Uc1.43, Um5.41, Um5.51. P. obovatus, P. roei, P. schwartzii, E. exiHfolia, E. glutinosa, Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing...... Rhagodia eremaea, Maireana georgei, M. viJIosa, M. triptera, tl Tribulus platypterus.

Unit3: Lower slopes (30%) . 3 inventory sites, 5 condition sites and traversed Footslopes below unit 2, grading to gently undulating plains with Very scattered or scattered (PFC < 20%) low woodlands or Vegetation type: Stony Mulga Mixed Shrubland. slopes from 6% in upper parts falling to < 1% downslope; mixed shrublands dominated by Acacia aneura, Eremophila Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus roei, Eremophila latrobei, frequently dissected by drainage tracts forming rounded or macmillaniana. Trees (4-6 m): A. aneura, A. pruinocarpa. Tall Cassia helmsii, Atriplex bunburyana.

undulating interfluves up to 1 km wide with relief to 20 m. Soils shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura. Mid shrubs (1~2m): Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing and not are dark red soft surfaced duplexes or skeletallithosols, E. macmil/aniana, E. spathulata, Cassia helms;;. normally susceptible to accelerated erosion.

generally < 50 cm deep; pH 6.5~8.5with a neutral or acidic A. tetragonophylla, E. fraseri, E. latrobei. Low shrubs « 1 m): Vegetation condition %: VG/G 21, F 43, PNP 36. trend. Principal profife forms: Dr4.12, Uc5.21. C. helms;;, E. spathulata, E. latrobei, Solanum lasiophyllum, Erosion incidence %: min 2. 58 obs. Ptilotus roei.

Unit4: Stony plains (15%) 3 condition sites and traversed Gently undulating or almost flat stony plains with little or no Very scattered or scattered (PFC < 20%) low or mixed Vegetation type: Stony Mulga Mixed Shrubland. relief. Soifs are probably shallow loams overlying hardpan or shrublands dominated by Acacia aneura, A. tetragonophylla or Palatable perennials include: Maireana convexa, M. vil/osa, weathered igneous rocks. Solanum lasiophyllum. Trees (2-4 m): A. aneura, Pti/otus obovatus, P. schwartzii, P. roei, Eremophila compacta, A. pru;nocarpa, Brachychiton gregorii. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Sida calyxhymenia.

A. aneura, A. tetragonophylla. Mid shrubs (1~2m): A. ramulosa, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing and not Cassia sturtii, C. nemophila, Eremophila fraseri, E. linearis, normally susceptible to erosion. E. platycarpa. Low shrubs « 1 m): Pti/otus schwartzii, Vegetation condition %: VG/G 19, F 30, PNP 51. P. obovatus, P. roei, Solanum lasiophyl/um, E. compacta, Erosion incidence %: min 0, mod 3. 37 obs. Maireana convexa, M. vil/osa, Sida ca/yxhymenia.

traversed traversed

traversed traversed

Ptilotus Ptilotus

erosion erosion

Monachather Monachather

Ptilotus Ptilotus

and and

and and

Shrubland. Shrubland.

water water

grazing. grazing.

site site

site site

to to

forrest;;, forrest;;,

eriopoda, eriopoda,

spinescens, spinescens,

indicators indicators

Grassy Grassy

controlled controlled

inventory inventory

inventory inventory

1 1

1 1

susceptible susceptible

with with

condition condition

Scaevola Scaevola

Eragrostis Eragrostis

Eremophila Eremophila

Shrubland. Shrubland.

Wanderrie Wanderrie

and and

Mildly Mildly

faffax. faffax.

None None

include: include:

lineare, lineare,

include: include:

Creekline Creekline

Sandplain Sandplain

Comments Comments

limitations: limitations:

limitations: limitations:

type: type:

type: type:

Canthium Canthium

Chrysopogon Chrysopogon

perennials perennials

perennials perennials

use use

use use

degraded. degraded.

Pastoral Pastoral where where

Palatable Palatable

obovatus, obovatus,

Vegetation Vegetation

Pastoral Pastoral

Palatable Palatable

schwartzii, schwartzii,

paradoxa. paradoxa.

Vegetation Vegetation

sp., sp.,

m): m):

1 1

forrestii, forrestii,

Perennial Perennial

« «

woodlands woodlands

E. E.

Trees Trees

shrublands shrublands

Cassia Cassia

forrestii, forrestii,

grasses: grasses:

m): m):

sturtii. sturtii. aneura, aneura,

Monachather Monachather

50%) 50%)

1 1

shrubs shrubs

Prostanthera Prostanthera

aneura, aneura,

species species

A. A.

> >

mixed mixed

« «

fraseri, fraseri,

A. A.

forrestii. forrestii.

or or

Low Low

m): m):

aneura, aneura,

Cassia Cassia

E. E.

Perennial Perennial

m): m):

major major

Eremophila Eremophila

A. A.

2 2

eriopoda, eriopoda,

(4~6 (4~6

shrubs shrubs

m): m):

10~30%) 10~30%)

ambiguus. ambiguus.

my: my:

m): m):

(> (>

and and

20~50% 20~50%

2 2

pinifolia. pinifolia.

lineare, lineare,

lasiophyllum, lasiophyllum,

Low Low

(1~2 (1~2

Eremophila Eremophila

(> (>

(1~2 (1~2

Trees Trees

(PFC (PFC

obovatus. obovatus.

or or

(PFC (PFC

shrubs shrubs

Eragrostis Eragrostis

shrubs shrubs

close close

formations formations

shrubs shrubs

shrubs shrubs

Solanum Solanum

Tall Tall

Canthium Canthium

aneura. aneura.

Dodonaea Dodonaea

ramulosa. ramulosa.

Cymbopogon Cymbopogon

Ptilotus Ptilotus

aneura aneura

closed closed

Mid Mid

Mid Mid Tall Tall

A A

helmsii, helmsii,

or or

sturtii, sturtii,

fallax, fallax,

Acacia Acacia

gregor#. gregor#.

Acacia Acacia

moderately moderately

fraseri. fraseri.

C. C.

close close

by by

aneura. aneura.

by by

Vegetation: Vegetation:

spinescens, spinescens,

or or

kempeana, kempeana,

lasiophyllum, lasiophyllum,

Eriachne Eriachne

A. A.

m): m):

tetragonophylla, tetragonophylla,

tetragonophylla. tetragonophylla.

Chrysopogon Chrysopogon

Rulingia Rulingia

Scaevola Scaevola

Brachychiton Brachychiton nemophifa, nemophifa, Moderately Moderately

dominated dominated

Eremophl1a Eremophl1a

(2~4 (2~4

grasses: grasses:

paradoxa. paradoxa.

Solanum Solanum Scattered Scattered

dominated dominated

A. A.

A. A.

to to

gravel. gravel.

and and

with with

light light

dense dense

or or

m; m;

sand sand

1 1

Principal Principal channels channels

< <

coarse coarse

broader broader

at at

or or

loams loams

aeolian aeolian

moderately moderately

development development

sands. sands.

incised incised

(2%) (2%)

of of

a a

sandy sandy

laterite laterite

little little

becoming becoming

cobbles cobbles

with with

soils soils

with with

tracts tracts

of of

tracts tracts

alluvial alluvial

with with

and and

often often

rectangularly distributed distributed rectangularly

gravelly gravelly

slopes, slopes,

loads loads

minor minor

(3%) (3%)

profile. profile.

covered covered

weathered weathered

loams loams

bed bed

unsorted unsorted

wide); wide);

drainage drainage

tracts, tracts,

upper upper

or or

m m

Um5.41. Um5.41.

Landform Landform

probably probably

plains plains

plains plains

on on

sandy sandy

and and

200 200

overlying overlying

occasional occasional

are are

carrying carrying

throughout throughout

fine fine

to to

wide wide

drainage drainage

Uc1.43, Uc1.43,

I.s.--continued I.s.--continued

sloping sloping

m m

and and

Creeks Creeks

Soils Soils

(up (up

Gravelly Gravelly

loams loams

greenstone, greenstone,

gravel gravel

either either

mantle; mantle; 50 50

< <

sloping sloping

forms: forms:

gently gently

clay clay

deep deep

are are

6: 6:

or or

m m

profile profile

1.5 1.5

Soils Soils

overlying overlying

Gently Gently downslope downslope

usually usually

Unit Unit

ironstone ironstone

Flat Flat hummocks. hummocks.

sandy sandy ironstone ironstone

UnitS: UnitS:

Gabanintha Gabanintha

>-' >-' ~ ~ 16602-9 Holmwood land system 355 km2 (0.41 % of survey area) Land type: 5; Pastoral potential: high. on Permian sedimentary rocks on the Gently undulating saline stony and alluvial plains below low breakaways various halophytic shrublands. eastern margins of the Victoria Sandplain; supports snakewood and with shale deposits of the Holmwood Geology: Permian sandstones and siltstones of the Sakmarian series and plains mostly on Quaternary alluvium formation; early Tertiary sandstones of the Pindilya formation; slopes and colluvium with scattered aeolian deposits. actively eroding breakaways and talus Geomorphology: Erosional surfaces; plateau edges and remnants with mantles; undulating or nearly level slopes. Also depositional surfaces with occasional sandstone or siltstone saline with ill defined drainage alluvial plains; isolated sandplain residuals; lower alluvial plains strongly patterns; relief mostly < 10 m. scattered tall shrubs; minor sandy areas Vegetation and pastoral use: Bluebush and Saltbush Shrubland with saline plains often support Samphire carry moderately productive Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland; lower 4) are liable to overgrazing and show minor Shrubland of high salinity; footslopes and alluvial plains (units 1 and susceptibility to erosion. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 7 hal dse. Range condition summary (27 traverse observations): condition (%) (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation Fair Poor Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good 22 85 11 4 0 59 19

40 80, 120 KILOMETRES ,------~----

I BYRO 0 Meekatharra :Murchison,

t oCuoa ~ '. MURGOO

Unit: l. Low breakaways, plateaux and footslopes. J4t Magnet 2. Sandy banks. 3. Saline stony plains. 4. Alluvial plains. 5. Lower saline plains.

126 Holmwood 1.5.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Low breakaways, plateaux and 1 inventory site and traversed footslopes (10%) Low erosional scarps of weathered Permian siltstones and Scattered or very scattered (PFC < 20%) low shrublands Vegetation type: Saltbush Shrubland. sandstones up to 10 m high, grading to gently sloping « 2%) dominated by Atrip/ex vesicaria on saline footslopes or mixed Palatable perennials include: Atrip/ex vesicaria, Maireana spp., and undulating saline footslopes, usually strewn with a platy shrublands with Acacia ramulosa or A. cuthbertson;; prominent on Ptilotus beardii, Frankenia spp. sandstone mantle. Soils are skeletal on stripped indurated low plateaux or breakaway tops. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Pastoral use limitations: Areas not protected by stony surface upper surfaces, brown light clays on footslopes and probably A. cuthbertsonii, A. sclerosperma, A. ramulosa. Low shrubs mantle are highly erodible owing to slope and soil type. duplexes with patchy depositions of coarser material from local « 1 m): Atrip/ex vesicaria, Halosarcia spp., Maireana georgei, erosional activity, overlying weathered parent rocks, about M. glomerifolia, M. tomentosa, M. pyramidata, M. atkinsiana, 40 em deep; pH 6.0-7.0 with a neutral reaction trend. Principal Ptilotus beardii, Frankenia spp. profile forms: UfS.71.

Unit 2: Sandy banks (5%) Traversed Wanderrie banks up to 0.5 km long and 200 m wide and sand Scattered or moderately close (PFC 10·30%) mixed grassy Vegetation type: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland. sheets on narrow margins of system adjacent to higher shrublands dominated by Acacia ramulosa. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestii, Pti/otus spp., Sand plain land system. Soils are probably red or brown earthy . A. ramulosa, A. sclerosperma. Mid shrubs (1·2 m): Eremophila Monachather paradoxa, Thyridolepis multicu/mis. sands or sandy loams over hardpan or Permian shales with a forrestii, Cassia spp. Low shrubs « 1 m): Solanum Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. neutral soil reaction trend. lasiophyllum, Ptilotus spp. Perennial grasses: Monachather paradoxa, Thyridolepis multiculmis. N'""' "

Unit 3: Saline stony plains (10%) 1 inventory site, 1 condition site and traversed Gently sloping « 1%) saline plains below unit 1; usually strewn Very scattered or scattered (PFC < 20%) low shrublands Vegetation type: Saltbush Shrubland. with a moderately dense quartz mantle; occasional low rounded dominated by Atriplex vesicaria or A. sp. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Palatable perennials include: Atrip/ex spp., Maireana spp., rises < 10 m also occur. Soils are duplexes, sandy loams over Hakea preissii, Acacia sp. (aft. xiphophylla) , A tetragonophylfa. Frankenia spp., Scaevo/a spinescens, Ptilotus beardii. light clays with quartz inclusions throughout the profile; pH 7.0 Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Eremophila pterocarpa, Cassia phyllodinea. Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. with a neutral to alkaline trend. PrinCipal profile forms: Dr1.56, Low shrubs « 1 m): Atrip/ex sp., A. vesicaria, Maireana georgei, Dr2.52, Dr2.53. M. atkinsiana, M. pyramidata, Halosarcia spp., Frankenia spp., Scaevola spinescens, Pti/otus beardii.

Unit 4: Alluvial plains (35%) 1 inventory site, 1 condition site and traversed Mostly flat weakly saline alluvial plains with sluggish Moderately close (PFC 20-30%) shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Bluebush or Saltbush Shrublands. unchannelled drainage zones. Soils are crusted duplexes, red Atriplex bunburyana and Maireana pyramidata in the lower storey Palatable perennials include: Atriplex bunburyana, Maireana clayey sands over light clays to hardpan at 50 cm; pH 6.0·8.5 and Acacia xiphophylla in the tall shrub layer. Trees (to 6 m): spp., Rhagodia drummond;;, Enchy/aena tomentosa, Lycium with an alkaline trend. Principal profile form: Dr1.56. A. xiphophyl/a. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. xiphophylla. Mid shrubs australe, Scaevola spinescens, Frankenia spp. (1·2 m): Atriplex bunburyana, Cassia phyllodinea, Eremophila Pastoral use limitations: Moderately susceptible to accelerated pterocarpa. Low shrubs « 1 m): Maireana pyramidata, erosion where degraded. M. georgei, M. tomentosa, Rhagodia drummond;;, Enchylaena tomentosa, Lycium austra/e, Scaevo/a spinescens, Frankenia spp.

spp., spp.,

plants plants

traversed traversed

and and

Shrublands. Shrublands.

pasture pasture

Maireana Maireana

obovatus, obovatus,

site site

saline saline

indicators indicators

Ptilotus Ptilotus

Samphire Samphire

Cratystylis Cratystylis

vesicaria, vesicaria,

highly highly

and and

condition condition

supplies. supplies.

of of

1 1

condition condition

Atrip/ex Atrip/ex

water water

squamata, squamata,

spinescens, spinescens,

sites, sites,

and and

Grazing Grazing

Halophyte Halophyte

stock stock

include: include:

Mixed Mixed

Scaevola Scaevola

Lawrencia Lawrencia

inventory inventory

quality quality

Comments Comments

limitations: limitations:

2 2

type: type:

spp., spp.,

drummondii. drummondii.

perennials perennials

use use

good good

requires requires

Pastoral Pastoral

Palatable Palatable

Rhagodia Rhagodia

Frankenia Frankenia

subspinescens, subspinescens,

Vegetation Vegetation

Mid Mid

prominent prominent

Lawrencia Lawrencia

m): m):

2 2

spinescens, spinescens,

with with

m): m):

Frankenia Frankenia

spp., spp.,

(> (>

1 1

species species

pyramidata, pyramidata,

sp., sp.,

« «

M. M.

Rhagodia Rhagodia

sclerosperma. sclerosperma.

shrubs shrubs

major major

A. A.

Scaevofa Scaevofa

shrublands shrublands

Halosarcia Halosarcia

shrubs shrubs

Tall Tall

and and

low low

Low Low

Carpobrotus Carpobrotus

platycarpa, platycarpa,

lasiophyllum, lasiophyllum,

M. M.

20-30%) 20-30%)

formations formations

quadrifidum, quadrifidum,

halophytes. halophytes.

subspinescens, subspinescens,

tetragonophylla, tetragonophylla,

vesicaria, vesicaria,

Solanum Solanum

pterocarpa. pterocarpa.

amoena, amoena,

(PFC (PFC

E. E.

M. M.

Acacia Acacia

dominant dominant

m): m):

Atriplex Atriplex

close close

Cratystylis Cratystylis

Gunniopsis Gunniopsis

Vegetation: Vegetation:

of of

obovatus, obovatus,

(1-2 (1-2

atkinsiana, atkinsiana,

georgei, georgei,

pterocarpa, pterocarpa,

drummondii. drummondii.

Ptifotus Ptifotus

squamata, squamata,

magnifica, magnifica,

M. M.

zonations zonations M. M.

shrubs shrubs

E. E. Moderately Moderately

little little

channel channel

banks. banks.

no no

deep; deep;

duplex duplex with with

or or

trend. trend.

throughout throughout

4 4

or or

1 1 m

sandy sandy

little little

unit unit

low low

clayey clayey

reaction reaction

clay> clay>

with with

common common

of of

than than

red red

soils soils

tracts tracts

lower lower

heavy heavy

alkaline alkaline

(40%) (40%)

dark dark

and and

Uffi.12. Uffi.12.

to to

or or

fragments fragments

occurrences occurrences

slightly slightly

plains plains

medium medium

drainage drainage

brown brown

neutral neutral

or or Dr1.52, Dr1.52,

silcrete silcrete

Landform Landform

plains plains

are are

saline saline

light light

sluggish sluggish

forms: forms:

intermittent intermittent

Soils Soils

saline saline

over over

I.s-continued I.s-continued

for for

Lower Lower

weathered weathered

with with 7.0-8.5

flat flat

profile profile

defined defined

pH pH

and and

sands sands

ill ill

except except

Principal Principal

profile: profile:

development. development.

relief relief quartz quartz

types, types,

Some Some Extensive Extensive

UnitS: UnitS:

Holmwood Holmwood

>-' >-' ~ ~ Horseshoe land system (G) 204 km2 (0.24% of survey area) Land type: 5; Pastoral potential: moderate. metamorphic rocks, with somewhat Gently undulating stony plains and low rounded hills based on Proterozoic wait-a-while shrublands with halophytes. saline drainage foci and alluvial tracts; supports scattered mulga and of the Labouchere and Horseshoe Range Geology: Lower Proterozoic rocks; hematite shale, phyllite and siltstones alluvium on lowlands. formations of the Padbury group; occasional Tertiary calcrete; Quaternary low rises to 20 m with gently inclined stony Geomorphology: Erosional surfaces; rounded, weathered hills and internal drainage; flat marginal plains on footslopes and interfluves above ahnost flat pebbly plains with partly but often less. hardpan, dissected by narrow drainage tracts; overall relief to 25 m support Stony Mulga Mixed and pastoral use: Hills, non-saline slopes and stony hardpan plains Vegetation lower saline slopes, plains and Shrubland and Hardpan Mulga Shrubland of low to moderate productivity; Bluebush and Samphire Shrublands, drainage tracts carry moderately to highly productive Stony Snakewood, not susceptible to erosion. degraded to mainly annuals in overgrazed areas; system generally Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 12 hal dse. Range condition summary (30 traverse observations): condition (%) (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation Fair Poor Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good 47 37 100 o o o 16

40, 80 120 KILOMETRES

GLENBURGH ..

0 Meekatharra MurChison o

Unit: l. Stony plains with low rises. 2. Gravelly plains. 3. Hardpan plains. Mt Magnet 4. Saline plains. o 5. Groves. 6. Drainage foci. 7. Drainage tracts.

1Km

130 - Horseshoe I.s.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Stony plains with low rises (30%) Traversed

Gently undulating plains, low rounded rises and low hills to 25 m Very scattered or scattered (PFC < 20%) mixed shrublands Vegetation type: Stony Mulga Mixed Shrubland. relief covered with a variable ironstone, quartz or shale mantle. dominated by Acacia aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura. Palatable perennials include: Eremophila compacta, Ptilotus Soils are probably shallow dark red or reddish brown earthy Mid shrubs (1-2 m): A. aneura, A. quadrimarginea. Low shrubs obovatus, P. rotundifolius, Eragrostis eriopoda. sands or hardpan sandy clay loams. « 1 m): Eremophila compacta, Ptilotus obovatus, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. P. rotundifolius. Perennial grass: Eragrostis eriopoda.

Unit2: Gravelly plains (10%) Traversed Gently sloping gravelly suriaced plains occurring as remnants of Scattered tall shrublands dominated by Acacia aneura and Vegetation type: Stony Mulga Mixed Shrubland. old surfaces covering high parts of unit 1. Soils are probably A. IinophyJla. Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. gravelly loamy sands to sandy loams.

Unit 3: Hardpan plains (20%) 1 condition site and traversed

Very gently sloping plains on red-brown hardpan. Soils are Very scattered (PFC < 10%) mixed shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Mulga Hardpan Shrubland. shallow hardpan loams locally with sparse quartzy mantles, Eremophila fraseri or Solanum lasiophyJlum. Trees (4-6 m): Palatable perennials include: Eremophila latrobei, Ptilotus overlying hardpan. Acacia pruinocarpa, A. aft. citrinoviridis, A. aneura. Tall shrubs obovatus, P. schwartzii, P. rotundifolius, Rhagodia eremaea. (> 2 m): A. aft. citrinoviridis. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): E. fraseri, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. A. tetragonophylla, Cassia desolata, E. latrobei. Low shrubs >-' (< 1 m): Ptilotus schwartzii, P. rotundifolius, P. obovatus, W >-' Solanum lasiophyllum, Rhagodia eremaea.

Unit 4: Saline plains (25%) 3 inventory sites and traversed

Almost flat, saline, low lying plains (slopes < O.S%) with variable Scattered (PFC 10-20%) saline low shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Stony Snakewood and Samphire Shrublands. mantles of mixed composition. Soils are hard-setting duplex Halosarcia spp. or scattered to moderately close (PFC 10-30%) Palatable perennials include: Frankenia spp., M. pyramidata, types, reddish brown or dark red clay loams or sandy clay mixed shrublands on partly saline areas dominated by Acacia Enchylaena tomentosa. loams over light clay or light medium clay to 60 cm deep; pH cuspidifolia. Trees (2-4 m): A. cuspidifolia. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. 7.0-8.S with an alkaline trend. Principal profile forms: Uffi.12, Eremophifa sp., A. cuspidifolia, A. cuthbertson;;. Mid shrubs Or2.53. (1-2 m): E. sp., A. cuspidifolia, A. tetragonophylla. Low shrubs « 1 m): Halosarcia spp., Frankenia spp., Maireana pyramidata, Enchylaena tomentosa, Solanum lasiophyllum.

Unit 5: Groves (3%) 1 inventory site and traversed

Irregularly shaped densely vegetated groves, situated in lower Closed woodlands (PFC > SO%) dominated by Acacia aneura. Vegetation type: Mulga Grove Woodland. areas of unit 3 and 7, extending to O.S km long and < 200 m Trees (to 10 m): A. aneura, A. pruinocarpa, Hakea suberea. Tall Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestii, E. compacta, wide. Soils are red earths to > 100 cm; pH 6.0-7.0 with a neutral shrubs (> 2 m): A. kempeana, Canthium latifolium, A. aft. E. latrobei, Ptilotus obovatus, Sida spp., Chrysopogon fal/ax, or acidic reaction trend. Principal profile forms: UmS.22, Gn2.12. citrinoviridis, A. tetragonophylla, Santalum spicatum. Mid shrubs Eragrostis lanipes. (1-2 m): Cassia oligophylla, Eremophila compacta, E. forrestii, Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. E. spectabilis, E. latrobei. Low shrubs « 1 m): Ptilotus obovatus, Spartothamnella teucriif/ora, Solanum lasiophyl/um, Sida spp. Perennial grasses: Chrysopogon fallax, Eragrostis lanipes, Eriachne helmsii. Horseshoe I.s.-continued

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 6: Drainage foci « 2%) 1 inventory site and traversed Restricted shallow non-saline depressions or weakly saline Moderately close mixed or low shrublands (PFC 20-30%) Vegetation type: Mulga Grove Woodland or Unvegetated. claypans generally < 200 m in diameter, and occurring within dominated by Acacia tetragonophylla; or claypans bare of Palatable perennials include: Cassia hamersleyensis, Maireana units 3 and 4. Soils are probably red clays similar to unit 4 but vegetation. Trees (4-6 m): A. aneura, Grevillea striata. Tall pyramidata, Enchylaena tomentosa, Ptilotus lazaridis, with a higher clay content. shrubs « 2 m): A. tetragonophylla, A. aneura, A. sclerosperma, P. obovatus. Eremophila longifolia. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): A. tetragonophylla, Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. Indigofera sp., Spartothamnella teucriiflora. Low shrubs « 1 m): Cassia hamersleyensis, Maireana pyramidata, Solanum lasiophyllum, Enchylaena tomentosa, Ptilotus obovatus, P. lazaridis, S. horridum.

Unit 7: Drainage tracts (10%) Traversed

Gently sloping drainage tracts to 200 m wide, becoming broader Variable mixed shrublands. Vegetation type: Creekline Shrubland or Stony Mulga Mixed downslope (up to 400 m) with transverse grove formations and Shrubland. infrequent channels. Soils are probably deep red earths, loams Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. or clays similar to unit 4 .

..... id Jimba land system (G) 36 km2 (0.04% of survey area) Land type: 5; Pastoral potential: moderate. Gently sloping mainly alluvial plains based on Permian sedimentary rocks with occasional stony plains and low rises, scattered sandy banks and complex saline drainage lines; supports mostly degraded chenopod shrub lands with patchy acacia tall shrub layer. Geology: Permian siltstone, quartz greywacke and shale, mainly of the Artinskian series, with Quaternary alluvium and colluvium. Geomorphology: Erosional and depositional surfaces; ridges and minor low hills above stony footslopes and lower drainage plains with or without light stony mantling; disorganised drainage tracts and low lying plains with large drainage foci; total relief is up to 40 m but mostly < 3 m on lower units. Vegetation and pastoral use: A very minor system within the area, supporting moderately to highly productive halophytic (bluebush/saltbush) shrublands where in good condition; when degraded to predominantly annual herbage the pastoral value is reduced; parts of the system with unprotected duplex soils (e.g. unit 4) are highly susceptible to accelerated erosion. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 12 hal dse. Range condition summary Not sufficiently sampled by traverse; Payne et al. (1987) report that in the Carnarvon Basin, 12% was in good condition, 33% fair and 55% in poor condition.

40 80 120 , , KILOMETRES ,------r-- - -- ,- ..,.GlENBURGH .

0 Meekatharra Murchison 0

Unit: 1. Low ridges and stony rises. oCue 2. Upper slopes. 3. Lower slopes. 4. Diffuse drainage plains. Mt Magnet 5. Sandy banks. 0 6. Unchannelled drainage floors. 7. Drainage foci. 8. Channels.

134 Jimba I.s. (adapted from Payne et al. 1987)

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Low ridges and stony rises (15%) Ridges and rounded rises up to 40 m (but usually much less) Scattered (PFC 10-20%) tall shrublands dominated by Acacia Vegetation type: Rocky Hill Mixed Shrubland or Stony above lower units, moderate to dense mantle of cobbles and xiphophylla with low shrubs dominated by Cassia and Snakewood Shrubland. pebbles with some rock outcrop, shallow, reddish brown or red, Eremophila spp. Tall shrubs (2-3 m): Acacia xiphophylla, Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus, Eremophila alkaline sandy loam to sandy clay loam soils. A. victoriae, A. tetragonophylla. Low shrubs « 1 m): Eremophila latrobei, Enchylaena tomentosa. cunefolia, E. latrobei, Cassia desolata, C. helmsii, ptilotus Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. obovatus, Enchylaena tomentosa, Rhagodia eremaea.

Unit 2: Uppe, slopes (10%) Short, concave slopes below crests and rises, moderate to As for unit 1 . As for unit 1. dense mantle of cobbles and pebbles, variable depth reddish brown or red alkaline sandy loam to sandy clay loam soils. Principal profile form: Gc1.22.

Unit 3: Lower slopes (15%) Gentle, sometimes terraced slopes (0.5 to 1.5%) extending for Scattered (PFC 10-20%) low woodland of Acacia cuspidifo/ia Vegetation type: Stony Snakewood Shrubland. up to 2 km below units 1 and 2, often dissected by shallow, with Eremophila spp. or low chenopodiaceous shrublands. Palatable perennials include: pti/otus po/aW, Maireana parallel creeklines; moderate mantle of pebbles or gravel, soils Trees (4-6 m): Acacia cuspidifolia, Hakea preissii. Tall shrubs po/ypterygia, Enchylaena tomentosa, Rhagodia eremaea. are reddish brown or red duplex 70 cm to > 1 m deep, pH 7.0- (2-3 m): A. xiphophylla. Low shrubs « 1.5 m): Eremophila Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled use. "-' 8.5 with an alkaline trend. Principal profile forms: Dr1.13, cuneifolia, Scaevola spinescens, ptilotus polakii, Maireana tA 0'4.13. polypterygia, Enchylaena tomentosa, Rhagodia eremaea.

Unit 4: Diffuse drainage plains (40%)

Broad, gently sloping (0.2 to 1.2%) plains receiving sheet and Very scattered to scattered (PFC < 20%) tall and low Vegetation type: Stony Snakewood or Saltbush/Bluebush channelled flow, stony mantle absent or sparse; moundy suriaces shrublands dominated by Acacia victoriae, Cassia spp., Shrublands. and zones with parallel or anastomosing gutters, runnels and Eremophila spp. or chenopods. Trees (2-4 m): Acacia Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus polak;;, Maireana channels incised up to 1 m; soils are reddish brown, red or dark cuspidifolia. Tall shrubs (2-4 m): A. victoriae, A. xiphophylla, polypterygia, M. pyramidata, Atrip/ex bunburyana, Enchylaena red, predominantly duplex types mostly> 1 m deep and often A. tetragonophylla. Low shrubs « 1 m): Cassia desolata, tomentosa. with calcrete or gypsiferous inclusions, pH 6.5-8.5 with alkaline Eremophila cuneifolia, E. pterocarpa, Pti/otus polakii, Pastoral use limitations: Highly susceptible to accelerated reaction trend. Principal profile forms: Dr1.12, Dr1.13, Dr1.53, P. obovatus, Maireana polypterygia, M. pyramidata, Atriplex erosion when degraded, susceptible to shrub invasion by Dr2.12,O'4.12. bunburyana, Scaevola spinescens, Enchylaena tomentosa, Acacia victoriae, A. cuspidifolia. Solanum /asiophyllum. Perennial grasses: Eragrostis xerophila, Enteropogon acicularis.

Unit5: Sandy banks (10%) Linear banks up to 500 m long and 50 m wide arranged Scattered (PFC 10-20%) tall shrublands dominated by Acacia Vegetation type: Sand plain Acacia Shrubland. transverse and elongate to water flow on unit 4, hummocky ramu/osa, A. sc/erosperma and other Acacia spp. Trees Palatable perennials include: Enchylaena tomentosa, Rhagodia suriaces up to 2 m above surrounding plains, reddish brown or (infrequent): Acacia cuspidifolia. Tall shrubs (2-4 m): Acacia eremaea, Scaevola spinescens, Eragrostis eriopoda, Cenchrus red loamy sand soils> 1 m deep, pH 6.0-7.5. Principal profile ramu/osa, A. sc/erosperma, A. tetragonophylla, A. wiseana, ciliaris. forms: Uc1.21 , Uc5.21. A. victoriae, Stylobasium spathulatum, Hakea preissii. Low Pastoral use limitations: Slight susceptibility to erosion when shrubs « 1.5 m): Cassia helmsH, C. desolata, Rhagodia vegetation degraded. eremaea, Scaevo/a spinescens, Enchylaena tomentosa, Corchorus walcottii, Pimelea microcephala. Perennial grasses: Eragrostis eriopoda, Cenchrus ciliaris, Triodia sp. Jimba 1.5. (adapted from Payne et al. 1987)-continued

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 6: Unchannelled drainage floors (6%) Stable unchannelled drainage zones up to 500 m wide with Moderately close Acacia woodland with tussock grass Vegetation type: Creekline Grassy Shrubland. slopes < 0.5%, soils are duplex or clay types> 1 m deep, pH understorey; also tussock grasslands with sparse shrubs. Trees Palatable perennials include: Scaevola spinescens, Rhagodia 7.0-8.0. Principal profile forms: Dr4.12, Uf6.33. (4-6 m): Acacia subtessarogona. Tall shrubs: AcaCia farnesiana, eremaea, and perennial grasses. A sclerosperma. Low shrubs: Cassia luerssenii, C. helms;;, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Scaevola spinescens, Rhagodia eremaea. Perennial grasses: Eragrostis xerophila, Eriachne benthamii, Chrysopogon fallax, Eulalia fulva, some introduced Cenchrus ciliaris, C. setiger with basal cover 1 to 5%.

Unit 7: Drainage foci (2%) Discrete elliptical drainage foci up to 300 m in length by 100 m Close (PFC 30-50%) tall shrublands with Acacia tetragonophylla Vegetation type: Creekline Grassy Shrubland. wide sparsely distributed over units 3 and 4, soils are reddish and numerous other Acacia spp. and numerous low shrubs. Palatable perennials include: Cassia chatelainiana, Rhagodia brown duplex types> 1 m deep, pH 7.0. Principal profile form: Trees (6-8 m): Acacia citrinoviridis, A coriacea. Tall shrubs eremaea, EremophHa latrobel; Enchylaena tomentosa, Ptl10tus Dr1.12. (4-6 m): Acacia tetragonophyJla, A xiphophylla, A victoriae, obovatus and perennial grasses. A sclerosperma, Heterodendrum oleaefolium. Low shrubs Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. « 2 m): Cassia desolata, C. helms;;, C. chatelainiana, Eremophila cuneifolia, E. latrobei, Rhagodia eremaea, Enchylaena tomentosa, Ptilotus obovatus, Pimelea microcephala, .... Maireana planifolla. Perennial grasses: Cenchrus ciliaris (basal cover 1 to 3%) Enteropogon acicularis, Chrysopogon fallax. '" UnitS: Channels (2%) Major channels and creeks, usually < 30 m wide and incised up Banks support moderately close tall shrublands or low Vegetation type: Creekline Grassy Shrubland. to 3 m, sandy banks and bed loads. woodlands Acacia citrinoviridis, A subtessarogona, Palatable perennials include: As for unit 7. A tetragonophylla, Eucalyptus coolabah with numerous low Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. shrubs and grasses as for unit 7. Jundee land system (W) 1346 km2 (1.57% of survey area) Land type: 14; Pastoral potential: low. groved vegetation; minor sandy banks; Hardpan wash plains with variable dark gravelly mantling and weakly supports scattered mulga shrublands. Geology: Cemented Quaternary alluvium derived mainly from greenstone. plains with variable, but frequently dense, Geomorphology: DepOSitional surfaces carrying sheet drainage; broad banks; higher marginal stony plains on mantles of gravel and pebbles and occasional small groves and sandy flow and with some gutters and channels. weathered greenstones; drainage tracts receiving more concentrated Relief mostly < 10 m. low to moderate productivity; groves and Vegetation and pastoral use: Mainly Hardpan Mulga Shrubland of than wash plains; palatable perennials widely drainage tracts receive more lasting soil moisture for plant growth susceptible to accelerated erosion when reduced through overgrazing; concentrated drainage zones are mildly unless severely degraded. degraded; hardpan plains otherwise not normally susceptible to erosion Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 20 hal dse. Range condition summary (328 traverse observations): condition (%) (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation Fair Poor Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good 34 50 91 7 2 o 16

40 80 120 ! , KILOMETRES ------

. .

~, BEL£(E I ,

Meekatharra ()oo , ~. , Mur<:hison fo(~" 0 ,.-... , • ~ .~"f,.J';. J~'!I ,. > , • Cue. 1 ( :;- MURGOO , , 'cuE: 1. Isolated sandy banks. I",~ Unit: ..<.11< .. 'I 2. Stony plains. Mt Magnet :'1lII 3. Hardpan plains. ~. 4. Groves. 5. Drainage tracts.

138 Jundee 1.5. ".f~(~~';:~

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Isolated sandy banks (5%) 2 inventory sites and traversed Low sandy banks (usually < 0.5 m high) arranged either in a Scattered to moderately close (PFC 10-30%) mixed shrublands Vegetation type: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland. Palatable linear or reticulate pattern; extending up to 1 km long and 100 m dominated by Acacia aneura, Eremophila forrestii or E. fraseri. perennials include: Sida calyxhymenia, Ptilotus schwartzii, wide on unit 3. Soils are red earths with ironstone gravel Trees (4-6 m): A. aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, Eremophila forrestii, Eragrostis eriopoda, E. lanipes, throughout profile overlying hardpan at about 60 em deep; pH Canthium /aUtolium, c. lineare. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): E. torrestii, Monachather paradoxa. 5.5 with either acidic or neutral reaction trend. Principal profile E. fraseri, E. tetragonophylla, A. ramulosa. Low shrubs « 1 m): Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. form: Um5.22. E. fraseri, E. granitica, Solanum lasiophyllum, Sida calyxhymenia, Ptilotus schwartzii. Perennial grasses: Eriachne helmsii, Eragrostis eriopoda, E. lanipes, Monachather paradoxa.

Unit 2: Stony plains (10%) 4 inventory sites, 6 condition sites and traversed

Broad, gently sloping plains « 1%) on weathered metamorphic Very scattered or scattered (PFC < 20%) mixed shrublands Vegetation types: Stony Mulga Mixed Shrubland. rocks, with a dense or moderately dense ironstone mantle. Soils dominated by Acacia aneura. Trees (4-6 m): A. aneura, Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus schwartzi;, Eremophlla are red earths or hardpan loams to 70 em deep; pH 5.0-5.5 with A. pruinocarpa, Brachychiton gregorii. Tall shrubs (> 2 my: latrobei, Maireana convexa, Monachather paradoxa, Eragrostis an acidic or neutral trend. Principal profile forms: Um5.51, A. aneura, Canthium lineare, C.latifolium. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): eriopoda. Uc5.11. A aneura, Eremophila latrobei, A. tetragonophylla, A. ramulosa. Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. Low shrubs « 1 m): Ptilotus schwartzii, Maireana convexa, Vegetation condition %: VG/G 29, F 41, PNP 30. 63 obs. Solanum lasiophyllum. Perennial grasses: Monachather paradoxa, Eragrostis eriopoda. >-' '" '"' Unit 3: Hardpan plains (60%) 3 inventory sites, 26 condition sites and traversed

Extensive uniform flat plains (slopes < 0.3%) with mantles of Very scattered to scattered (PFC < 20%) mixed shrublands or Vegetation type: Hardpan Mulga Shrubland. ironstone pebbles and carrying sheet flow to units 4 and 5. Soils moderately close (PFC 20-30%) low woodlands dominated by Perennials of variable quantity and quality supplemented by are dark red hardpan sandy clay loams or shallow red earths Acacia aneura. Trees (4-8 m): A. aneura, A pruinocarpa. Tall annual forbs and grasses in good seasons. generally overlying hardpan at < 50 cm; pH 6.5-7.0 with a shrubs (> 2 m): A aneura, Canthium fatifolium, C. Iineare. Mid Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus schwartzH, Eremophila neutral trend. Principal profile forms: Um5.51, Um5.31. shrubs (1-2 m):A. aneura, A. craspedocarpa, A. ramulosa, latrobei, Rhagodia eremaea, Maireana convexa, Monachather A. tetragonophylla. Low shrubs « 1 m): Ptilotus schwartzii, paradoxa, M. planifolia. Solanum lasiophyllum, Eremophila punicea, Sida sp., Pastoral use limitations: Mildly susceptible to erosion when E. latrobei, Rhagodia eremaea, Spartothamnella teucriiflora. degraded. Perennial grasses: Monachather paradoxa, E. eriopoda. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 15, F 30, PNP 55. Erosion incidence %: min 6. 2230bs.

Unit 4: Groves (5%) 2 inventory sites and traversed

Narrow, elliptical grove formations (up to 100 m wide and 400 m Moderately close to closed (PFC 20- > 50%) woodlands Vegetation type: Mulga Grove Woodland. long) arranged transversely to direction of flow on unit 3. Soils dominated by Acacia aneura. Trees (to 8 m): A. aneura, Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestli, E. latrobei, are red earths to 1 m deep; pH 6.0-7.0 with an acidic or neutral A. pruinocarpa. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, Canthium Ptilotus obovatus, Sida sp., Canthium spp., Monachather trend. Principal profile forms: Um1.43, Um5.52. latifolium, C.lineare. Mid shrubs (1-2 m):A. aneura, Eremophila paradoxa. forrestii, E. gilesH, E. fraseri, E. latrobei. Low shrubs « 1 m): Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing.

Solanum las;ophyllum, E. george/~Sida sp., Ptilotus obovatus. Perennial grasses: Eragrostis er/opoda, Monachather paradoxa.

traversed traversed

Ptilotus Ptilotus

accelerated accelerated

and and

Bluebush Bluebush

to to

or or

72. 72.

sites sites

4. 4.

indicators indicators

pyramidata, pyramidata,

PNP PNP

sev sev

flaccida. flaccida.

susceptible susceptible

degraded. degraded.

21, 21,

21, 21,

Shrubland Shrubland

F F

inventory inventory

are are

7, 7,

2 2

condition condition mod mod

Maireana Maireana

Eriachne Eriachne

Grassy Grassy

36, 36,

and and

Moderately Moderately

VG/G VG/G

min min

%: %:

include: include:

perennials perennials

sites). sites).

%: %:

australe, australe,

Creekline Creekline

saline saline

where where

Comments Comments

limitations: limitations:

condition condition

type: type:

(on (on

Lycium Lycium

perennials perennials

use use

incidence incidence

erosion erosion

Erosion Erosion

Vegetation Vegetation

Pastoral Pastoral

Palatable Palatable

water water

shrubland shrubland

obovatus, obovatus,

Vegetation Vegetation

m): m):

6 6

(to (to

Tall Tall

m): m):

woodlands woodlands

Perennial Perennial

sites sites

m): m):

(1-2 (1-2

Trees Trees

aneura, aneura,

1 1

mixed mixed

species species

A. A.

« « suberea. suberea.

saline saline

australe. australe.

shrubs shrubs

striata. striata.

on on

major major

dense dense

sites), sites),

Hakea Hakea

Mid Mid

shrubs shrubs

or or

and and

Lycium Lycium

Low Low

10-20%) 10-20%) Grevillea Grevillea

saline saline

striata, striata,

or or

(on (on

G. G.

(PFC (PFC

fraser;. fraser;.

. .

pyramidata pyramidata

obovatus, obovatus,

formations formations

sc/erosperma. sc/erosperma.

aneura aneura

A. A.

victoriae victoriae

flaccida flaccida

A. A.

Ptilotus Ptilotus

shrublands shrublands

Maireana Maireana

Acacia Acacia

pruinocarpa, pruinocarpa,

Eremophila Eremophila

m): m):

by by

by by

A. A.

Vegetation: Vegetation:

low low 2 2

(> (>

Eriachne Eriachne

pyramidata, pyramidata,

victoriae, victoriae,

tetragonophylla, tetragonophylla,

aneura, aneura,

grass: grass:

M. M. shrubs shrubs

dominated dominated A. A.

dominated dominated A. A.

Scattered Scattered

A. A.

rills, rills,

or or

clays clays

red red

on on

or or

central central

neutral neutral

throughout throughout

UfS.12. UfS.12.

with with

with with

types types

gravel gravel

particularly particularly

often often

UmS.31, UmS.31,

6.5-9.0 6.5-9.0

soils soils

hardpan hardpan

saline saline

lateritic lateritic

pH pH

zones zones

and and

red red

forms: forms:

with with

(20%) (20%)

dark dark

em, em,

calcrete); calcrete);

drainage drainage profile profile

are are

50 50

Landform Landform

occasionally occasionally

tracts tracts

QVe;r QVe;r

0.5%) 0.5%)

Soils Soils

about about

« «

Principal Principal

at at

channels; channels;

Drainage Drainage

sites. sites.

I.s.-continued I.s.-continued

trend. trend.

and and

sloping sloping

(sometimes (sometimes

5: 5:

profile profile

alkaline alkaline

calcareous calcareous

gutters. gutters.

over hardpan over hardpan

Gently Gently

Unit Unit

Jundee Jundee

...... ~ ~ 16602-10 Kalli land system (W) 6097 km2 (7.10% of survey area) Land type: 10; Pastoral potential: low (locally moderate). on laterite and granite; tall acacia Elevated, gently undulating red sandplains edged by stripped surfaces replaced by more extensive areas of shrublands and understorey of wanderrie grasses (and spinifex locally); to the west. Bullimore land system to the south-east and Sandplain land system granite, overlying Tertiary laterite. Geology: Quaternary aeolian sand derived from Archaean gneiss and mainly granites; broad, gently Geomorphology: Fragmented 'old plateau' depOSitional surfaces overlying linear dunes, and edged by exposed laterite and undulating sandplains high in the landscape, with occasional low but with some broad lightly stripped other stripped surfaces; infrequent drainage, mostly diffuse and internal, old plateau. Overall relief mainly about 10 m tracts with groved vegetation draining onto wash systems below the or less. Wanderrie Grassy Shrublands with Vegetation and pastoral use: Poorly to moderately productive Sandplain deficient in wanderrie grasses, regardless of minor Lateritic Acacia Shrubland; some areas apparently inherently productive Sandplain Acacia Shrubland; condition; other areas (e.g. in far south-west) dominated by poorly not normally susceptible to accelerated supports Sandplain Mallee-Acacia-Spinifex locally in the south. System local gullying on steeper gradients. erosion when degraded, although undrained vehicular tracks cause Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 20 hal dse. Range condition summary (704 traverse observations): condition (%) (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation Fair Poor Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good 18 99 1 o o 40 42

40 80 120 , " , KILOMETRES

GLENBURGH .~

Unit: 1. Sand dunes. 2. Sand plains. 3. Lateritic plains. 4. Groved drainage tracts. 5. Stripped stony surfaces.

142 Kalli I.s.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Sand dunes « 2%) 1 inventory site and traversed Sand dunes up to 200 m wide, 6 m high and 2 km in length. Scattered to moderately close (PFC 20-30%) woodlands or tall Vegetation type: Sand Dune Shrubland. Soils are dark red, deep earthy or siliceous sands, pH 6.0 with shrublands dominated by Acacia ramulosa and Eucalyptus Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestii, Monachather an acidic reaction trend. Principal profile forms: Uc1.23, UcS.21. oldfieldH. Trees: E. oldfield;;, A. aneura, Santalum lanceolatum. paradoxa, Stipa elegantissima. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. ramulosa, A. aneura. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Pastoral use limitations: Susceptible to wind erosion if denuded EremophHa forrestii, E. georgei, E. granitica, Grevillea of vegetation. eriostachya. Low shrubs « 1 m): Thryptomene sp. Perennial grasses: Monachather paradoxa, Stipa elegantissima.

Unit 2: Sand plains (78%) 14 inventory sites, 67 condition sites and traversed

Extensive, gently sloping « 1%) or gently undulating sand Moderately close to close (PFC 20-50%) tall shrublands Vegetation type: Sand plain Wanderrie Grassy Shrubland and plains with local relief to 5 m. Soils are dark red to yellowish red dominated by Acacia ramulosa. Trees: Acacia aneura, Callitris Sandplain Acacia Shrubland. earthy or loamy sands, pH 5.5~6.0with an acidic reaction trend, columellaris, Eucalyptus leptopoda, E. kingsmillH. Tall shrubs Palatable perennials include: Thyridolepis multiculmis, depth mostly> 1 m, occasionally overlying ferruginous gravels > 2 m): A. ramulosa, A. aneura, A. murrayana, Grevillea Monachather paradoxa, Eremophi/a forrest;;, Ptilotus obovatus, at < 1 m. Principal profile forms: UcS.21, UcS.22. eriostachya, A. cuthbertson;;, A. kempeana. Mid shrubs (1 -2 m): P. schwartzii, Maireana aff. villosa. A. aff. coolgardiensis, A. ramulosa, A. tetragonophylla, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 48, F 37, PNP 15. 538 obs. >-' A. acuminata, A. aff. adsurgens, Eremophila forrest;;. Low shrubs tt « 1 m): Eremophila forrestii, E. gilesH, E. margarethae, E. granitica, E. georgei, E. spectabilis, PtHotus obovatus, Thryptomene decussata, Hakea sp. Perennial grasses: Thyridolepis multiculmis, Monachather paradoxa, Eriachne helmsH, Eragrostis eriopoda, Triodia sp., Plectrachne melvillei.

Unit 3: Lateritic plains (10%) 3 inventory sites and traversed

Gently sloping « 1%) plains with moderately dense mantles of Very scattered to moderately close (PFC < 30%) tall shrublands Vegetation type: Granitic Mulga Shrubland. ironstone and lateritic gravels and pebbles. Soils are reddish or dominated by Acacia ramulosa, A. aneura or A. grasbyi. On very Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus schwartzii, Eremophila red brown, gravelly sandy loams or clayey sands of variable shallow soils over laterite or deeply weathered granite, A. grasbyi latrobei, E. compacta. depth over laterite or deeply weathered granite; laterite gravels and Thryptomene decussata dominate while on deeper sandy Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. occur throughout the profile, pH 6.0 with an acidic reaction soils A. ramulosa is dominant. Trees (2-4 m): A. aneura. Tall Vegetation condition %: VG/G 10, F 54, PNP 36. 72 obs. trend. Principal profile forms: UcS.21, Um1.43, Um5.51 . shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, A. ramulosa, A. grasbyi, A. quadrimarginea. Mid shrubs (1-2 m):A. aneura, Thryptomene decussata, Eremophila forrestii. Low shrubs « 1 m): Ptilotus schwartzH, T. decussata, Eremophila latrobei, Sida rohlenae. Perennial grasses: Monachather paradoxa, Thyridolepis multiculmis. Kalli I.s.---continued

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 4: Drainage tracts with groves and 4 inventory sites, 3 condition sites and traversed intergroves (5%) Gently sloping broad fans and unchannelled drainage tracts, a) Groves; Closed woodlands (PFC > 50%) dominated by Vegetation type: Mulga Grove Woodland or Granitic Mulga with areas of sheet flow up to 200 m wide (between groves) and Acacia aneura, A. ramulosa and A. craspedocarpa. Trees Shrubland.

2 km in length. Some sites have sparse gravelly surface (4~6m): A. aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aft. citrinoviridis, Palatable perennials include: Maireana triptera, M. aft. vil/osa, mantles. Soils are red earths, sandy clay loams and clay loams A. craspedocarpa, A. ramulosa, A. tetragonophyl/a. Mid shrubs Sida calyxhymenia, Hibiscus sp., Spanothamnella teucriif/ora,

0.6 to > 1 m deep, pH 5.5 with an acidic reaction trend. Principal (1~2m): A. craspedocarpa, A. daviesoides. Low shrubs Ptilotus obovatus, Rhagodia eremaea. profile form: UrnS.52. « 1 m): Maireana vil/osa, Rhagodia eremaea, Ptilotus obovatus, Pastoral use limitations: Generally none under controlled Solanum lasiophyllum. Perennial grass: Stipa spp. grazing. b) Intergroves; Scattered shrublands (PFC 10~20%)dominated by Acacia aneura. Trees: A. aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m):

A. aneura. Mid shrubs (1~2m): A. craspedocarpa, Rhagodia eremaea. Low shrubs «-1 m): Maireana lanosa, M. triptera, Ptilotus obovatus, Solanum lasiophyllum.

Unit 5: Stripped stony surfaces (5%) 1 inventory site and traversed

Gently sloping stony plains with outcrops of ferricrete, silcrete Very scattered (PFC < 10%) low or mid shrublands. Trees: Vegetation type: Has similarities to Stony Mulga Mixed and weathered granite and a moderately dense mantle of A. aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura. Shrubland. Palatable shrubs include: Ptilotus obovatus,

silcrete or ironstone gravels, pebbles and rocks; locally with low Mid shrubs (1~2m): A. grasbyi, A. victoriae, A. tetragonophylla, P. schwartzii. breakaways. Soils are very shallow, dark red earths overlying Eremophila latrobei, E. p/atyca/yx. Low shrubs « 1 m): Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. silcrete or laterite. Principal profile form: Um5.51. A. grasbyi, Pti/otus obovatus, Cassia sturtii, C. helmsH, Solanum :::'"""' /asiophyllum, Calytrix spp. Borya nitida, Thryptomene spp. Koonmarra land system (W) 5335 km2 (6.21% of survey area) Land type: 3; Pastoral potential: low. Quartz-strewn stony plains and low rises with outcropping granite, gneiss and schists; supports scattered mulga and other mainly non-saline shrubs. Geology: Gneiss and granite of Archaean age, with occasional quartz intrusives; mostly covered by Quaternary colluvium and minor alluvium. Geomorphology: Mostly erosional surfaces; broad stony plains and interfluves up to 3 km in extent with occasional rounded stony rises with rock outcrop to 10 m above plains; through going dendritic to sub-parallel drainage tracts with occasional channels; overall relief mostly < 10 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Predominantly Stony Mulga Mixed Shrubland of low productivity with sparse palatable perennials including small bluebushes when in good condition; not normally susceptible to accelerated erosion, even where severely degraded, except for minor accelerated streamline erosion along major drainage tracts. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 20 ha I dse. Range condition summary (696 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 96 4 o o 10 32 58

40, eo , 1:20 KILOMETRES

BYRO

Murchison o

Unit: 1. Low ridges and rises.

2. Sandy banks. oMt Magnet 3. Stony plains and interfluves. 4. Mulga groves. 5. Drainage floors and channels.

3 .. "~

146 Koonmarra 1.5.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Low ridges and rises (8%) 1 inventory site, 6 condition sites and traversed

Ridges and low rises with dense mantles and frequent outcrops Very scattered (PFC < 10%) mixed shrublands often dominated Vegetation type: Stony Mulga Mixed Shrubland. Palatable of gneiss, granite or quartz; relief to 10m; occasional hills to by low Acacia victoriae. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A aneura, perennials include: Ptilotus spp. Eremophila compacta.

30 m. Soils are dark red stony lithosols to 10 em deep, overlying A xiphophylla. Mid shrubs (1~2m):A tetragonophylla, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. parent material; pH 6.0-6.5 with a neutral trend. Principal profile A victoriae, Cassia desolata, Eremophila spathulata. Low shrubs Vegetation condition %: VG/G 0, F 29, PNP 71. 21 obs. form: Um5.41. ( < 1 m): A victoriae, Ptilotus rotundifoHus, Solanum lasiophyl/um, Eremophila freelingii.

Unit 2: Sandy banks « 2%) 1 condition site and traversed

Infrequent low sandy banks < 300 m long and 100 m wide, Scattered to moderately close (PFC 10~30%)mixed grassy Vegetation type: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland. usually < 1 m high and in reticulate patterns although shrublands characterised by tall shrubs Acacia aneura, Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestii, Ptilotus occasionally mOTetransverse to the direction of flow. Soils are A ramufosa, mid and low shrubs Eremophila margarethae, obovatus, Monachather paradoxa. probably deep earthy sands. £. forrestii, Ptilotus obovalus, and perennial grasses Pastoral use limitations: None with controlled grazing. Monachather paradoxa, Eriachne helmsii, Eragrostis lanipes.

Unit 3: Stony plains and interfluves (80%) 6 inventory sites, 84 condition sites and traversed ~ t!:J Extensive, gently rounded interfluves with slopes < 1 % and relief Very scattered to scattered (PFC < 20%) low or mixed Vegetation type: Stony Mulga Mixed Shrubland. to 3 m; up to 2 km in width and> 3 km in length. Generally shrublands dominated by associations of Acacia, Eremophila, Palatable perennials include: Maireana georgei, M. planifolia, mantled with moderately dense to dense quartz, gneiss or granite and Ptilotus species. Trees (to 6 m): A aneura, A pruinocarpa. M. convexa, M. melanocoma, Ptilotus obovatus, P. schwartzii, pebbles and gravels. Soils are dark red hardpan loams or red Tall shrubs (> 2 rn): A aneura, A victoriae, Eremophila fraseri, P. rotundifoJius, Rhagodia eremaea.

earths overlying gneiss or granite (locally with veneers of red~ Canthium lineare, A letragonophylla. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Pastoral use limitations: Prone to increases in cover by

brown hardpan) at < 30 cm; pH S.S~7.0with variable reaction E. spathulata, A aneura, A. aft. quadrimarginea, unpalatable species, particularly Eremophila fraseri, E. spathulata trends. Principal profile forms: UmS.31, UrnS.S1. E. macmilfaniana, E. aft.latrobei, C. helmsii. Low shrubs « 1 m): and E. macmillaniana were vegetation is degraded; not Ptilotus obovatus, P. rotundifolius, P. schwartzii, C. desolata, susceptible to accelerated erosion. C. helmsii, Maireana triptera, M. georgei, M. convexa, Vegetation condition %: VG/G 12, F 32, PN PS6. S14 obs. M. planifolia, M. melanocoma, Solanum lasiophyllum, Rhagodia eremaea.

Unit 4: Mulga groves « 2%) 3 inventory sites and traversed

Infrequent grove formations mainly situated within unit 3; usually Moderately close (PFC 20~30%)tall shrublands or closed (PFC Vegetation type: Mulga Grove Woodland. < 30 m wide and < 100 m long and arranged transverse to the > SO%) woodlands dominated by Acacia aneura. Trees (to 10 m): Palatable perennials include: Eremophila forrestii, Maireana direction of flow. Soils are red earths or red clays usually> 1 m; A. aneura, A. pruinocarpa, A. aft. citrinoviridis, Canthium planifolia, M. tomentosa, Enchylaena tomentosa, Rhagodia

pH 6.0~7.0with a neutral or acidic trend. Principal profile forms: latifolium, Hakea suberea. Tall shrubs (> 2 my: A. kempeana, eremaea, Ptilotus obovatus, P. rotundifolius, Chrysopogon fal/ax.

Gn2.12, Uffi.71. Alinophylla, A scferosperma. Mid shrubs (1~2m): Eremophila Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. forrestii, Cassia desolata. Low shrubs « 1 m): Solanum lasiophyllum, Maireana planifolia, M. tomentosa, Enchylaena tomentosa, Rhagodia eremaea, Ptilotus obovatus, P. rotundifoHus. Perennial grass: Eriachne sp. Koonmarra I.s.-continued

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 5: Drainage floors and channels (8%) 8 inventory sites and traversed Dendritic drainage tracts carrying through drainage and run-off Variable and patchy scattered to closed (PFC 10- > 50%) low Vegetation type: Creekline Shrubland or Creekline Grassy. from higher units originating as dendritic to parallel lines of low woodlands or tall shrublands mostly dominated by Acacia Shrubland. intensity developing into broad alluvial flow zones to 500 m wide aneura, A. citrinoviridis, A. craspedocarpa, Cassia helmsii or Palatable perennials include: Ptilotus obovatus, Sida downslope; often with channels « 30 wide) incised up to 2 m in Ptilotus obovatus. Trees (to 12 m): A aneura, A. aft. calyxhymenia, Rhagodia eremaea, Eremophila forrestii, alluvium or red-brown hardpan. Soils vary from red earthy sands rhodophloia, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, A. pruinocarpa, Monachather paradoxa, Eriachne flaccida, Cyperus bifax. to shallow and deep red earths overlying granitic or alluvial Grevillea striata, Santa/um spicatum. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Pastoral use limitations: Moderately susceptible to accelerated material; pH 6.0-7.5 with a neutral trend. Principal profile forms: A citrinoviridis, A aneura, A. craspedocarpa, water erosion where degraded. Gn2.12, UcS.21, Urn1.43, UrnS.S1. A. tetragonophylla, A. sclerosperma, Exocarpus aphyllus. Mid Vegetation condition %: VG/G 16, F 34, PNP 60. shrubs (1-2 m): A. cuthbertsonii, Cassia helmsii, Eremophila Erosion incidence %: min 23, mod 3. 69 obs. linearis, E. fraseri, E. forrestii. Low shrubs « 1 m): C. helmsii, P. obovatus, Sida calyxhymenia, Rhagodia eremaea, Sparlothamnella teucriiflora. Perennial grasses (occasional): Themeda australis, Cymbopogon spp.

>-' ~

.J Liver land system 752 km2 (0.88% of survey area) Land type: 12; Pastoral potential: moderate. by reticulate saline alluvial drainage Restricted sandplains and low dunes with tall acacia shrub lands interrupted halophytic shrublands. plains and numerous claypans and saline lake beds with low fringing gypsum; alluvium in lower units. Geology: Quaternary aeolian playa-dune deposits of sand, clay and dunes, low banks and sandplain interrupted by Geomorphology: Depositional surfaces; reticulate or lunette sand of interconnecting saline drainage sluggish drainages (partly internal and part through), as camp lex networks claypans (some rock-strewn) and drainage floors (locally strewn with light mantles), discrete ephemeral lakes, foci; overall relief is 10 to 12 m. of moderate productivity and with Vegetation and pastoral use: Sandplain Wanderrie Grassy Shrubland susceptible to wind erosion. Saltbush, reasonable perennial reserves; overgrazed windward slopes are slightly the bulk of palatable perennial forage on lower Bluebush and Mixed Halophytic Shrublands of high value provide Mild susceptibility to accelerated erosion on saline plains; locally, lake floors support Alluvial Tussock Grassland. units 3 and 4. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 12 hal dse. Range condition summary (91 traverse observations): (%) (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition Fair Poor Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good 45 26 70 24 6 o 29

40 80 120 , !

KILOMETRES

,------~----

/{ BYRO 0 Meekatharra l' Murchison . 0 t·

oCue Unit: 1. Dunes and sandy banks. MURGOO 2. Sand sheets. and alluvial plains. Mt Magnet 3. Saline swales 0 4. Drainage tracts. 5. Saline lakes.

150 Liver 1.5.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Dunes and sandy banks (25%) 2 inventory sites, 1 condition site and traversed

Low reticulate dunes and sandy banks sloping 1 .5% to 7.5% and a) Non-saline higher communities on crests: moderately close Vegetation type: Wanderrie Bank Grassy Shrubland or up to 10m high; mostly fringing lakes or claypans. Dunes (PFC 20-30%) shrublands dominated by Acacia ramulosa. Tall Bluebush/Saltbush Shrublands. marginal to lakes are frequently saline; up to 150 m wide and shrubs (> 2 m): A. ramulosa, A. sclerosperma. Mid shrubs Palatable shrublands include: Rhagodia eremaea, Thyridolepis 1 km long, reticulate and linear to direction of flow. Soils are (1-2 m): Cassia phyllodinea, Eremophila maitlandii. Low shrubs multiculmis, Eragrostis/anipes. siliceous or earthy red sands> 1 m deep with a neutral trend. « 1 m): Solanum lasiophyllum, Rhagodia eremaea. Perennial Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Principal profile forms: Uc1.23, Uc5.21. grasses: Eragrostislanipes, Thyridolepis multiculmis. b) Saline lower fringing communities: scattered (PFC 10-20%) shrublands dominated by Maireana pyramidata or Acacia sclerosperma. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Grevillea stenobotrya. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Hakea preissii. Low shrubs « 1 m): Maireana pyramidata, M. atkinsiana, Haloscarcia sp., Frankenia pauciflora, Atrip/ex vesicaria.

Unit 2: Sand sheets (30%) 1 inventory site, 1 condition site and traversed

Flat to very gently undulating sand plains, up to 1 km wide and Moderately close (PFC 20-30%) mid to low shrublands Vegetation type: Sandplain Wanderrie Grassy Shrubland. 2 km long. Soils are similar to unit 1. dominated mostly by low Acacia aneura, A. ramulosa and Palatable perennials include: Eragrostislanipes, Monachather Monachather paradoxa. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura, paradoxa, Thyridolepis multiculmis. A. wiseana, A. murrayana. Low shrubs (1-2 m): Hemigenia sp. Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Perennial grasses: Eragrostis eriopoda, E. lanipes, Eriachne >-' helmsii, Monachather paradoxa, Thyridolepis multiculmis. Ul >-' Unit 3: Saline swales and alluvial plains (35%) 3 inventory sites, 7 condition sites and traversed

Interconnecting interdunal swales and plains carrying sluggish Scattered (PFC 10-20%) low shrublands dominated by Maireana Vegetation type: Bluebush or Mixed Halophyte Shrublands. flow; strongly saline with marginal slopes < 1.5%; extending to glomerifolia, Ptilotus beardii and Frankenia magnifica. Tall shrubs Palatable perennials include: Maireana amoena, M. glomerifolia, 1 km wide and up to 3 m below adjoining unit 2. Soils are red (> 2 m): Hakea preissii. Low shrubs « 1 m): Frankenia magnifica, M. platycarpa, Frankenia magnifica, Ptilotus beardii. duplex, loamy or clayey sands over loamy or sandy clay, Maireana amoena, M. glomerifolia, M. platycarpa, Cassia Pastoral use limitations: High salinity levels of pasture plants; pH 6.5-7.5 with an alkaline trend. Principal profile form: Dr1.16. phyllodinea. susceptible to erosion where degraded. Vegetation condition %: VG/G 40, F 36, PNP 24. Erosion incidence %: min 31, mod 11. 25 obs.

Unit 4: Drainage tracts (5%) 1 inventory site and traversed

Drainage tracts, locally channelled, to 0.5 km wide and incised to Moderately close (PFC 20-30%) mixed shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Saltbush Shrubland. 2 m below adjoining units 1 and 2. Soils are probably deep Atriplex amnicola, Scaevola spinescens, and Melaleuca uncinata. Palatable perennials include: Atriplex amnicola, Enchylaena duplexes. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Eucalyptus coolabah, Mela/euca uncinata, tomentosa, Cratystylis subspinescens, Scaevola spinescens. Acacia murrayana. Low shrubs « 1 m): Scaevola spinescens, Pastoral use limitations: Moderately susceptible to accelerated Atriplex amnicola, Halosarcia sp., Enchylaena tomentosa, water erosion where degraded. Cratystylis subspinescens.

Unit 5: Saline lakes (5%) 1 inventory site and traversed Saline (and some non-saline) lakes and claypans up to 1.5 km in Bare to open tussock grassland dominated by Sporobo/us Vegetation type: Tussock Grassland or Samphire Shrubland. diameter but usually < 0.5 km; to 3 m below unit 2. Occasionally virginicus or low shrubland Meuhlenbeckia cunninghamii on less Palatable perennials include: Eragrostis diels;;, Frankenia with a very sparse mantle of silcrete pebbles and rocks. Soils are saline sites; Frankenia spp. or Haloscarcia spp. on more saline magnifica, Sporobolus virginicus. clays or deep yellowish-red duplexes, fine sand over loamy clay, sites. Low shrubs « 1 m): Frankenia magnifica, Halosarcia Pastoral use limitations: Subject to seasonal inundation; high pH 6.5 with an alkaline trend. Principal profile form: Dy3.43. indica. Perennial grasses: Sporobolus virginicus, Eragrostis salinity levels of most palatable plants. diels;;. Mantle land system (G) 155 km2 (0.18% of survey area) Land type: 6; Pastoral potential: low. Gently undulating stony plains, low hills and rises with saline alluvial lower plains and sluggish drainage zones; poorly vegetated landscapes supporting clumped or patchy acacia and very low halophytic shrubs. Geology: Permian sandstone, siltstone, shale and greywacke of the Byro group, belonging to the Artinskian series; minor Quaternary alluvium. Geomorphology: Erosional surfaces; extensively weathered soft Permian beds with only the flattened remnants of crests remaining above level or mostly gently undulating stony plains and interfluves. Minor depositional surfaces; drainage partly internal and disorganised, more or less channelled with through drainage lines; overall relief up to 30 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Curiously patchy and irregular saline and non-saline shrublands with extensive areas of stony plains and rises being virtually unvegetated, sometimes with no clear evidence of degradation effects and on moderately deep soils. The quantity and type of annual production may be more useful and typical of a stony system of saline plains; the alluvial plains and drainage tracts support Mixed Halophytic Shrubland of moderate to high productivity. Some drainage areas have been overgrazed and show minor water erosion; the system is otherwise not usually susceptible to accelerated erosion and is best suited to grazing only after seasonal growth. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 20 ha / dse. Range condition summary (6 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 83 17 o o 50 17 33

40 80 120. KILOMETRES - -- ~------

GlENBURGH ~ " BYRO Meekatharra 0 Murchison 0

oCue Unit: 1. Low hill crests and stony rises. 2. Saline stony plains. Mt Magnet 3. Alluvial plains. 0 4. Drainage tracts and channels.

152 r

Mantle I.s.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Low hill crests and stony rises (15%) 1 inventory site

Gently sloping « 5%) and undulating rounded stony rises to 15 m Very scattered (PFC < 10%) mainly annual and semi-perennial Vegetation type: Mulga Mixed Shrubland. Sparse perennials above surrounding unit 2. Mantled by dense cover of sandstone herb fields with very few perennials. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia supplemented by numerous and abundant annual grasses and pebbles and cobbles. Soils are probably alkaline duplex types or cuspidifolia, Hakea preissii. Low shrubs « 1 m): Ptilotus polakii, forbs in season, particularly Sclerolaena spp. alkaline red earths < 1 m deep. Rhagodia eremaea. Palatable perennials include: Rhagodia eremaea, Ptilotus polakii. Pastoral use limitations: Areas without protective suriace mantle may be susceptible to erosion on sloping sites.

·Unit 2: Saline stony plains (70%) 3 inventory sites and traversed

Undulating stony plains and flats sloping < 0.5%, mantled with Very scattered (PFC < 10%) open low shrublands dominated by Vegetation type: Mixed Halophyte or Samphire Shrublands or moderately dense to dense mixed pebbles and gravels. Soils PtilotU5 polaki and Halosarcia spp. amid much bare ground. Tall Stony Mulga Mixed Shrubland. Sparse perennials augmented are red duplex types, loamy sands or fine sandy loams over shrubs (> 2 m): Acacia cuspidifolia. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): by extensive Sclerolaena spp., annual forbs and grasses in clay loams, often over a weathered sedimentary substrate to A. tetragonophylla, A. victoriae, Cassia desolata. Low shrubs favourable seasons. 1 m; pH 6.0-8.0 with an alkaline trend. Principal profile forms: « 1 m): Solanum lasiophyllum, Halosarcia sp., Rhagodia Palatable perennials include: Rhagodia eremaea, Ptilotus Dr4.13, Dr4.33. eremaea, Ptilotus polak;;, Eremophila crenulata. polakii. Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing.

Unit 3: Alluvial plains (10%) Traversed

Saline alluvial plains subject to sheet flow, flanking channels Patches of very scattered mixed halophytic shrublands (PFC < Vegetation type: Probably Mixed Halophyte Shrubland, .... and major drainage tracts, often with a mantle similar to unit 2. 10%) with abundant annual herbs and grasses in season. supplemented by abundant annuals . el Soils are probably deep red duplex types. Pastoral use limitations: Dispersible soils without mantles may be susceptible to water erosion.

Unit4: Drainage tracts and channels (5%) Traversed

Major flow zones to 1 km wide with incised channels in units 2 Probably moderately close (PFC 20-30%) mixed woodlands Vegetation type: Riverine Mixed Shrubland. and 3. Margins of channels have braided tributaries or sluggish fringing channels or mixed shrublands on marginal drainage ill-defined saline flow zones. Soils are probably deep clays and tracts. Channels: Occasional Eucalyptus camaldulensis with duplex types. understorey of mixed shrubs Rhagodia, Atrip/ex or Maireana spp. Fringing communities; more frequent tall and mid shrubs Acacia tetragonophylla, A. victoriae and occasional perennial grasses Cenchrus spp., Eragrostis setifolia. Merbla land system 76 km2 (0.09% of survey area) Land type: 18; Pastoral potential: very high. Alluvial plains with clayey soils and partly gilgai (crab hole) surfaces; found very locally below gabbro hills in far south-east; supports halophytic shrub land and tussock grassland. Geology: Quaternary alluvium and colluvium derived from Archaean gabbro. Geomorphology: Depositional surfaces; alluvial plains with gilgai-surfaced depressions interconnected by complex mainly sluggish internal drainage; higher more stony marginal plains draining internally through incised, channelled meandering flow-lines. Surfaces are self-mulching and mostly stable; relief is mostly < 2 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Highly productive Bluebush Shrub land and Alluvial Tussock Grassland, conferring very good perennial reserves, but preferential grazing and the restricted extent of the system necessitates strict and responsive control of grazing; some areas would be mildly susceptible to accelerated erosion if degraded, especially units 2 and 4. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 5 ha I dse. Range condition summary (19 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 74 26 o o 58 37 5

40 80 120

KILOMETRES -- - --,------

0 Meekatharra Murchison 0

oCue

CUE

Unit: 1. Stony plains. l>; 2. Alluvial plains. Mt Magnet 0 i 3. Gilgai plains. 4. Minor channels and sluggish drainage tracts.

154 Merbla 1.5.

Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species Comments and condition indicators

Unit 1: Stony plains (10%) 1 condition site and traversed

Slightly saline stony plains with occasional gabbro outcrops, Scattered (PFC 10-20%) shrublands dominated by Maireana Vegetation type: Bluebush Shrubland. slightly higher than units 2 and 3 and marginal to Challenge and pyramidata. Trees (2-4 m): Pittosporum phylliraeoides. Tall Palatable perennials include: Maireana pyramidata, Naluthanna land systems; often with dense mantles of quartz. shrubs (> 2 m): Hakea preissii, Heterodendrum oleaefolium. Low M. trichoptera, Rhagodia eremaea, Enchylaena tomentosa. Soils are probably non-cracking red or brown clays. shrubs « 1 m): M. pyramidata, M. trichoptera, Rhagodia Increaser species include; Hakea preiss;;, Solanum orbiculatum. eremaea, Enchylaena tomentosa, Scaevola spinescens, Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. Solanum orbiculatum.

Unit 2: Alluvial plains (25%) 1 inventory site and traversed

Mostly flat and partly saline alluvial plains adjacent to Mileura land Scattered (PFC 10-20%) mixed shrublands, dominated by Cassia Vegetation type: Bluebush Shrubland. system. Soils are dark red loamy clays over light medium clays to nemophila and Maireana pyramidata. Trees (4-6 m): Acacia Palatable perennials include: Maireana pyramidata, M. convexa, > 1 m, pH 9.0 with an alkaline trend. Principal profile form: Uf6.71. sibilans, A. aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. aneura. Mid shrubs Eremophila maculata, Scaevola spinescens, Ptilolus divaricatus, (1-2 m): A. victoriae. Low shrubs « 1 m): Cassia nemophila, Eragrostis setifolia. Maireana pyramidata, M. convexa, Eremophila maculata, Pastoral use limitations; None under controlled grazing. Scaevola spinescens, Pti/otus divaricatus. Perennial grass: Eragrostis setifolia.

Unit3: Gilgai plains (60%) 3 inventory sites, 2 condition sites and traversed

Extensive and somewhat saline alluvial plains with patchy gilgai Very scattered to scattered (PFC < 20%) grassy low shrubland Vegetation type: Saltbush/Bluebush Shrubland with Alluvial .... micra-relief and self-mulching surfaces. Soils are dark red dominated by Maireana pyramidata, Atriplex amnicola and Tussock Grassland. 81 cracking clays> 1 m deep; pH 9.0 with an alkaline trend. Eragrostis setifolia. Trees (6-8 m): Acacia sibilans. Tall shrubs Palatable perennials include: Atriplex amnicola, Maireana Principal profile form: Ug5.36. (> 2 m): A. victoriae, Heterodendrum oleaefolium. Mid shrubs pyramidata, Eremophila maculata, Rhagodia sp., Eragrostis (1-2 m): Atriplex amnicola, Acacia tetragonophylla. Low shrubs setifolia, Eriachne f1accida. « 1 m): A. amnicola, A. bunburyana, M. pyramidata, Eremophila Pastoral use limitations: None under controlled grazing. maculata, Rhagodia sp., Ixiolaena leptolepis. Perennial grasses: Eragrostis setifolia, Eriachne flaccida.

Unit 4: Minor channels and sluggish drainage tracts Traversed « 5%) Meandering channels incised through units 2 and 3, carrying Scattered mixed shrublands supporting tall and mid shrubs Vegetation type: Creekline Grassy Shrubland. through flow from adjacent Naluthanna and Challenge land Acacia victoriae and perennial grasses Eragrostis setifolia, Pastoral use limitations: Unconsolidated soils may be prone to systems; draining mainly into unchannelled internal drainage Eriachne f1accida on channel margins. erosion if exposed in flow zones. zones. Soils are probably red or brown clays. Mileura land system (W) 1007 km2 (1.17% of survey area) Land type: 15; Pastoral potential: high. Saline and non-saline calcreted river plains, with clayey flood plains interrupted by raised calcrete platforms supporting diverse and very variable tall shrub lands, mixed halophytic shrub lands and shrubby grasslands. Geology: Tertiary calcrete with opaline silica and fine gravel at depth; partly overlain by Quaternary alluvium. Geomorphology: Depositional surfaces; calcreted valley fills with a mosaic of dissected calcrete platforms usually 1 to 10 km wide and 2 to 5 m high; alluvial plains, underlain by hardpan on margins; central plains and flow zones between platforms often highly saline; river channels (with isolated semi-permanent pools) to 100 m wide, incised and carrying bedloads of coarse materials: frequent drainage foci with minor internal drainage; overall relief < 6 m. Vegetation and pastoral use: Moderately to highly productive saline and non-saline shrublands, mainly Bluebush, Saltbush, Mixed Halophytic, Samphire and Riverine Mixed Shrublands with good perennial reserves when in good condition; also Calcrete Shrubby Grassland and Bluebush Shrub land on calcrete platforms; frequently degraded with invasions of unpalatable shrubs. The system is preferentially grazed (especially unit 1) by kangaroos, feral animals and domestic stock; units with duplex soils moderately to highly susceptible to erosion, those with loam over hardpan less susceptible, calcrete platforms not normally susceptible, though widely degraded. Estimated carrying capacity, good condition: 7 ha I dse. Range condition summary (301 traverse observations): (a) Erosion status (%) (b) Vegetation condition (%) Nil Min. Mod. Sev. Good Fair Poor 74 19 6 1 31 37 32

40, 80 120, KILOMETRES ,------

GLENBURGH ROBINSON RANGE ~ "" , I - , '\ BYRD / BELELE Meekatharra 0

Murchison 0,- , ! .~ - '\ . Unit: 1. Calcrete platforms. • ... <:,cue 2. Drainage foci. ~- MURaOO 3. Alluvial plains. , CUE", , 4. Lower saline plains. MtMagnet 1 "- 5. Major drainage tracts. 0 6. Channels.

156 ~

Mileura 1.5.

, Comments and condition indicators Landform and soils Vegetation: formations and major species

Unit 1: Calcrete platforms (33%) 9 inventory Sites, 17 condition sites and traversed

Calcrete platforms mainly O.5~3km long, with little slope a) Very scattered to scattered (PFC < 20%) tall shrublands Vegetation type:

« 0.5%); usually elevated 2~3metres above adjoining units and dominated by Acacia sclerosperma, A. aneura and Cassia spp. a) Calcrete Shrubby Grassland; or fragmented by flow zones (unit 5); very sparse to moderate Trees (4-8 m): A. aneura, A. sibilans, Codonocarpus cotinifofius, b) Bluebush or Saltbush Shrubland. mantling of calcrete fragments with occasional outcrop of Pittosporum phylliraeoides. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. sclerosperma, Palatable perennials include: Cratystylis subspinescens, opaline rocks. Soils are mostly calcareous sands, red or brown A. tysonii, A. victoriae, Grevillea aft. stenobotrya, Eremophila Maireana trichoptera, M. pyramidata, Rhagodia eremaea, calcareous sandy loams or alkaline red earths with frequent miniata. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): A. sc/erosperma, A. victoriae, Atriplex bunburyana, Sc/erolaena spp., Eragrostis spp., calcareous nodules and fragments of calcrete through the Lycium australe. Low shrubs « 1 m): Cassia nemophila, Enneapogon spp. profile, over calcrete at < 50 em; pH 7.5-9.5 with an alkaline Cratystylis subspinescens, Maireana pyramidata, M. trichoptera, Pastoral use limitations: Perennial grasses invariably trend. Principal profile forms: Uc1.12, Uc1 .13, UcS.12, Um1.33, Atrip/ex bunburyana, Rhagodia eremaea, Enchylaena toment05a. overutilised and more or less degraded through preferential Gc1.12. Perennial grass (up to 2% basal cover): Enneapogon nigricans, grazing by stock, goats, kangaroos and rabbits; susceptible to E. sp., Eragrostis falcata, E. pergracilis. shrub invasion by Cassia spp. and Dissocarpus paradoxus b) In south-east of area only; Moderately close (PFC 20-30%) where perennials are degraded; not normally subject to woodland dominated by Eucalyptus striatacalyx. Trees (to 14 m): accelerated erosion. E. striatacalyx. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): A. ligulata, A. sc/erosperma. Vegetation condition %; VG/G 28, F 45, PNP 27. Low shrubs « 1 m): Pti/otus obovatus, Cassia nemophila, Erosion incidence %; min 3. 78 obs. Atrip/ex bunburyana, A. aft. nummularia, Lycium australe, Enchylaena tomentosa. Perennial grass: Stipa sp.

... Unit 2: Drainage foci « 2%) 5 inventory sites and traversed V> " Flat, saline and non-saline depressions occurring as ephemeral Scattered to close (PFC 10-50%) woodland or shrubland with Vegetation type: Saltbush Shrubland or Mixed Halophyte swamps up to 1 km wide and 3 m below adjacent units 1 and 3. Grevillea striata, Eucalyptus cama/dulensis, E. striatacalyx, or Shrubland or Alluvial Tussock Grassland. Palatable perennials Soils are reddish brown or brown clays, hard-setting duplexes or mixed halophytes in more saline depressions, or lightly wooded include: Chenopodium nitrariaceum, Cratystylis subspinescens, calcareous red earths; mostly full-depth (some with calcrete at tussock grasslands. Trees (to 14 m): G. striata, E. camaldulensis, Atriplex amnicola, Rhagodia eremaea, Erfachne flaccida. 30 cm), pH 7.0-9.0 with mainly alkaline soil reaction trend. E. striatacalyx, Acacia aneura. Tall shrubs (> 2 m): Exocarpus Pastoral use limitations: Subject to seasonal inundation but Principal profile forms: Ug6.3, Uf6.71, Dr2.53, Gcl.22. aphylla, Melaleuca uncinata. Low and mid shrubs: Muehlenbeckia otherwise none under controlled grazing. cunninghamii, Chenopodium nitrariaceum, Cratystylis subspinescens, Rhagodia eremaea, Ptilotus divaricatus, Atriplex amnicola, Lyc/um austra/e. Perennial grasses: Eriachne flaccida, Stipa elegantissima.

Unit 3: Alluvial plains (35%) 11 inventory sites, 15 condition sites and traversed Alm()st flat (< 0.6% slope) alluvial floors and plains between Very scattered to moderately close (PFC < 30%) tall, mid height Vegetation type: Riverine Mixed Shrubland or Mixed Halophyte units 1 and 4; sheet and rill erosion common with some areas of or low shrublands or with shrub layers co-dominant, occasional Shrubland. severe scalding, hum mocking and wind piling evident. Soils are prominent trees. Trees (to 8 m): E. coolabah, Grevillea aft. Palatable perennials shrubs include: Maireana pyramidata, dark red, yellowish-red or brown duplex or clay types, clayey stenobotrya, G. striata, Acacia aneura, A. sibilans. Tall shrubs Rhagodia eremaea, Ptilotus spp., Cratystylfs subspinescens, sands or clay loams over sandy or light clays with a scattered (> 2 m); Melaleuca uncinata, A. tysonii, A. sclerosperma, A. Cassia chatelainiana, Atriplex vesicaria, Eremophila macu/ata, quartz or ironstone mantle and occasional calcrete or hardpan xiphophylfa. Mid shrubs (1-2 m): Cratystylissubspinescens, E. malacoides and perennial grasses. at 80-100 cm. pH 6.5-9.5 with a mainly alkaline trend. Principal Lycium australe, Scaevola spinescens, Eremophila pterocarpa, Pastoral use limitations; Degraded areas are highly susceptible profile forms: Dr1.33, Dr2.52, Dr2.53, Dr2.13, Uf6.71 , Uf6.53, Acacia victoriae, Hakea preissii, Cassia nemophila, C.sturtii. to sheet erosion, soil redistribution and subsequent invasion by Gc1.21. Low shrubs (< 1 m): Frankenla spp., C. subspinescens, Acacia victoriae and Eremophila pterocarpa. Halosarcia spp., Atriplex amnicola, A. vesicarla, Maireana Vegetation condition %; VG/G 33, F 28, PNP 39. pyramidata, Pti/otus lazarides, P. beardii. Perennial grasses: Erosion incidence %: min 36, mod 10, sev 3. 115 obs. Eragrostis spp., E. setifolia, E. die/sii.

plants; plants;

where where

traversed traversed

traversed traversed

traversed traversed

Halophyte Halophyte

susceptible susceptible

eremaea, eremaea,

Hakea Hakea

accelerated accelerated

spinescens, spinescens,

and and

and and

and and

Lycium Lycium

to to

pasture pasture

are are

Cratystylis Cratystylis

erosion erosion

8. 8.

dielsii. dielsii.

Mixed Mixed

Shrublands. Shrublands.

in in

site site

to to

sites sites

E. E.

or or

sites sites

include: include:

banks banks

Rhagodia Rhagodia

Scaevofa Scaevofa

PNP PNP

subspinescens, subspinescens,

sp. sp.

indicators indicators

amnicola, amnicola, salinity salinity

amnicofa, amnicofa,

19, 19,

susceptible susceptible

of of

Halophyte Halophyte

F F

inventory inventory

species species

setifolia, setifolia,

setosa, setosa,

1 1

condition condition

Shrubland Shrubland

Setaria Setaria

inventory inventory

susceptibility susceptibility

63, 63,

3 3

7 7

Atrlpfex Atrlpfex

Cratystylis Cratystylis

condition condition

levels levels

260bs. 260bs.

Atriplex Atriplex

Mixed Mixed

chrysoderma, chrysoderma,

8. 8.

Mixed Mixed

or or

Unconsolidated Unconsolidated

and and

moderately moderately

minor minor

VG/G VG/G

sites, sites,

Increaser Increaser

High High

Eragrostis Eragrostis

3 3

Frankenia Frankenia

min min

include: include:

%: %:

include: include:

vegetation. vegetation.

include: include:

spinescens, spinescens,

'Yo: 'Yo:

unit unit

of of

Riverine Riverine

Saltbush Saltbush

Lawrencia Lawrencia

degraded. degraded.

degraded. degraded.

into into

limitations: limitations:

inventory inventory

Comments Comments

limitations: limitations:

bare bare

limitations: limitations:

tomentosa. tomentosa.

4 4

tomentosa, tomentosa,

condition condition

type: type: are are

if if

type: type:

perennials perennials

spinescens, spinescens,

Scaevola Scaevola

use use

use use

incidence incidence

use use

where where

grading grading

erosion erosion

Pastoral Pastoral

Palatable perennials perennials Palatable

to to

australe, australe,

Erosion Erosion

Pastoral Pastoral

perennials perennials

Vegetation Vegetation

Palatable Palatable

Enchylaena Enchylaena

preissii. preissii. Shrubland. Shrubland.

Scaevola Scaevola

Vegetation Vegetation

erosion erosion

Pastoral Pastoral

zones zones

Enchylaena Enchylaena Palatable perennials perennials Palatable

subspinescens, subspinescens,

Vegetation Vegetation

Tall Tall

and and

sp. sp.

m): m):

shrubs shrubs

Acacia Acacia

Low Low

spp. spp.

Lycium Lycium

20-30%) 20-30%)

Perennial Perennial

(6-8 (6-8

m): m):

Tall Tall

communities. communities.

Frankenia, Frankenia,

amnicoJa. amnicoJa.

dielsii. dielsii.

Setaria Setaria

woodland woodland

(PFC (PFC

indica, indica,

(1-2 (1-2

E. E.

Trees Trees

Muehlenbeckia Muehlenbeckia

Grevillea Grevillea

coolabah, coolabah,

subspinescens, subspinescens,

low low

hopwoodii, hopwoodii,

species species

amnicola, amnicola,

tysonii, tysonii,

fringing fringing

grass: grass: close close

E. E.

spinescens. spinescens.

C. C.

m): m):

Atriplex Atriplex coolabah. coolabah.

Atrip/ex, Atrip/ex,

shrubs shrubs

50%) 50%)

E. E.

cunninghamii. cunninghamii.

major major

setifoJia, setifoJia,

Cratystylis Cratystylis

(4-6 (4-6

> >

sibilans, sibilans,

Halosarcia Halosarcia

spp., spp.,

Acacia Acacia

Mid Mid

M. M.

Atriplex Atriplex

E. E.

Duboisia Duboisia

eleganUssima. eleganUssima. setosa, setosa,

and and

20-30%) 20-30%)

m): m):

20-

Scaevola Scaevola

Perennial Perennial

m): m):

F. F.

m): m):

moderately moderately

Trees Trees

spp., spp.,

2 2

subspinescens. subspinescens.

Acacia Acacia

Hafosarcia, Hafosarcia,

(1-2 (1-2

SUpa SUpa

or or

(PFC (PFC

(PFC (PFC

preissii. preissii.

(1-2 (1-2

camaldulensis, camaldulensis,

(> (>

by by

by by

uncinata, uncinata,

spp., spp.,

spp. spp.

Hafosarcia Hafosarcia

platycarpa, platycarpa,

australe, australe,

camaldulensis, camaldulensis,

formations formations

10%) 10%)

E. E.

close close

shrubs shrubs

< <

Hakea Hakea

closed closed

spinescens. spinescens.

shrubs shrubs

flaccida, flaccida,

shrubs shrubs

subsplnescens, subsplnescens,

Eragrostis Eragrostis

Cratystyfis Cratystyfis

to to

Mid Mid

C. C.

Lycium Lycium

Mid Mid

Frankenia Frankenia

Eucalyptus Eucalyptus

Me/afeuca Me/afeuca

dominated dominated

Tall Tall

dominated dominated

Lawrencia Lawrencia

(PFC (PFC

and and

panton;;, panton;;,

sp., sp.,

m): m):

close close

Eucalyptus Eucalyptus

m): m):

sp. sp.

m): m):

sibilans, sibilans,

chrysoderma, chrysoderma,

and and

moderately moderately

Vegetation: Vegetation:

Scaevola Scaevola Eriachne Eriachne

grasses: grasses:

2 2

A. A.

« « 1

(6-8 (6-8

(> (>

m): m):

scattered scattered

shrublands shrublands

shrublands shrublands

2 2

sibilans, sibilans,

sclerosperma. sclerosperma.

Eremophila Eremophila

Casuarina Casuarina

australe, australe,

Trees Trees

sclerosperma. sclerosperma. Variable, Variable,

grasses: grasses: (> (>

Eremophila Eremophila

cunninghamii cunninghamii

Moderately Moderately

tall tall

A. A.

Perennial Perennial

Lawrencia Lawrencia

shrubs shrubs

shrubs shrubs

subspinescens, subspinescens,

Cratystylis Cratystylis

low low

Very Very

A. A.

3 3

units units

deep, deep,

to to

Gc1.2, Gc1.2,

from from

1 1 m

are are

forms: forms:

calcareous calcareous

within within

red-brown red-brown

vary vary

alkaline alkaline

subject subject

Dr2.12, Dr2.12,

encrustations encrustations

Soils Soils

and and

wide wide

clays> clays>

profile profile

and and

Soils Soils

anastomosing anastomosing

m. m.

m m

salt salt

mostly mostly

3 3

exposed exposed

a a

clays clays

30 30

wide wide

to to

Or2.52, Or2.52,

small small

heavy heavy

on on

soils soils

plains. plains.

(10%) (10%)

with with

km km

and and

or or

Principal Principal

(18%) (18%)

brown brown

showing showing

1 1

relief relief

and and

types. types.

sand sand

forms: forms:

to to

tracts tracts

deep deep

alluvial alluvial

and and

trend. trend.

7.0-9.0 7.0-9.0

local local

often often

up up

plains plains

medium medium

Occasional Occasional

alluvial alluvial

red red

3 3 m

profile profile

coarse coarse

pH pH

Uf6.53. Uf6.53.

(2%) (2%)

and and

with with

Landform Landform

saline saline

red red

to to

to to

of of

tracts tracts

flow. flow.

alkaline alkaline

saline saline

drainage drainage

up up

deep, deep,

deep deep

dark dark

an an juvenile juvenile

Uf1.33, Uf1.33,

loads loads

Principal Principal

calcrete calcrete

or or

sheet sheet

strongly strongly

1 1 m

Channels Channels

1 m m 1

duplexes duplexes

Major Major

and and

bed bed

Lower Lower

with with

drainage drainage

> >

incised incised

to to

and and

Uf Uf

trend. trend.

1.5-Continued 1.5-Continued

Uf5.12, Uf5.12,

flat flat

with with

dry. dry.

6: 6:

4 4

5: 5:

low-lying low-lying

7.0-9.0 7.0-9.0

earths, earths,

hardpan hardpan

Channels Channels

when when and and

Unit Unit

Ug5.36, Ug5.36,

pH pH

yellowish-red yellowish-red

channels channels

concentrated concentrated

Unit Unit

Almost Almost

red red

UfB.71, UfB.71,

reaction reaction

Flat Flat

hard-setting hard-setting

Unit 4: 4: Unit

Mileura Mileura

"-' "-' ii! ii!