The Salinity and Hydrology of the Upper Slab Hut Catchment
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Research Library Resource management technical reports Natural resources research 1-8-1999 The salinity and hydrology of the upper Slab Hut Catchment R Ferdowsian A T. Ryder Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/rmtr Part of the Agriculture Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Soil Science Commons, and the Water Resource Management Commons Recommended Citation Ferdowsian, R, and Ryder, A T. (1999), The salinity and hydrology of the upper Slab Hut Catchment. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, Perth. Report 190. This report is brought to you for free and open access by the Natural resources research at Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Resource management technical reports by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ISSN 0729-3135 August 1999 The salinity and Hydrology of the Upper Slab Hut Catchment R. Ferdowsian and A. Ryder Agriculture WA, Albany Resource Management Technical Report No. 190 Disclaimer The contents of this report were based on the best available information at the time of publication. It is based in part on various assumptions and predictions. Conditions may change over time and conclusions should be interpreted in the light of the latest information available. Chief Executive Officer, Department of Agriculture Western Australia 2002 Acknowledgments We appreciate the assistance of the landholders throughout the project. We are indebted to Peter Rowe and Brian Lloyd, who surveyed the bores and Bob Love for helping us with the 1997 drilling program. We acknowledge Dr Richard George, Dr Shawan Dogramaci and Dr Jo McFarlane for editing this report. 1 THE SALINITY AND HYDROLOGY OF THE UPPERSLAB HUT CATCHMENT Table of Contents Acknowledgments............................................................................................................ 1 Table of Contents ............................................................................................................ 2 SUMMARY ...................................................................................................................... 5 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 5 The Upper Slab Hut Catchment ................................................................................... 5 Objective ...................................................................................................................... 5 Methods and materials................................................................................................. 6 The present extent of salinity.................................................................................... 6 Drilling....................................................................................................................... 6 Land form pattern maps............................................................................................ 6 Annual recharge ....................................................................................................... 6 Results ......................................................................................................................... 7 Physiography............................................................................................................ 7 Geology .................................................................................................................... 7 Hydrology ................................................................................................................. 7 Present and potential salinity of the study area ........................................................ 7 Management options to reduce the extent of salinity in the Upper Slab Hut Catchment ..................................................................................................................................... 8 THE SALINITY AND HYDROLOGY OF THE UPPER SLAB HUT CATCHMENT ........... 9 1. Introduction and background................................................................................... 9 1.1. The study area.................................................................................................. 9 1.2. The salinity problem.......................................................................................... 9 1. 3. Objectives of this study............................................................................... 11 2. Climate.................................................................................................................. 11 3. Methods and materials .......................................................................................... 14 3.1 Drilling methods............................................................................................... 14 3.2 Soil and water analyses................................................................................... 14 3.3 Bore data collection and analyses ................................................................... 14 3.4 Recharge estimation........................................................................................ 14 3.5 Extent of soil salinity ........................................................................................ 14 3.6 Land form patterns........................................................................................... 14 2 THE SALINITY AND HYDROLOGY OF THE UPPERSLAB HUT CATCHMENT 4. Landform patterns of the study area ......................................................................15 4.1. Landform patterns found in the higher parts of the landscape ........................16 Broad crests (BC) and Undulating rises (UR) ......................................................16 Very gently undulating plains (VGUP) .................................................................17 4.2. Land form patterns that occupy the valleys .....................................................19 5. Physiography .........................................................................................................20 6. Geology .................................................................................................................21 7. Hydrology...............................................................................................................22 7.1. Types and attributes of aquifers in the Upper Slab Hut Catchment.................22 7.2. Recharge in the study area.................................................................................26 7.3. Groundwater levels in the study area are rising ..............................................27 8. Salt storage and salt concentration........................................................................30 9. Groundwater salinities ...........................................................................................32 10. Present and potential salinity of the study area ...................................................33 11. Management options in the Upper Slab Hut Catchment......................................36 11.1. Reducing recharge and increasing surface and subsurface runoff using drainage ..................................................................................................................37 11.2. Reducing recharge by growing perennial pastures .......................................38 Profitably of perennial pastures...............................................................................39 Land Management Units .........................................................................................40 11.3. Reducing recharge by phase cropping..........................................................40 11.4. Revegetating selected areas and limitations caused by the salinity of groundwater. ...........................................................................................................43 Related to the attributes of the aquifers ..................................................................43 Related to the performance of trees in relation to the shape of plantation ..............44 11.5. Managing creek lines, water courses and salt-affected areas.......................44 11.6. Pumping groundwater for aquaculture and for reducing groundwater levels.45 12. Future monitoring.................................................................................................45 13. References ..........................................................................................................46 Appendix 1: ....................................................................................................................48 Drilling Log Upper Slab Hut 1997...................................................................................49 Drilling Log Upper Slab Hut 1997...................................................................................50 Drilling Log Upper Slab Hut 1997...................................................................................51 3 THE SALINITY AND HYDROLOGY OF THE UPPERSLAB HUT CATCHMENT Drilling Log Upper Slab Hut 1997 .................................................................................. 52 Drilling Log Upper Slab Hut 1997 .................................................................................. 53 Drilling Log Upper Slab Hut 1997 .................................................................................. 54 Drilling Log