Land Unit Information Sheet

Land system name: Wattlevale

Land unit: WE4

General description This land unit is confined to the steep slopes dropping into Bullock creek, which has incised the western margin of the Wattlevale land system. Sites with detailed soil and vegetation information are not available, however, general observations during field work have been collated to give some useful information. The dominant vegetation is a mid-high forest of Acacia shirleyi (lancewood) with a ground cover of (gummy spinifex) and Themeda triandra (kangaroo grass). It is not unusual to find an occasional Eucalyptus similis (yellowjacket) or leichhardtii (rustyjacket) on pockets of deep red sands, which are remnants of the huge sandsheet to the east (Wishaw (WW) land system) and south east (Desert (DT) land system). Regional ecosystem 10.7.3 is predominant.

Site characteristics Landform element Average slope Scarp 10-20% Site drainage Soil permeability Rapidly drained Moderately permeable Flooding risk Inundation risk Nil Nil Potential recharge to groundwater Soil depth Moderate Variable, usually shallow; 0.25 - <0.5 m Present land use Limited grazing

Susceptibility to land degradation processes

Sheet erosion Gully erosion Wind erosion Salting High Low Very low Very low

This information has been generated from the Desert Uplands Land Resource Database. The Environmental Protection Agency accepts no liability for any decisions or actions taken on the basis of this information. State of . Environmental Protection Agency 2004.

7/12/2005 Land Unit WE4 - page 1 Representative site number: 0

Soil classification Australian Soil Classification Principle Profile Form N/A N/A

General soil description Soils of variable texture and depth, with stony topsoils and outcropping laterite or ferruginised bedrock.

Field sites within this land unit (see technical report for original site nos.) Site code Site type 1634 DUSLARA Tertiary 4552 Corveg

Summary of species within this land unit

Species Common name Acacia shirleyi lancewood* Eucalyptus similis Queensland yellowjacket*, yellowjacket Themeda triandra kangaroo grass*, red oatgrass Triodia sp. spinifex

1. Introduced plant 2. Consider for protection 3. Pending registration 4. Rare plant 5. Environmental weed 6. Endangered plant 7. Vulnerable plant 8. Agricultural pest * Wildnet preferred common name; Species in brackets refer to previously known name

Special features Implications for land use A natural refuge for native wildlif, which have specialised The steep slopes are a high erosion hazard. habitat needs such as bare stony ground, sheltered The topsoils are stony and rock outcrop is common. gorges, or caves and crevices in sandstone and ironstone. The steep slopes, shallow soils and high proportion of stones These scarps often extend for considerable distances and rock on the soil surface restrict potential productivity. along the edge of the plateau and provide an important The land surface is subject to high runoff. corridor for wildlife. The ground cover has a low productivity and is vulnerable to overgrazing. If degraded, it is difficult to regenerate. Alternative land uses may include nature walks, bird-watching or photography, as part of an eco-tour or farm-stay enterprise. This land unit is included in Land Management Unit 1.

This information has been generated from the Desert Uplands Land Resource Database. The Environmental Protection Agency accepts no liability for any decisions or actions taken on the basis of this information. State of Queensland. Environmental Protection Agency 2004.

7/12/2005 Land Unit WE4 - page 2