An inventory and condition survey of rangelands in the north-eastern Goldfields, Western Australia

Authors

H J. PringleFollow
S A. Gilligan
A M E van VreeswykFollow

Publication Date

1994

Series Number

87

Abstract

The inventory and condition survey of the north-eastern Goldfields, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) between 1988 and 1990, describes and maps the natural resources of the region’s pastoral leasehold land. This survey report provides a baseline record of the existence and condition of the natural area’s resources, to assist with the planning and implementation of land management practices. The report identified and described the condition of soils, landforms, vegetation, habitat, ecosystems, and declared plants and animals. It also assessed the impact of pastoralism and made land management recommendations. The area surveyed covers about 100 570km² and encompasses most or all of the following salt lake systems: Lake Ballard, Lake Rebecca, Lake Marmion, Lake Raeside, Lake Darlot and Lake Carey. There are no major river catchments in the area. Pastoralism is the most extensive land use in the survey area, covering approximately 83 322km² (83% of the area). The principal soil types of the survey area are deep earthy red sands on sandplains, and shallow red earths overlying hardpan on level to gently inclined plains. The major vegetation communities found in the survey area are spinifex hummock grasslands, wanderrie tussock grasslands (usually with an Acacia aneura-mulga, overstorey), A. aneura tall shrublands/woodlands, chenopod low/mid shrublands and Eucalyptus/Casuarina woodlands. The most common and abundant genera include Acacia spp, Atriplex spp, Cassia spp, Eremophila spp, Eucalyptus spp, Maireana spp , and Triodia spp.

Number of Pages

323

Keywords

Soil surveys, Edjudina region (WA), Sir Samuel region (WA), Vegetation, Western Australia, Rangeland soils, Goldfields region (WA), Erosion, Duketon region (WA), Soil degradation, Menzies region (WA), Laverton region (WA), Leonora region (WA)

Disciplines

Agricultural and Resource Economics | Agricultural Economics | Agricultural Science | Agriculture | Desert Ecology | Environmental Education | Environmental Health | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Geology | Geomorphology | Natural Resource Economics | Natural Resources and Conservation | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Physical and Environmental Geography | Soil Science | Sustainability | Systems Biology | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology

Recommended Citation

Pringle, H J, Gilligan, S A, and van Vreeswyk, A M. (1994), An inventory and condition survey of rangelands in the north-eastern Goldfields, Western Australia. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, Perth. Technical Bulletin 87.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/tech_bull/5

Maps

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