Publication Date
2009
Series Number
96
Abstract
The inventory and condition survey of the lower Murchison River area, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) between 2002 and 2003, 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. This survey report presents findings from a survey of about 13 000km² around the lower reaches of the Murchison River (and surrounds) and has been designated the ‘Lower Murchison River area’. The western boundary of the survey area coincides with the rugged, almost continuous Zuytdorp Cliffs at the Indian Ocean. The eastern boundary borders the lower part of the 'Murchison River' rangeland survey. The northern boundary adjoins the southern extremities of the 'Carnarvon Basin' rangeland survey and the southern boundary links to agricultural cropping and grazing land, north of Geraldton. The survey identifies 25 soil types throughout the survey area. The most dominant are the red and yellow sandplain soils. These soils range from shallow near the coast to deep further inland. The soils associated with the Murchison River range from deep loams to shallow loams and sand. Twenty seven vegetation types are identified. These are further summarised into 11 broad vegetation groups. The most common vegetation is acacia and eucalypt shrubland/woodland and heath communities on sandplain.
Number of Pages
178
Keywords
Geology, Kalbarri (WA), Soil surveys, Vegetation, Climate, Ajana (WA), Rangelands, Western Australia, Murchison 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
Hennig, P.
(2009), An inventory and condition survey of the lower Murchison River area, Western Australia. Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia, Perth. Technical Bulletin 96.
https://library.dpird.wa.gov.au/tech_bull/9
Maps
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Included in
Agricultural and Resource Economics Commons, Agricultural Economics Commons, Agricultural Science Commons, Desert Ecology Commons, Environmental Education Commons, Environmental Health Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Geology Commons, Geomorphology Commons, Natural Resource Economics Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Physical and Environmental Geography Commons, Soil Science Commons, Sustainability Commons, Systems Biology Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons
