Dryandra Woodland - Department of Environment and Conservation ...

5. HYDROLOGY
BACKGROUND
Catchments
Dryandra Woodland is within the upper reaches of the Murray River and Blackwood River
catchments. Areas of the Woodland to the north of Narrogin are located between the Williams and
Hotham rivers, which drain into the Murray River. Woodland areas to the south-west of Narrogin, are
located on the catchment boundary between the Murray and Blackwood catchments. The
north-western most blocks drain into the Williams River, whilst the remaining blocks in the Highbury
area feed into the Arthur River, a tributary of the Blackwood.
Dryandra Woodland is within the Cuballing, Narrogin and Williams land conservation districts.
Water Quality
There is a trend of increasing water salinity from west to east within the Murray and Blackwood
rivers. This reflects an increasing concentration of salts within the soil profile with diminishing
rainfall (McArthur et al. 1977). The surface water within Dryandra Woodland, although a blend of
surface runoff and saline ground water, is considered fresh (J. Davis pers comm.).
Water Supplies
Several dams exist within Dryandra Woodland, including:
• Congelin Dam, which previously serviced steam trains;
• the Old Mill Dam, which was associated with a sawmill;
• the Montague Dam; and
• two dams within the Settlement area, one of which supplies the domestic water. In addition, water
tanks are located at the old Lol Gray and Contine homestead sites.
Hydrological Processes
The water cycle in the south-west forests and woodlands consists of a series of four interrelated
processes: precipitation, evapotranspiration, soil water storage and movement, and streamflow.
Changes in land use which alter these processes and, thus, change the water balance, have the potential
to cause environmental problems.
ISSUES
1. Land uses within the immediate catchments have the potential to influence the water quality and
quantity in the tributaries and dams in the Woodland and on surrounding farmland.
2. The water stored in a number of small dams in Dryandra is used for recreation, fire control, and
as habitat for aquatic flora and fauna.
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