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Dealing with salinity in Wheatbelt Valleys - Department of Water

Dealing with salinity in Wheatbelt Valleys - Department of Water

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Morrell, Hatton and Curry<br />

The population <strong>of</strong> the catchment is approximately<br />

two hundred people. It is a rural community reliant<br />

on agriculture. One town, P<strong>in</strong>grup, is located <strong>with</strong><strong>in</strong><br />

the catchment; seventy <strong>of</strong> the two hundred people<br />

live <strong>in</strong> the town. P<strong>in</strong>grup was gazetted on 9 May<br />

1924. Population trends dur<strong>in</strong>g the last year show a<br />

16% drop over that period.<br />

6320000<br />

6300000<br />

6280000<br />

6260000<br />

6240000<br />

Land Use<br />

600000<br />

Roads<br />

600000<br />

(<br />

LEGEND<br />

NYABING<br />

Towns<br />

620000<br />

Sealed<br />

Unsealed<br />

Catchment<br />

Subcatchments<br />

Lakes<br />

620000<br />

(<br />

640000<br />

(<br />

ONGERUP<br />

640000<br />

The major land use is cereal and sheep farm<strong>in</strong>g, <strong>with</strong><br />

an emphasis on wheat and barley production. Crops<br />

such as canola, lup<strong>in</strong>s and other pulse crops are<br />

<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> area. Many farmers <strong>with</strong><strong>in</strong> the<br />

catchment are trial<strong>in</strong>g high water us<strong>in</strong>g fodder crops<br />

such as lucerne, summer crops and Balansa clover.<br />

Farmers have also started to plant commercial tree<br />

crops such as oil mallees as well as other tree species<br />

for nature conservation.<br />

PINGRUP<br />

The Lake Ch<strong>in</strong>ocup Catchment forms the<br />

headwaters <strong>of</strong> the Swan Avon River system <strong>in</strong> the<br />

zone <strong>of</strong> Ancient Dra<strong>in</strong>age, <strong>in</strong> which run-<strong>of</strong>f<br />

accumulates locally <strong>in</strong> term<strong>in</strong>al lakes (Figure 1).<br />

Overflow out <strong>of</strong> the catchment only occurs <strong>in</strong><br />

exceptionally wet years. The area centres on the<br />

Lake Ch<strong>in</strong>ocup Reserve.<br />

660000<br />

660000<br />

Figure 1: Location <strong>of</strong> the Lake Ch<strong>in</strong>ocup Catchment<br />

– 2 –<br />

JERRAMUNGUP<br />

(<br />

680000<br />

680000<br />

Sheep are bred ma<strong>in</strong>ly for their wool <strong>with</strong> fewer<br />

concentrat<strong>in</strong>g on breed<strong>in</strong>g fat lambs for the meat<br />

market. There are 60 farm<strong>in</strong>g families <strong>with</strong> property<br />

<strong>in</strong> the Lake Ch<strong>in</strong>ocup Catchment. Approximately<br />

80,000 tonnes <strong>of</strong> wheat and 30,000 tonnes barley are<br />

produced annually. Wool production is at about<br />

750,000 kg annually from 250,000 sheep.<br />

Vegetation<br />

The P<strong>in</strong>grup district was orig<strong>in</strong>ally covered <strong>in</strong> thick<br />

mallee scrub. It was developed (cleared for<br />

6320000<br />

6300000<br />

6280000<br />

6260000<br />

6240000

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