Dealing with salinity in Wheatbelt Valleys - Department of Water
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