Lagoons and Wetlands

Tocal landscape transect, highlighting the gentle slopes

Representative paddocks

Railway, Racecourse, Sheep, front of Bona Vista.

Geology and soils

Alluvium derived from upslope sedimentary and volcanic rocks. Deep grey to yellow clay soils with mottling. Saline soils with high water table prone to waterlogging. View a soil profile from Racecourse paddock.

Land capability - slope in degrees, hazards, rural land capability classes

Gentle slope 2 - 10 degrees, class IV due to flood risk (definition of land capability classes).

Vegetation - native vegetation communities and important species

Substantially cleared. Some isolated remnant trees (eg Cabbage Gum Eucalyptus amplifolia), Swamp Oak Casuarina glauca along creeks, Broad-leaved Paperbarks around some swamps.

Native fauna and habitats - listed threatened and other important species, important habitat elements

Wetlands provide habitat for important migratory bird species (including listed species under State and Commonwealth legislation). Dead trees for roosting provide important habitat.

Gentle Slopes in Springer paddock (in mid-ground)

Present and recent land use

Some exclusion of grazing or intensive grazing of previously drained wetlands.

Important management issues

Low significance landscape for agricultural production and profitability. Some livestock exclusion. Consider biodiversity, pollution control, salinity and groundwater, water weeds.

Management objectives - what we want to achieve

Protect native wildlife and wetland species. Livestock exclusion and improve habitat value.

Management actions - how we are going to achieve the objectives

Protect wetlands by fencing. Major creeks and streams to be progressively fenced off where practical. Retain dead trees and fallen logs near wetlands.