Goondoola Basin

Goondoola Basin

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Goondoola Basin, located approximately 50 kilometres southeast of St George in the eastern Murray-Darling Basin, is an ancient lake bed in a semi-closed depression. The cracking and non-cracking clays of the lake bed and lower slopes of the surrounding ridges naturally accumulate salt. Historical widespread clearing of native vegetation on the ridges of Goondoola Basin, associated with a history of cultivation and grazing, has increased the rates of deep drainage of water through the soil profile and into the underlying unconfined aquifer[1]. Consequently, rising groundwater tables have mobilised the existing salt stores resulting in localised dryland salinity[1]. While shallow groundwater is present in Goondoola Basin, the groundwater quality prohibits the current ecosystems in this area from using or depending on this water source.

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References

1. ^ a b Robinson J.B., Silburn D.M., Rattray D., Freebairn D.M., Biggs A., McClymont D. & Christodoulou N. (2010), 'Modelling shows that the high rates of deep drainage in parts of the Goondoola Basin in semi-arid Queensland can be reduced with changes to the farming systems.', Australian Journal of Soil Research, vol. 48, no. 1, pp. 58-58-68.

Last updated: 10 April 2017