Sandy plains

Sandy plains

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Sandy plains

Tertiary to Quaternary loamy and sandy plains, composed of particles such as sand, can contain unconfined, unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers where groundwater is stored and transmitted through intergranular voids between particles.

Unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers in sandy plains may provide a range of ecosystems with water required to support their plant and animal communities, ecological processes and delivery of ecosystem services.

• Palustrine (e.g. swamps), lacustrine (e.g. lakes) and riverine (e.g. streams and rivers) wetlands located on the edge of sandy plains may depend on the surface expression of groundwater from these unconsolidated sedimentary aquifers.
• Terrestrial vegetation located on sandy plains may depend on the sub-surface presence of groundwater that is within their rooting zone.
• Aquifers in permeable sandy plains may also support ecosystems within the aquifer itself, which sometimes are indicated by the presence of stygofauna.

Pictorial conceptual model PDF

Last updated: 12 February 2017