Managing salinity
Managing salinity involves striking a balance between the volume of water entering the groundwater system (recharge) and the volume of water leaving it (discharge).
The watertable can be lowered by:
- planting, regenerating and maintaining native vegetation and good ground cover in recharge, transmission and discharge zones, where possible
- increasing groundwater use in recharge areas by pumping water from bores and by using drainage to redirect water to other storages
- installing bores and interceptor drains in discharge areas—water of suitable quality can be used to irrigate adjacent areas
- installing sub-surface drainage
- maximising cropping opportunities and minimising fallow land.
When dealing with salinity it is important to keep in mind that many assets (natural or built) have varying levels of tolerance to increases in salinity. Therefore salinity must be considered in the context of the particular asset at risk and the value of that asset.
Salinity Management Handbook
The Salinity Management Handbook provides a comprehensive description of salinity processes and management in Queensland landscapes. It was produced to address many of the questions by land managers and advisers about understanding and managing salinity. The handbook is split into three sections:
- understanding salinity
- investigating salinity
- managing salinity
The Salinity Management Handbook has been provided split in sections to enable faster download and as a complete PDF to facilitate printing.
Salinity Management Handbook in sections
- Foreword and contents (PDF, 183K)*
Understanding salinity
- Chapter 1 – Salinity and sodicity (PDF, 3.9M)*
- Chapter 2 – Hydrologic controls on salinity (PDF, 313K)*
- Chapter 3 – Salinity and hydrology management (PDF, 491K)*
Investigating salinity
- Chapter 4 – Features of salinity investigations (PDF, 75K)*
- Chapter 5 – Measurement techniques and relationships (PDF, 249K)*
- Chapter 6 – Landscape characteristics and salinity mapping (PDF, 346K)*
- Chapter 7 – Vegetation (PDF, 1.6M)*
- Chapter 8 – Climate and rainfall patterns (PDF, 236K)*
- Chapter 9 – Soils (PDF, 2.1M)*
- Chapter 10 – Waters (PDF, 1.0M)*
- Chapter 11 – Water quality (PDF, 147K)*
- Chapter 12 – Human activities (PDF, 99K)*
Managing salinity
- Chapter 13 – Management issues (PDF, 153K)*
- Chapter 14 – Vegetation management (PDF, 2.7M)*
- Chapter 15 – Engineering methods (PDF, 2.5M)*
- Chapter 16 – Irrigation management (PDF, 86K)*
- Appendixes (PDF, 4.5M)*
- References, glossary and index (PDF, 133K)*
- Useful conversions and relationships (PDF, 123K)*
Complete publication
- Salinity Management Handbook (PDF, 19M)*
If you experience difficulty downloading any of these documents, or would like a copy sent via mail please contact:
Client Outcomes
Product Delivery
Department of Environment and Resource Management
GPO BOX 2454
Brisbane Qld. 4001
ProductDelivery@derm.qld.gov.au
Further information
- Fact sheet L52—Managing dryland salinity on your property (PDF, 191K)*
- Fact sheet L54—Managing salinity with vegetation (PDF, 415K)*
- Fact sheet L55—Managing salinity with engineering (PDF, 73K)*
- Fact sheet L56—Production from salty lands (PDF, 176K)*
- Fact sheet L58—Brymaroo catchment—salinity case study (PDF, 174K)*
- Fact sheet L59—Dryland salinity—impacts and costs (PDF, 153K)*
For further information on salinity management see salinity publications
* Requires Adobe Reader
Last updated 14 November 2011
