Salinity - Management - Northern Territory
Northern Territory
Introduction
Treating the cause of salinity through recharge reduction may be effective in reversing salinisation in only a few responsive groundwater systems. Once the salinisation process is under way it is extremely difficult to slow, halt or reverse in order to protect water and land resources. Prevention is a far better investment than any attempt at control or management.
Northern Australia presents opportunities to avoid the dryland salinity problems of temperate Australia. Broad-scale clearing without recognition of salt stores and the resulting change in water balance is a recipe for problems, whether it is in 20 or 100 years. Wise management now to protect the landscape and prevent dryland salinity will prove far more cost-effective than any attempts to solve the problem once it occurs.
While salinity analysis has focused on southern Australia, sound scientific evidence (Bui et al. 1996, Williams et al. 1997, Bui 2000, Gordon et al. 2000, Gunn1967, Shaw et al. 1994) shows that all the factors that contribute to salinity hazard also exist over large areas of the semi-arid zones of northern Australia. Two factors that must be present for a salinity hazard to exist after clearing or change in vegetation cover are :
- presence of stored salt in the soil, regolith or groundwater systems, and
- an increase in the water draining beneath the root zone following tree clearing or vegetation change.
What is the scale of the groundwater systems and how can they be managed?
The groundwater flow systems for Northern Territory are presented in the table below. Click on the flow system name to get further information
Government responses to dryland salinity as at the year 2000
The Northern Territory is currently (March 2001) considering the role and activities of the natural management agencies in response to the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality announced in late 2000.
Further information
- Northern Territory Dryland Salinity Assessment 1994 report
- Australian Dryland Salinity Assessment 2000 report
- National Technical Overview Report of the State-based dryland salinity assessments
- Australian Groundwater Flow Systems Report
- Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts.
- National Dryland Salinity Program
- National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality
Link to Map maker to make a map using this information.
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