salinity

What is the problem? Salinity is one of Western Austalia's most critical environmental problems. Western Australia has over 70 per cent of Australia's reported dryland salinity (see table in Dryland Salinity - An Introduction). An estimated 1.8 million hectares of farmland are already (1996) salt-affected to some extent, and this area could double in the next 15 to 25 years, and then double again before reaching equilibrium. Due to Western Australia's landforms and climate, the extent and rate of expansion …

…Irrigation salinity is estimated to affect 15% of irrigated land. About 70-80% of irrigated land in NSW is threatened by rising watertables and associated salinity problems. · The areas at greatest risk from irrigation salinity are in the: o Murrumbidgee River Irrigation Areas in the vicinity of Griffith, including the Mirrool, Yanco and Colleambally Irrigation Areas o Murray Irrigation Areas around Deniliquin, including the Berriquin, Deniboota and Wakool Irrigation Districts o Jemalong Irrigation District, west of Forbes