Regional-scale models for relating land cover to basin surface-water quality using remotely sensed data in a GIS

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment Vol. 142; no. 1-3; pp. 171 - 184
• Main Authors: Versace, V. L, Ierodiaconou, D, Stagnitti, F, Hamilton, A. J, Walter, M. T, Mitchell, B, Boland, A.-M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Dordrecht : Springer Netherlands 01.07.2008; Springer Netherlands; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Arid zones; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Basins; Biological and medical sciences; Creeks & streams; Dryland salinity; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; General aspects. Techniques; Geographic Information Systems; Groundwater; Hydrology; Land use; Methods and techniques (sampling, tagging, trapping, modelling...); Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Native vegetation; Plants; Regional analysis; Regions; Rivers; Salinity; Scale models; Sedimentation & deposition; Sodium Chloride; Southwest Victoria; Studies; Surface water; Time Factors; Vegetation; Vegetation mapping; Victoria; Water depth; Water Pollution - analysis; Water quality; Water table; Australia; Victoria; Oceania; Dryland salinity; Native vegetation; Australia; Regional analysis; Land use; Southwest Victoria; Arid environment; Regional scope; Environmental factor; Modeling; Salinity; Geographic information system; Surface water; Water quality; Vegetation; Plant cover; Models; Environmental monitoring; Dryland; Native species; Environment quality
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-007-9918-5

Plant-based management systems implementing deep-rooted, perennial vegetation have been identified as important in mitigating the spread of secondary dryland salinity due to its capacity to influence water table depth. The Glenelg Hopkins catchment is a highly modified watershed in the southwest region of Victoria, where dryland salinity management has been identified as a priority. Empirical relationships between the proportion of native vegetation and in-stream salinity were examined in the Glenelg Hopkins catchment using a linear regression approach. Whilst investigations of these relationships are not unique, this is the first comprehensive attempt to establish a link between land use and in-stream salinity in the study area. The results indicate that higher percentage land cover with native vegetation was negatively correlated with elevated in-stream salinity. This inverse correlation was consistent across the 3 years examined (1980, 1995, and 2002). Recognising the potential for erroneously inferring causal relationships, the methodology outlined here was both a time and cost-effective tool to inform management strategies at a regional scale, particularly in areas where processes may be operating at scales not easily addressed with on-site studies.