title: Regional-scale models for relating land cover to basin surface-water quality using remotely sensed data in a GIS.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, P.O. Box 423, Warrnambool, Victoria 3280, Australia. vlv@deakin.edu.au
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Versace
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ierodiaconou
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stagnitti
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: A-M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Boland
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D010944:Plants; D045483:Rivers; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D013997:Time Factors; D014739:Victoria; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride