An Evaluation of the Gerangamete Catchment Management Plan Using the Safe Minimum Standard

In this study an evaluation of the catchment management plan for the Gerangamete catchment is undertaken. This catchment suffers from dryland salinity which is a result of current landuse practices, and can only be solved by changing those practices. Current methods of land use evaluation have been criticised for their inflexibility and lack of attention to costs (both private and social) associated with particular land use activities. These deficiencies can limit the usefulness of land evaluation procedures for defining land capability and suitability for farm and regional land use planning for salinity control. In this study a method is outlined, which is based on incorporating deterministic spreadsheet modelling and risk analysis using simulation modelling which overcomes some of these deficiencies. The technique integrates biophysical and economic data in a measure which can be readily computed, updated and communicated to land managers