An inventory and condition survey of the Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find area, Western Australia

Abstract

The inventory and condition survey of the Sandstone-Yalgoo-Paynes Find area, undertaken by the Department of Agriculture and Food, Western Australia (DAFWA) between 1992 and 1993, describes and maps the natural resources of the region’s pastoral leasehold land. This survey report provides a baseline record of the existence and condition of the area’s natural resources, to assist with the planning and implementation of land management practices. The report identified and described the condition of soils, landforms, vegetation, habitat, ecosystems, and declared plants and animals. It also assessed the impact of pastoralism and made land management recommendations. The area surveyed covers about 94 700km². Three small townships fall within the area, namely Sandstone in the east, Paynes Find in the south-centre and Yalgoo in the west. Apart from a very small portion of the Greenough River catchment in the far north-west, there are no major river catchments in the survey area. The survey area is drained internally into the salt lake systems of Lake Barlee, Lake Noondie, Lake Mason, Lake Moore and Mongers Lake. Pastoralism is the most extensive land use in the area. Fifty-four pastoral leases fall wholly, and twelve partly within the survey area and collectively occupy about 86 460km² (91% of the area). Twelve broad soil groups are identified in the survey area. The most outstanding characteristics of the soils are the predominant red colour and the widespread presence of a siliceous hardpan. Most soils are sandplains and granitic country, and variable depth red earths overlying hardpan on level to gently inclined plains. The flora of the area is diverse. 719 vascular species are recorded in the survey area, of which 706 are native. Cotton bush (Ptilotus obovatus), curara (Acacia tetragonophylla) and mulga (Acacia aneura) are the ubiquitous perennials in the survey area