The insidious feature of salinity is that it does not recognise property boundaries – a recharge area may be on one property and the discharge on another. Hence the necessity for a united approach in each subcatchment, and the need for the whole community to assist and financially support the necessary works.

One of the greatest hurdles in overcoming the salinity dilemma is its acknowledgement and recognition by landholders/managers. There are a number of tell-tale indicators which give early warning signals, especially in areas where extensive land clearing has taken place. The longer the period since clearing, the greater the potential risk of salinity.

Experience has shown that within a bioregion with tree species of white, yellow, grey and red box, and red gum, the first to show signs of distress are the yellow box. The indicator grass species that will tolerate saline conditions beyond cereal crops and most pasture species are barley grass and sea barley grass. If left unchecked, the areas under stress are usually wetter for longer periods than the immediate surrounds, become denuded of vegetation, and when – or if – they dry out, are coated with a dusting of white salt powder. Because of the break- down of the soil structure, these areas are more susceptible to wind and water erosion, further exacerbating the situation.

Acknowledging or recognising the early stages of salinity is paramount in the reclamation process, not unlike keeping a train on the rails as compared to re-righting a derailment. Many landowners seem to go through a stage of denial, in the hope it will go away. Salinity is a word not a disaster, providing the necessary work is carried out with expediency in a united community approach. The earlier work begins, the sooner an area can be returned to production equal to or greater than was previously achieved.

Recharge areas need to be revegetated with trees or deep- rooted pasture (such as lucerne), ideally in combination to maximise the utilisation of natural rainfall and achieve productivity. The stage of degradation of the discharge area will influence the treatment required. Assuming that the area has lost a significant amount of vegetation, it would be advisable that deep ripping and mounding for trees be constructed at appropriate grades and positioned to suit the terrain. If practical and economically feasible, the areas can be mulched with an appropriate material. Suitable salt-tolerant tree species with salt-tolerant grasses and clovers should be planted. Pasture species include: tall wheat grass, puccinelia and strawberry clover; tree species include: melaleuca, she oak, red gum, wattle, and old man saltbush.

The purpose of the trees and pasture on recharge areas is two- fold: increase the uptake and transpiration of rainfall; and desirably increase primary production. Trees collect up to 10% of rainfall within the leaf canopy, preventing rain from reaching the ground. This rain is then evaporated or transpired back into the atmosphere.

Trees and pasture on recharge areas each have a slightly different purpose, as they need to act as water pumps at different soil depths to assist with the drying out of the soil profile and permitting the salt to be leached back down beyond the root zone. This will minimise the risk of salt loads entering the river system and maximise the potential to return productivity to the once degraded saline discharge area. It is important that both the recharge and discharge areas be appropriately addressed, as one in isolation fails to resolve the issue, akin to treating the effect and not the cause - a little like having a slow leak in your tyre: you can regularly keep pumping it up, or you can fix the puncture.

Irrigation induced salinity has the same hydrological mechanism, the difference being that the re- charge is induced by the overload of water leaking beyond the root zone. This may occur through soils being of a leaky nature, poor drainage, poor management, or a combination of these factors.

Urban salinity is a combination of all the above. Put simply, the majority of urban gardens contain non-native species which are not suited to the Australian environment. The ethos of the green lawn and introduced plant species, which require substantial volumes of water and are regularly over-watered, must change. Water is a scarce and precious resource. It should not be wasted, especially not in a way that actually degrades the environment. Few recognise the failings of their habit.

The feature of native plants in the garden is that they are already adapted to Australian soils and climate, thereby requiring considerably less water. Likewise, native grasses form an excellent lawn with low maintenance and water requirements. Admittedly the establishment of a weeping grass (Microlaena stipoides) lawn is by no means instant and requires a little time and effort, but the benefits are cumulative.

Conclusion
Salinity affects everyone. The management on one property can impact significantly on neighbouring properties, therefore it becomes a total community responsibility to address salinity, both environmentally and economically. Environmentally conscious farmers must receive acknowledgement and be rewarded for their contribution towards the restoration and enhancement of the environment in which we live. We cannot expect them to carry alone the financial burden and moral responsibilities of monitoring and managing the environment. Urban dwellers must make the transition away from green lawn and European-style gardens/species mentality to that of low maintenance native species.

* Gavin Wall grew up in the Caniambo district in Victoria where salinity surfaced after the wet period of 1956. At that time there was little known about salinity and how to address the problem became a trial-and-error exercise. Deep ripping, tree planting, water diversion and planting of tall wheat grass proved to be the answer that passed the test of time. Gavin and Debra relocated to a farm in the Wagga district in 1990. Undeterred by signs of salinity on the property, they set about transforming it into an ecological showcase farm. This property has since been sold and Gavin now works with the NSW Farmers’ Association as Program Manager of the Natural Heritage Trust project linking farmers with conservation management options.