Water yield response to land use change in south-west Western Australia

Technical Report
Salinity and land use impacts series report SLUI 31 - Examination on the impacts of land use practices such as clearing for agricultural development, forest harvesting and regeneration, forest thinning, bauxite mining and reforestation on water yield.
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The forested areas of south-west Western Australia produce little streamflow from moderate rainfall. The low runoff is attributed to the large soil water storage available for continuous use by the forest vegetation.

Studies in 27 experimental catchments in the south–west of Western Australia examined the impacts of land use practices such as clearing for agricultural development, forest harvesting and regeneration, forest thinning, bauxite mining and reforestation on water yield.