Abstract
This paper discusses the land types, hydrologic characteristics and processes, and the major modification of these, in relation to mechanisms and magnitude of phosphorus losses to drains and riverine systems which discharge to the Peel-Harvey estuary. About 75% of the coastal plain part of the catchment is cleared of native vegetation and used for dryland, dairy and beef grazing. There are small areas devoted to irrigated pasture and commercial horticulture. Seventy-five percent of the soils of the catchment are sandy surfaced with a poor capacity to retain phosphorus. Though the area is flat, catchment water yields are high because of a large winter rainfall excess and low soil storage capacity. Drainage schemes have been constructed in much of the catchment to remove excess water quickly. This was required initially to allow agricultural expansion and is now important for protecting a growing infrastructure which serves the most populous region of Western Australia.
