Kingoonya Plains and Dunes (Environmental Region 7.4)

This region consists of seven environmental association. The plains lie between the quartzite plateaux of Arcoona and Woomera and the silcrete tablelands abutting the northern margin of the region. the plains west of Kingoonya are erosional, but the eastern and central parts of the region comprise depositional plains with occasional red sand dunes and in the north-east, local rocky rises. Shallow loams with rock outcrop occur on the rises, and deep red calcareous earths on the plains. a system of lakes and pans following old drainage lines is present towards the centre of the region. Low open woodland or tall open shrubland dominates throughout. Various mulgas and other wattles, e.g. granite wattle, dead finish and myall, are the major components and relative species composition changes with soil type of local moisture conditions. Native pine woodlands occur on many dunes. Saltbush vegetation is found in areas which do not support tree growth, e.g. on hills where bladder saltbush and bindyi are common, in depressions where pearlbush and bladder saltbush occur, and around lakes and pans, where samphire and nitrebush are found. Gently undulating plains dominate the scenery of the region and provide middleground and background panoramic views. Perspective views bounded by dune ridges occur especially in the east. Features of local importance are canegrass swamps in the north, mesas in the extreme north-east, and coolibah-fringed stream channels in the north and east of the region. The climate is warm to hot in summer and mild to cold in winter with very low and unreliable rainfall and high evaporation throughout the year. Mean annual rainfall ranges from less than 150 mm in the north-east to 200 mm in the south-west. Mean annual evaporation increases from 2800 mm in the south-west to 3600 mm in the north-east. Mean monthly evaporation reaches 425 mm in January and exceeds the 90th percentile of monthly rainfall for every month. Temperatures show high diurnal and seasonal variation.