Upper Pian Sub-catchment

Upper Pian sub-catchment is located from Pian Creek north towards the northern watershed of the Namoi Catchment between Wee Waa and Burren Junction. It includes the alluvial plains and floodplains of Pian Creek. It covers an area of 1,148km2 and is mainly flat with some small rises where prior streams have built up and sands have been deposited.

Landscapes within this sub-catchment range from plains to floodplains with soils ranging from brown to grey clay with traces of fine sediment to silty loam over red brown clay as you move south towards Pian Creek.

The sub-catchment is drained predominantly by the Pian Creek with a number of smaller flood ways and warrambools which assist with drainage during flood times.

The land is mainly used for dryland agriculture, with extensive areas of grazing on open grasslands that have been left close to Pian Creek. This sub-catchment contains some very productive landscapes and soils. Throughout the sub-catchment there are areas of highly developed irrigation. Irrigation water is sourced from both groundwater and from river diversions into Pian Creek. Cotton has been extensively grown throughout this sub-catchment for many years.

The issues within the sub-catchment include fragmented vegetation and degradation of existing vegetation communities, flooding, soil sodicity and soil structural decline.