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A detailed study involving drilling, geophysics, hydrogeochemistry, and groundwater monitoring over a 10-year period has been carried out at a small catchment south-east of Yass on the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales to investigate the source of salt causing dryland salinity. The catchment is within 2 km of the top of a regional groundwater and surface water divide and remains substantially tree covered. The investigations have found a highly heterogeneous distribution of salt, most of which is associated with swelling clay. Dispersion of this clay causes the surface features commonly associated with dryland salinity.

There is no hydrogeochemical evidence to suggest evaporative or transpirative concentration of salt in the groundwater. The short flow path from the top of the catchment cannot provide a significant source of salt from bedrock weathering. An alternative model of salt accumulation is proposed with the salt imported into the catchment with silt during dust storms in the arid and windy conditions during the last glacial. The management implications of this model of salt distribution and the associated dryland salinity development are discussed.