Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Repairing rivers in Northern and Yorke
Ephemeral rivers exist only briefly - a few days at a time following rainfall - however they are no less important than permanent water bodies, which is why a restoration project is underway in South Australia to protect three unique river systems.
Funding
The $130,000 Repairing Our Rivers project – supported by the Australian and State Governments via the Northern and Yorke Natural Resource Management (NRM) Board – will help restore the Broughton River, Light River and Mambray Creek.
Their significance lies in the fact that the Broughton River is the longest river in the State; Light River drains one of the largest catchment areas in the state (1,821 square kilometres); and Mambray Creek is one of the State's few un-dammed wild rivers.
Activities
Funding incentives are being provided to landholders to fence waterways from stock, relocate watering points off-stream, remove weeds such as gorse, willow and ash trees and rehabilitate gully erosion by fencing and tree-planting.
Incentives also cover the use of contour banks to help control erosion, and planting river zones to reduce sedimentation and filter runoff.
Landholder George Hawker, whose mixed farming property contains one of the tributaries to the Broughton River, has fenced and replanted creeks and has had success in halting erosion. He's also addressing mistletoe weed, by restoring the remaining overstorey plants on his land.
“We own other land with creeks that were the result of a heavy rainfall or summer rain in the late 1800's, which caused major erosion,” George said. “We're in the process of fencing off the water courses to exclude livestock and promote natural regeneration.
Achievements
“We've been interested in conservation for the past 30 years so it's not a new thing for us. Apart from the obvious benefits like an increase of understorey where plants are fenced off, there's been an increase in birdlife and often the nine endangered species in the area are all here on our property, including the Diamond Firetail.
“There are aesthetic benefits as well as water quality benefits, and in the long-term, the preservation of the whole spectrum of naturally occurring plants.”
George has also called in several experts to identify local native plants and arrange collection of seed from these areas. He's worked with consultants to draw up a whole farm conservation management plan to guarantee his long-term ideals.
More information
- Trudie Stanley, Northern and Yorke NRM Board program Manager: (08) 8842 6253 or stanley.trudie@saugov.sa.gov.au
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