Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
Key
site specific
region wide
Cross-catchment approach to tackling salinity
Murray Clement at a salt lake on his property
Murray Clement shows Jessica Forsyth (Landcare Coordinator) a recent saltbush planting
Saltbush planted in August 2005 beside a salt lake on Murray Clement's property
Getting 27 farming families in three different catchments across 44,457 hectares to collectively tackle salinity is challenging, but Western Australia's Kellerberrin and Doodlakine locals have done it.
Lessons are being learnt in the central-eastern Wheatbelt about 240 kilometres east of Perth, where farming is mostly cereals (wheat, lupins, barley, fieldpeas and canola) and livestock.
The 'catchment demonstration project' is a big-picture approach, taking into account benefits to agricultural production, water resources, nature conservation and public and private assets.
Funding
The project is supported by $1.2 million from the Australian and State Governments through the Avon Catchment Council, to show others how to deal with salinity at a catchment scale.
Activities
Project Manager Glenice Batchelor said there are four main options demonstrated: plant-based, engineering solutions, salinity risk and water management.
"Plant-based could mean replanting along waterways using melaleucas, sedges or rushes to stabilise creeks," she said. "An engineering option might be graded interception drains, which redirect surface water to a suitable site, such as a dam, for safe disposal. This helps prevent waterlogging.
"We also use constructed waterways to make a wide, shallow waterway from the paddock to a creek and this is grassed to hold the water, slow it down, reduce erosion and sediment and prevent wind erosion.
"A water management option could include riffles, which is like a rock wall designed to slow the water flow and trap the topsoil and sediment. Sediment traps are also effective, which are simply strategically-placed holes dug in the creek. They fill with sediment that can then be removed."
Plants such as perennial and annual pastures can also help in salinity management, including lucerne, trees and saltland pastures such as Old Man and River Saltbush.
Achievements
The 14 demonstration projects have attracted the attention of research agencies including Murdoch University, which is currently studying the use of deep drains and what needs to be done once the water has been taken away.
The next step is the rollout phase with all landholders able to be involved.
"Hopefully farmers will want to apply what they've learnt from the demonstration sites," Glenice said. "They'll identify the sites they're worried about on their own farm, look at our subsidised options and decide if they want to use them."
More information
- Glenice Batchelor, Project Manager: (08) 9045 4006 or clc@kellerberrin.wa.gov.au
See also
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window