Sustainability Commons^™

Fractured Rock Groundwater Wa Wheatbelt: Data And Methodology Review, Louise Hopgood, Richard Nixon

Natural resources commissioned reports

The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) in partnership with Water Corporation, working with Murdoch and Curtin universities, are looking at new options to improve farm water security in the wheatbelt of Western Australia.

Winter rainfall has declined since 2000 and dams, traditionally used for farm water supply, no longer provide sufficient or reliable water, especially after 1 to 2 below average years. Increasingly, groundwater supplies are being considered to supply farm needs, including those from fractured rock aquifers, with opportunities to desalinate to improve water quality.

This project undertook to review groundwater availability in fractured rock aquifers …

Scott Coastal Plain A Strategy For A Sustainable Future, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

Bulletins 4000 -

The Scott Coastal Plain has significant attributes that make it an area of State and regional significance for agricultural production. The climate, availability of good quality groundwater for irrigation, and large lot sizes provide opportunities for mechanised horticultural production which other parts of the State may not have.

An estimate of the area that could be used for each agricultural land use has been developed, at a broad study area level. The figures presented in this report show that diversified production combining tree plantation and/or irrigation (cropping or hay/silage) with grazing enterprises provides for potential increases in gross margins and …

Northern Wheatbelt Water Supply Study, I A F Laing, R. M. Pridham

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Department of Agriculture surveys have shown that many farms in Western australia's northern wheatbelt have inadequate water supplies. More than 80 per cent of all farms in that area depend soley on groundwater for watering livestock, a much higher percentage than for most other farming areas. Because groundwater salinities have increased in recent years, concern is held for the long-term future of this recource.

In contrast to more southern agricultural areas, farm dams in the northern wheatbelt are relatively uncommon. Only 30 per cent of the existing dams in the northern wheatbelt constitute effective water supplies. More than half of …

The Comprehensive Water Supply Scheme, K J. Kelsall

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The Comprehensive Water Supply Scheme has been a great boon to the agricultural area, and it has received strong support from all political parties. The Scheme has been responsible for increased prosperity of country towns, the decentralisation of industry, and general improvements in the standard of living.

This is a look at the development of the Scheme.

P.W.D. Supplementary Public Water Supply Schemes, J E. Davis

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Shallow wells and soaks with very limited yields were the principal water sources for the early settlers.

Hundreds of such wells were constructed by the Public Works Department in remote areas.

In the early 1930s major development of water supplies from rock catchments was begun in the central wheatbelt.

After the war, larger and more effective earth moving equipment became available. The Public Works Department rehabilitated many old excavated dams as well as constructing new ones.

Roaded catchments were also developed during this post-war period. many farmers took advantage of Public Works Department technical advise and hired a P.W.D. grader …

Farm Dams In The Wheatbelt, I A F Laing

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Of the estimated 76 000 farm dams in the wheatbelt, about 8 per cent either leak or are salt affected. The remaining 70 000 dams are capable of holding water for livestock use and can be regarded as sercicable dams.

A great many of the serviceable dams are unreliable water supplies due to the combined effects of lack of runoff from catchments, shallow depth of storage and small size of storage in relation to expected demand from livestock and evaporation loss.

A Logical Approach To Wheatbelt Water Supply, Stanley Thomas Smith

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

My particular task in this seminar (paper) has been to enunciate a logical approach to water recource utilisation in the wheatbelt, based on the points made by the speakers.

Design Standards For Farm Surface Water Supplies, J L. Frith

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

Design is usually concerned with getting adequate return from limited recources. Farm dams which dry up represent dam failure. Less seriously, so too do dams which, although not drying out, never fill; they waste a recource.

Cost Of Farm Water Supplies : Conclusions From Surveys, I A F Laing

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

The Department of Agriculture, in conjunction with the Farm Water Supply Advisory Committee, has conducted farm wster supply surveys in many districts in the wheatbelt.

The aim of the surveys was to collect data to assess the existing water supplies, the potential for further water supply developments and to compare the relative difficulty of water supply development in different localities.

Water Storage Has Not Kept Pace With Stock Numbers : South Stirling Survey Finding, A L. Prout

Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4

RESULTS of a survey on water storage capacity in the South Stirlings area indicate that farm water storage has not kept pace with increased clearing and stock numbers.

This has resulted in many farmers requesting advice on water conservation projects following two consecutive years of low rainfall runoff.