Hydrology Commons^™

Inventory Of Sub-Catchments Within The Albany Eastern Hinterland, B Radys

Resource management technical reports

The release of the "Salinity Action Plan for Western Australia' in December 996 highlighted the need for catchment scale planning and coordinated actions to reverse salinity trends.

A separate report has been produced for each major catchment area. Each report contains and inventory of all sub-catchments, with information on area, degradation risks and group activities with each catchment.

Putting Land Resource Information Into Perspective. Interpreting Land Resource And Capability Information To Assess The Impacts And Management Needs Of Different Land Uses And To Assist Strategic Planning, Land Assessment Pty Ltd, Agriculture Western Australia

Natural resources published reports

These notes were prepared by Martin Wells from Land Assessment Pty Ltd in June 1997 to assist in the delivery of this training course. The objective of the course is to provide land use planning practitioners with a working understanding of soil-landscape mapping and land capability assessment activities, and of their practical applications in land use planning.

Who Is This Course For?

Land use planners

* not only professional planners

* but all involved in making decisions on how land is used

* involves many government or semi-government bodies

* and also immediate land use decision makers, farmers and their …

Yuna Farm Improvement Group - Conservation Farm Planning Manual, Mike Clarke, Cecilia Mcconnell, Nancye Gannaway

Natural resources published reports

A landcare group formed on Tuesday, 30 June 1998 due to growing concern about land degradation. The main interests and objectives of the group where discuss and were outlined as follows:

1. Wind Erosion

2. Soil Acidity

3. Soil Degradation

4. Remnant Vegetation Decline

5. Tree Placement and Survival

6. Oil Mallees

7. Water Erosion

8. Non Wetting Soils

9. Salinity

10. Waterlogging

The first step toward addressing these issues was to organise two workshops with Mike Clarke, Cecilia McConnell and Nancye Gannaway from Agriculture Western Australia. The first workshop was held on the 4/8/98 and the second on the …

Salinity And Hydrology Of The Mills Lake Catchment, R Ferdowsian, A T. Ryder

Resource management technical reports

The Mills Lake Catchment is located north of the Ongerup-Jerramungup Road, 35 km west of Jerramungup and 10 km north-east of Ongerup. It covers about 23,800 ha of agricultural land that is more than 90% cleared and predominantly cropped. The average annual rainfall of the catchment is about 370 mm. Many low-lying parts of the study area have become salt-affected during recent years. The extent of soil salinity is growing rapidly and it is feared that, without any treatment, more land will become salt-affected.

The Salinity And Hydrology Of Cranbrook, R Ferdowsian, A T. Ryder

Resource management technical reports

The study area covers the Cranbrook townsite and two catchments that affect it. The Cranbrook Town is located 85 km north-north-west of Albany and it has a population of 320 people (1190 in the Shire; ABS Census 1991).

Cranbrook is experiencing salinity problems. Saline groundwater levels are close to the soil surface and cause deterioration of buildings, roads, infrastructure, death of trees and scalding of land including the sporting ground.

The objective of this study was to define the present salinity status of the Cranbrook Town and develop management strategies to overcome or reduce the severity of salinity.

Bulletin 4333 - Furrow Sowing On Water Repellent Soils, Paul Blackwell, Grant Morrow

Bulletins 4000 -

This Bulletin discusses the benefits that furrow sowing brings to crop growth and production on water repellent sand, based on research and farm observations in Western Australian. By understanding the benefits and risks of several key processes, producers can better evaluate the potential role of furrow sowing in combating water repellency. This is true whether one is using direct drilling, no-till (narrow points or discs) or zero till (single, double or triple disc openers) methods.

Focus Catchments : A New Approach To Salinity Research : National Dryland Salinity Program, Steve Porritt

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

Dry/and salinity is a major threat to the resource base of many rural industries around Australia. More than 1.8 million hectares of once productive land are affected by salinity, with a further 1.6 million hectares at risk in the next 15 to 25 years in Western Australia alone. Much of the past Commonwealth and State expenditure on salinity programs and activities has been poorly targeted and coordinated. In view of this, a national dry/and salinity program that supports specific State salinity management programs has been established jointly between the Commonwealth and State government agencies.

The Upper Kent River Catchment is …

The Use Of Bauxite Residue As A Soil Amendment In The Peel-Harvey Coastal Plain Catchment - Report On Results Of 1995 Environmental Monitoring Program, Mark Rivers

Natural resources published reports

This report was submitted in accordance with the recommendations of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) who have stated that a monitoring program shall be undertaken by Agriculture Western Australia within six months of the widespread use of bauxite residue as a soil amendment. Although this widespread use of bauxite residue has not yet formally commenced, pre-emptive monitoring has been undertaken in order to gain some understanding of the general environmental characteristics of the Peel-Harvey catchment and, in particular, the characteristics and quality of the water flowing through the catchment.

It represents the second annual report submitted to the EPA describing …

Western Australian Salinity Action Plan, Agriculture Western Australia, Department Of Conservation And Land Management, Department Of Environmental Protection, Water And Rivers Commission

Natural resources published reports

Salinity is one of the State's most critical environmental problems, threatening major economic and social consequences. It is preventable and, in the long term, reversible. Complete elimination is not realistic, but we can dramatically reduce its impact.

Salinity is caused by replacing deep-rooted native plants with shallow-rooted crops and pastures. More rainfall passed below the root zone and accumulates as groundwater so that watertables rise. The groundwater mobilises natural salts in the soil as it rises and carries them towards the surface, eventually degrading land and streams.

Managing Pastures For Long-Term Prosperity, Hugh Pringle, Jenny Riches

Natural resources published reports

A Workshop held by the Sandstone Land Conservation District Committee

Lake Mason Station

April 1994

A workshop hosted by Sandstone Land Conservation District Committee (LCDC) was held at Lake Mason station on 28 April 1994. This workshop was based on two previous workshops hosted by the Kalgoorlie and north-eastern Goldfields LCDCs in May 1991 (Pringle et al. 1992). The success of the earlier workshops prompted the rangeland survey team in association with the Sandstone LCDC and the Kalgoorlie District Office of Agriculture Western Australia to initiate the project.

The aims were to provide a summary of local wisdom regarding pasture …

Bulletin 4329 - Environmental Hazards Of Farming In Western Australia, Greg Hamilton, Ian Foster, Philip M. Goulding

Bulletins 4000 -

This Bulletin is one of a series on crop establishment practices which minimise soil disturbance and improve stubble retention. In partnership with primary producers, Agriculture Western Australia 1s focussed on improved and profitable farming which conserves or improves the quality of the State's soil resources.

Agricultural land in Western Australia is naturally fragile and susceptible to degradation. Salinity and wind erosion are the most visible and significant forms of degradation, but all forms are present over large areas of agricultural land (House of Representatives Enquiry into Land Degradation in Western Australia, 1988).

The fragility of Western Australia's soils has been …

Esperance Region Catchment Planning Strategy, John Platt, Brendan Nicholas, Rod Short, Stephen Gee

Natural resources published reports

The Esperance Region Catchment Planning Strategy project was initiated by the Esperance Land Conservation District Committee.

This report provides a reference document for farmers and other land managers such as government agencies and local government, and should help them to strategically focus their catchment planning activities.

It will help land managers to identify the major catchments and land systems in their area, management issues for long term sustainability, and a regional strategy for catchment planning.

Catchment planning involves both technical and social processes.

Technically it is a process of planning the sustainable use of water resources within a catchment.

Salinity Action Plan, Department Of Agriculture And Food, Western Australia

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

In November, the Premier of Western Australia, Richard Court, released his governments strategy to tackle one of the State's most serious environmental problems - salinity. This article provides a summary of the action plan, full details are available in a two volum set 'Salinity - a situation statement for Western Australia' and 'Western australian salinity action plan'.

Copies of the reports are available from Publication Section, Agriculture Western Australia, 3 Baron-Hay Court, South Perth 6151. Phone (09) 368 3729

Degradation Of Remnant Vegetation, Richard George, Don Mcfarlane, Russell Speed

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

Remnant vegetation, wetlands and riverine systems on both private and public land throughout south-western Australia are being rapidly degraded by dryland salinity, inundation, silting, nutrient enrichment and weed invasion. Richard George, Don McFarlane and Russel Speed outline some of the reasons why this is happening and provide some case studies that highlight actions to protect these remnants.

Soil Acidity. A Reference Manual., Linda Leonard, Mike D. Bolland

Natural resources published reports

This publication is intended as a guide for consultants, development officers and field representatives for the extension of soil acidity in Western Australia.

Most Western Australian soils are naturally acidic. Acid peaty sands in the high rainfall area of the South West are the only W.A. soils in which natural acidity has been treated routinely before productive agriculture was introduced. There are approximately 100, 000 hectares of acid, peaty sands scattered through coastal districts between Pemberton and Rocky Gully districts.

Kimberley Landcare Teachers Resource Kit. Cross Curriculum Resources For Upper Primary And Lower Secondary Students, Carolyn Davey, Philip Belfrage

Natural resources published reports

The project has been funded by the National Landcare Program and administered by the Department of Agriculture.

The project was established to improve community awareness and education of landcare and management issues in the Kimberley.

The Kimberley has a diverse and often fragile environment that requires careful management. To care for this land we need to understand the dynamics of its environment, appreciate how important the land is to us and recognise how our interactions effect all components.

The resources in the kit will provide the understandings needed for the development of lifestyles that integrate knowledge and appreciation of the …

Land Management Report For The Kent River Catchment, Sue Kelly

Natural resources published reports

The Kent River Catchment is located in the South-West of Western Australia, approximately between latitudes 34° 15' and 35° 10' South and longitudes 116° 45" and 117° 50° East. The north-eastern boundary of the catchment stretches to the Albany Highway at Tenterden, and from there the catchment curves towards Rocky Gully before continuing to the South Coast (Figure 1.1.1). The catchment is located within the Shires of Cranbrook, Plantagenet and Denmark.

The Kent River Catchment is part of Basin 604, which is the Water Authority descriptor for the Kent, Bow and Kordabup River catchments collectively. Basin 604 has a total …

A Guide To Floodplain Cattle Fencing, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia, Main Roads, Western Australia

Animal production and livestock published reports

A seminar and workshop was held at Fitzroy Crossing in October 1993 to address the consequences of flooding to landholders and communities.

Damage to flood plain fencing was identified as one of the major concerns to landholders.

An outcome from the workshop was the decision to draw on local knowledge and collate information on options for fence and floodgate designs.

This information was to be made available to land holders and other interested parties - hence this publication.

Miscellaneous Publication 39/94 - Horticulture On The Swan Coastal Plain - A Study Of Grower Concerns, Department Of Agriculture, Western Australia, Water Authority, Western Australia, Csiro, Australia

Horticulture published reports

This study reports on issues, concerns and desired actions expressed in 60 interviews with people directly involved in horticulture on the Swan Coastal Plain in the region between Gingin and Mandurah. I stress that in compiling this report every effort has been made to avoid biasing or changing the information provided by growers.

These interviews were conducted over ten days during April 1994.

The study also presents information on what is currently being done to address some of these concerns by the Department of Agriculture and the Water Authority of Western Australia as well as other agencies and organisations and …

Bulletin 4279 - Streamlining - An Environmentally Sustainable Drainage Network For The Swan Coastal Plain (Peel-Harvey Catchment), Garry Heady, Neil Guise

Bulletins 4000 -

Community Catchment Centre Pinjarra

A network of over 1400 kilometres of drains and modified natural waterways constructed by the Public Works Department criss-crosses the Peel-Harvey catchment. There are also over 3300 kilometres of minor drains and natural waterways in this same region.

The expansion of agriculture relied on this extensive drainage network, which was designed to ensure rapid drainage of the region. Unfortunately there was little regard to future environmental consequences.

Along with drainage water, these same drains now carry high loads of silt and nutrients. Many of the drains are also degraded and require expensive maintenance annually.

Bulletin 4278 - How To Use Wide Furrow Sowing For Improved Crop Production On Water Repellent Sand, Paul Blackwell, Grant Morrow, Tony Webster

Bulletins 4000 -

Wide furrow sowing is a method for successfully establishing crops of lupins or cereals on non-wetting sands, and improving crop establishment on non-repellent sands. The same principles can be used to assist establishment of fodder shrubs and long-term pasture (e.g. tagasaste and Rhodes grass).

Resource Inventory And Condition Survey Of The Ord River Regeneration Reserve, John De Salis

Natural resources published reports

It is now some 33 years since the Ord River Regeneration Project, the largest and most ambitious of its kind in Australian rangelands, commenced.

During this time there have been a number of publications and miscellaneous reports about the project, but this publication is by far the most comprehensive produced to date. Although the field work was undertaken in 1981, the findings recorded here will stand in a good stead as a detailed account and reference work for years to come.

Much has changed within the Regeneration Reserve area since the project commenced. Cattle and feral donkey numbers have finally …

Salinity - An Albany Perspective, Mandy Curnow

Natural resources published reports

This booklet has been put together as an introduction to salinity in the Albany, Denmark, and Plantagenet districts. As much local information has been included as possible, so that the booklet will relate to your situation. The booklet looks at the causes of salinity and bow to recognise it. Included also, are methods of measuring salt in water and soil, both in the laboratory and the field. Methods of controlling salinity and reversing rising ground waters are not covered as there are already so many publications dealing with this topic.

Most agricultural areas experience some Ievel of salinity. Controlling salinity, …

Conservation For Production : Kings Rocks Catchment Report, William Oldfield

Agriculture reports

The aim of this report is to bring together current information on the land and ideas which will provide landholders of the King Rocks catchment group with a basis to make more informed decisions about managing the land. The report contains information on how the landscape was formed, how areas become degraded, what are the present recommended ways of fixing land degradation and what are the most productive means of farming the land.

Managing Bushland On The Farm, Penny Hussey

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

Since the time of European settlement in Western Australia, the replacement of native vegetation with crops and pastures has led to problems for both agricultural production and nature conservation. The most obvious of these are hydrological changes leading to salinisation and waterlogging, and the extinction of some native plants and animals.

Protection of remaining remnants of native bushland, together with revegetation, is increasingly seen as important ways of achieving sustainable agriculture and maintaining our unique wildlife.

Integrated Catchment Management : Upper Denmark Catchment, R Ferdowsian, K J. Greenham

Resource management technical reports

The project mapped the landforms and land management units on cleared parts of the catchment ; defined the extent of, processes causing and options for solving the salinity problem in the Upper Denmark Catchment; developed a catchment management plan that would reverse the increasing soil and stream salinity trend within the catchment; encouraged and assisted the landholders to adopt the plan; and applied the results of the study to other areas.

Effects Of Waterlogging On Crop And Pasture Production In The Upper Great Southern, Western Australia, J F. Wallace, G A. Wheaton, D J. Mcfarlane

Technical Bulletins

Separate estimates of the effect of waterlogging on cereal yields were made using rainfall and crop yield statistics, and remote sensing. Both methods showed that waterlogging costs tens of millions of dollars each year in lost crop production in the Upper Great Southern Statistical Division. The costs will be over $100 m in wet years. Losses in pasture production are likely to be of a similar magnitude, but are harder to quantify.

Fodder Trees And Shrubs For High Rainfall Areas Of South Western Australia, Daya Patabendige, P R. Scott, Edward C. Lefroy

Resource management technical reports

In south Western Australia, the lack of good quality feed in late summer and autumn is a major constraint to livestock production. This feed gap is usually filled by costly supplementary hand feeding of grain or hay. The ability of some trees and shrubs to provide good quality forage during summer and autumn has generated interest for many years (Corbett, 1951; Everist, 1969; Snook, 1987;Oldham et al., 1991, Lefroy, 1991). The dual benefits of reducing the need for supplementary hand feeding and deferring the grazing of annual pastures until they are well established has recently led to the recognition of …

Deep Drains : A Case Study And Discussion, Russell John Speed, John Andrew Simons

Resource management technical reports

Typically, deep, open drains are about 2 in deep and about 1 in wide at the base and dug with a backhoe or excavator. The movement of groundwater is controlled by two factors. One is the physical ability of the material to transmit fluid. Permeability is the measure used to describe the ability of a material to transmit fluid through pores and cracks. It depends largely upon porosity (the percentage of the total volume of thematerial that is pore space) and the degree of interconnectedness of the pore spaces. The other factor controlling groundwater flow is gradient. George (1985) found …

Groundwater Investigations In The Jerramungup Shire, S B. Martin

Resource management technical reports

Drilling was carried out with a dry rotary auger rig, with a depth limit of 31 m for the first 28 piezometers and 40 m thereafter. Farmers assisted in the site selection and construction of the piezometers in most cases and will in the future be responsible for monitoring their piezometer(s) regularly. The average depth to bedrock was 18 m and the average dept to groundwater was 9 m, with an average salinity level of 3600 mS/m. The average total salt storage was approximately 2800 tonnes per hectare.