Water Resource Management Commons^™

Banks : A Method Of Financially Assessing Banks Used To Mitigate Water Erosion In South-Western Australia, John S. Salerian, D J. Mcfarlane

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Storage Life Of Farm Dams, G J. Luke, C G. Denby

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Evaporation Data For Western Australia, G J. Luke, K L. Burke, T M. O'Brien

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Kununurra Region - Land Utilization Report - 1984 Dry Season - 1984/85 Wet Season And 1985 Dry Season In The Ord River Irrigation Area, S. Sandover

Natural resources published reports

Kununurra Region

3rd edition

A small experimental farm was first established on the Ord River in 1941. This farm was relocated in 1945 to what is now known as the Frank Wise Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

The first stage of the Irrigation Scheme which included the Diversion dam was completed by 1963 and by 1966, 31 irrigated farms had been established.

In 1967 the second stage was commenced and by 1972 the main dam had been completed.

Cotton was the major crop until 1974. In the wet season of that year 3642 hectares was devoted to cotton. Various crops such …

Jandakot Groundwater Scheme Area : A Study Of Land Resources And Planning Considerations, M R. Wells, N L B Richards, A J. Clarke

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Laser Levelling Land For Flood Irrigation, M D. Green, J. P. Middlemas

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

Since the introduction of laser levelling to Western Australia's South-West irrigation area five years ago, many farmers have benefited from this new and precise method of land-forming.

The use of lasser controlled earthmoving equipment to redevelop irrigated paddocks has led to improved irrigation efficiency and drainage. Less water is used for each irrigation, water is applied more evenly and less labour is needed. many older, grass-dominated paddocks have been reseeded to improve pasture species.

Water Quality For Irrigation, P R. George

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

Although irrigation and salinity problems are frequently inseperable, there is a range of management methods that can be used to handle marginal quality water. Freuently these methods are simple, but require careful planning.

The wide range in tolerance of crops to salinity can be exploiter to ensure that appropriate crops are selected for the water available.

Because crops vary in their sensitivity to salt uptake in the leaves or the roots, watering methods can be changed to avoid problems. For profitable production enough water should be applied to ensure adequate water is available for plant growth as well as to …

Salinity Control In Northern China, G A. Robertson

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

China has vast areas of saline land, perhaps as much as six million hectares. Some of this saline land is a result of marine influence in coastal areas and some is the resultof soil formation in areas with saline geological deposits and inadequate rainfall to leach out the salts at that time.

However, most saline soils in China are as a result of secondary salinisation processess induced by a hydrological imbalance resulting from over-clearing of the land or irrigation. This imbalance has produced rising watertables bringing the salt closer to the soil surface.

In this article, G..A. Robertson, Commissioner …

Underground Water Supplies In The Wheatbelt, T T. Bestow

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

Underground water originates from rainfall. The size of the underground recource in any region is broadly related to the amount of rainfall. However, rainfall intensity and seasonal distribution are just as importent as the quality. A relatively small annual fall which consists of a series of heasvy showers or storms close together, may be a more effective source of recharge to underground water than a larger fall that is more evenly distributed over a longer period.

A large annual rainfall, however, is no guarantee that underground water supplies will be readily available. This is because soils and the underlying rocks …

Improved Catchments For Farm Dams, I A F Laing

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

The amounts and frequency of runoff from unimproved farmland catchments in Western Australia's cereal and sheep districts are notoriously variable and unreliable. As a result many farmers have constructed improved catchments to ensure better reliability of farm dams for livestock and homestead water supplies.

Improved catchments which are used extensively on these farms are all of the compacted or bare-earth type. These include roaded catchments, flat batter dams and, to a lesser extent, scraped catchments. This article mainly discusses roaded catchments, the most common of the improved catchment types on farms.

Chemical Sealing Of Earth Dams, R G. Pepper

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

Leakage is not a major cause of failure of farm dams in the Western Australian wheatbelt, but it is a problem in some districts where it can limit stock carrying capacity. Leaking dams are especially common in the West midlands, the north-eastern wheatbelt and the 'jarrah-belt' which extends from Bindoon, southward to Manjimup and Mt Barker (see map and Table 1).

Some dams which leaked when first built have sealed themselves over the years. Others have been successfully sealed using sodium tripolyphosphate.

Dam Site Selection In The North-Eastern Wheatbelt, J L. Frith

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

Western Australia's wheatbelt farm dams are dug three to eight metres deep and are generally sited in soils which either are inherently impermeable or can be made so during construction.

In the eastern and north-eastern wheatbelt, however, only a small proportion of the soils meets these criteria. Dam site selection in these areas therefore depends on a good knowledge ofwhich soils aresuitable and on our being able to locate them efficiently by using surface indications such as surface soil, natural vegetation or topographic features.

Drought Proofing The Farm : Case Studies, J L. Frith

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

For many years, Western Australia's north-eastern wheatbelthas suffered chronic shortages of water for stock and domestic use. The area's averageannual rainfall is generally low - less than 300 millimetres - and droughts in the 1970s caused futher problems. manydams in the area leak or have inadequate catchmentsand groundwater is scarce ormofmpoor quality.

In March 982, the Western Australian Government provided $100 000 for the Department of agriculture to demonstrate the potential of establishing permanent, drought-proof water supplies on farms in the north-eastern wheatbelt. The methods were to use exixting techniques to build dams and catchments. In a year of low …

Sandplain Hardpan : A Different Dam Construction Material, A F. Mccrea

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

Before 1980, the Department of Agriculture did not believe that suitable farm dam materials could be found in light land soils. However Beacon earthmoving contractor, V> J> Pavlinovich, has demonstrated that where suitable cemented subsoils or 'hardpan' existed, a succcessful dam site could be found.

This material should not be confused with compaction or traffic hardpans ehich are dense layers of soil found near the surface. Traffic hardpans result from compaction of soil materials with the passage of vehicles and farm machinery. Rather, the hardpan referred to here is a natural subsoil layer that has been cemented by silica and …

Water Supplies : Dams And Roaded Catchments, W J. Burdass, T. R. Negus, A. L. Prout, I. A. F. Laing

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

Western Australia's Upper and Lower Great Southern statistical areas include most of the broad-scale agricultural land south of a line from Perth to Hyden. Much of the area is well-developed and carries 13.4 million sheep, 203 00 cattle and 95 000 pigs, almost half the State's livestock.

There are few natural rivers and lakes to water livestock in summer and much of the bore water is salty. On-farm waterr conservation, therefore, consits mainly of excavated earth tanks (dams) which are filled by surface runoff or shallow seepage. In the drier areas and in the sandplain roaded catchments have neen built …

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 …

Increasing Groundwater Salinity In The Northern Wheatbelt, R J. Mcgowan

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

Every farmer in western Australia's northern wheatbelt will know of a groundwater supply, be it bore, well or soak. that has become increasingly saline. The groundwater may have become more saline over a period of 15 years or more, or have been noticed only recently. Inevitably, the bore will lie within an area cleared for agriculture. This increase in groundwater salinity may be associated with soil salinisation. Although researchers have some understanding of the processes causing salinisation of groundwater in the wheatbelt and the extent of the problem, little is known about the rates of salinisation and groundwater rise. A …

Fisheries Report No 59 - Potential Fisheries Capability Of The Ord In The Short, Medium And Long Terms, Dr N. Morrissy

Fisheries Research Reports

This report examines the history, future and problems of various methods for development and exploitation of the fisheries resources of the Ord.

The primary resource is the array of native fish and crustacean species, with the possible introduction of other desirable or noxious species being a subject for consideration.

Water resources, supporting these species, are the remaining natural Ord River downstream from the Diversion Dam at Kununurra, the stillwaters of Lake Kununurra and Lake Argyle, and, for aquaculture, the controlled distribution of water supply over the flat land of the irrigation system (Fig. 1). Another recognized resource is the climatic …

Agricultural Water Quality Criteria : Irrigation Aspects., P R. George

Resource management technical reports

Water quality criteria for irrigation are imprecise. The final result of quality evaluation depends on plant, soil and climatic variables all of which can be inter-dependent. A range of management strategies of varying complexity are available to mitigate the effects of poor quality water. The heavy winter rainfall in the south-west of Western Australia affects the applicability of published salinity criteria most of which have been developed in arid and semi-arid environments with little effective rainfall.

Hydrological Studies In Soil Salinity, C J. Henschke

Resource management technical reports

Investigations involved examination of near-surface indurated layers to investigate their role in saltland formation. It was found that groundwater could move readily through this layer due to the presence of macro-pores. Close examination of apparently impermeable pallid zone clays, shows that decayed tree roots and large diameter voids provide a continuous pathway for the veritical transport of saline water from deeper aquifers.

Report No 58 - 1982 - Review Of Rainfall And Wetlands In The South-West Of Western Australia, J. A.K. Lane, D. R. Munro

Fisheries Research Reports

An account is given of involved the biological principles in decisions concerning duck-shooting seasons in the south-west of western Australia.

Conditions for waterfowl during 1982 are described through the use of rainfall statistics and data obtained from the Department's wetland monitoring programme.

1982 was characterized by exceptionally high rainfall in January and well-below average from February to October.

1982 was the seventh consecutive year of below-average rainfall in all five Meteorological of the south-west. 1976 to 1982 has thus been the south-west's driest seven-year period for more than seventy years.

The record-breaking rains of January caused widespread flooding in the …

Rural (Non-Irrigation) Water Supplies In Western Australia : A Perspective To The Year 2000, I A F Laing

Resource management technical reports

No abstract provided.

Report No 56 - 1981 Review Of Rainfall And Wetlands In The South-West Of Western Australia, J. A.K. Lane, D. R. Munro

Fisheries Research Reports

An account is given of the biological principles involved in decisions concerning duck-shooting seasons in the south-west of Western Australia.

The conditions for waterfowl which prevailed during 1981 are described through the use of rainfall statistics and data obtained from the Department's wetland monitoring programme.

Rainfall was generally average over central and northern areas of the south-west during 1981. Rainfall in southern areas, however, was generally

below to much-below-average, although south coastal areas from Augusta to Albany received average falls.

Unusually heavy falls were recorded in North Coastal, North Central and Central Coastal Districts in May, and average falls were …

A Central Midlands Catchment Study : The Prospects For Land Drainage, B J. Hillman, B. J

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

Flooding, waterlogging and salinity problems in Western Australia are complex. Usually broad areas of land are affected, thus it is hard for one farmer alone to combat the effects because the problem so often starts and finishes off his farm.

Report No 47 - 1980 Review Of Rainfall And Wetlands In The South-West Of Western Australia, J. A.K. Lane, D. R. Munro

Fisheries Research Reports

An account is given of the biological principles involved in decisions concerning duck-shooting seasons in the south-west of Western Australia.

The conditions for waterfowl which prevailed during 1980 are described through the use of rainfall statistics and data obtained from the Department's wetland monitoring programme.

1980 was the fifth consecutive year of below-average rainfall in all five Meteorological Districts of the south-west. 1976 to 1980 was thus' the south-west's driest five-year period since 1913 at least.

Low rainfall during 1980 resulted in a further decline in the condition of wetlands throughout most of the inland south-west, Few gauged wetlands increased …

Bulletin 3929 - Irrigation In Western Australia, K S. Cole

Bulletins - 3000 - 3999

Irrigation is essential in many parts of the world to produce essential food and profitable cash crops. Generally, those areas of land with less than 360 mm of rain spread over a distinct wet season of several months cannot grow crops for food or cash on rainfall alone. Then irrigation becomes necessary unless some peculiarity such as an oasis exists.

How Saltland Can Be Reclaimed, A J. Peck

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

Some possibilities for reclamation of saltland.

The Causes Of Saltland : A Case Study At Esperance, P R. George, S. C. Bull

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

A series of bores on the Esperance Downs Research Station has demonstrated that the groundwater levels change after clearing, and the relatiojnnship between groundwater levels and soil salinity has been emphasised. This pattern of hydrological change leading to soil salinity problems applies widely in the wheatbelt.

Fisheries Report No 27 - A Survey Of Recreational Usage Of South Coastal Estuaries Of Western Australia, N. Caputi, R C.J. Lenanton

Fisheries Research Reports

Over recent years, factors such as the State's population increase, a generally higher standard of living which enables people to have more leisure time, and better roads, particularly from the Eastern States of Australia, have all contributed towards an increase in the general recreational usage of the Western Australian south coast estuaries.

To aid proper planning of facilities to cater for an increasing number of visitors in these south coast estuaries, management agencies must be able to quantify the recreational usage in this group of estuaries.

This survey, therefore, attempts to identify and quantify the different recreational pursuits of visitors …

Lupin Trials, J Moore

Experimental Summaries - Plant Research

Trials in lupins this year concentrated on testing herbicide for post emergence use in lupins. Of the 20 herbicides tested 12 did not cause significant decreases in crop density and/or yield. However, weed control was often poor and the herbicide phytotoxicity tended to vary between sites. (Chapman, Badgingarra and Avondale). The Chapman and Avondale trials were not harvested because of drought. Trials in 1978 should determine if any of the herbicides tested can safely be recommended. Lupins - summary. Post emergence lupin herbicides (Badgingarra Research Station) - 77BA36. Post emergence herbicides for lupins (Chapman Research Station) - 77C18. Post emergence …