Dealing with salinity in Wheatbelt Valleys - Department of Water

SUMMARY- TIMELINE OF RECENT
SIGNIFICANT EVENTS
Pre – 1975 Regular flooding to the town of
Merredin due to extensive clearing
for agriculture in the Merredin
catchment. Significant flooding
events during 1942/43 and 1961/62.
Town drains to Cohn’s Creek
constructed and levee bank on north
side of town.
1975-84 Prosecution of person for taking
firewood from a local reserve
prompted Mr Joe Crook to think of
wood lot farming in Merredin.
1978-79 Merredin flooded in extreme rainfall
event.
1978-84 Planning and design for surface
water control in Merredin Catchment.
Surface water control structures
implemented in 1984. No floods in
Merredin despite above average
rainfall years.
1980 Formation of Merredin Land
Conservation District. Mr Joe Crook
(founding president), and Mr Roy
Little (secretary).
1983 Dryland Research Institute
established to support the Merredin
community in land conservation,
extension, and research with the
appointment of a Project Officer, Soil
Scientists, Soil Surveyors, Water
Resource Scientists, and
Agronomists.
1984 Merredin LCDC influential in the
introduction of clearing controls in
Western Australia.
Large drains constructed in town for
surface water control.
1985 Department of Agriculture appoints
first hydrologist to Merredin to
research eastern Wheatbelt salinity
problems.
1986 Department of Agriculture
investigation of salinity in the
Merredin catchment using
piezometers, salinity survey,
electromagnetics, and seismic
surveys. Piezometers have been
monitored monthly since 1989 by Mr.
Ted Gebert.
1987-98 Appointment of Project Officers to
assist in Land Care projects
throughout district.
1991 Planting of 37,000 trees in the
recharge/discharge area at the
western end of the town. This
was achieved with community cooperation
involving individuals
through land swapping, Shire of
Merredin with land swapping and
support, Merredin LCDC with
planning and implementation,
Schools with implementation and
Department of
Agriculture with advice, planning, and
implementation
1991 Agriculture Western Australia and
Geological Survey of WA installed a
combination of 15 piezometers and
observation wells in the Merredin
townsite to monitor water table
trends.
1994 Water Authority donated 5.58ha
Acacia reserve to Merredin LCDC.
1995 2900 Acacias planted as a source of
seed for revegetation.
1996 Rural Towns protection program
instituted.
1997-98 LCDC promotional piezometer
installed in main street
Merredin community awards make
new category for “Service to
agriculture and landcare”
1998 Merredin - Nungarin Landcare
Implementation Project funded by
NHT and Community Landcare
Coordinator appointed
1999 Formation of the Merredin Water
Action Group formed as part of
Merredin LCDC to concentrate on
water issues within the township
1999-2000 Drilling investigations conducted
throughout town as part of the Rural
Towns project. Pump test of town
aquifer undertaken.
1999-2000 Computer modelling undertaken to