The Footprint 2011 Summer Edition - Eyre Peninsula Natural ...

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Guide to building dams on EP A comprehensive guide to dams, specifically tailored to Eyre Peninsula conditions, is now available for landholders and earthmoving contractors. Farm dams – A Guide to Siting, Design, Construction and Management on Eyre Peninsula has been produced by EP Natural Resources Management Board to support landholders and to improve the standard of new and existing dams. Caring for our natural resources The 85-page colour book features photographs, illustrations, tables and maps covering rainfall, evaporation, evapotranspiration and runoff coefficients . It covers aspects of dam building such as soil types, size and storage ratios, siting considerations, design features, principles of construction and methods of minimising evaporation. It is the first time this information has been brought together for Eyre Peninsula. A section on permits and approvals covers the reasons for controlling dam development and modifications and the situations in which a permit or approval may be required. EPNRM water resources officer Seb Drewer said the book was part of the Board’s Sustainable Stock Water Project and was aimed at helping to improve the development and management of farms dams on EP. “There has been a history of inadequate compaction of soil, and use of unsuitable soil types which have led to dam wall failures. “Another issue of concern is dam location and size. In the past many dams were built as small stock water dams and constructed in gullies that are prone to salinity,” Mr Drewer said. “This invariably resulted in the dams going saline or dry as a result of location and the increased evaporation associated EPNRM water resources officer Seb Drewer and earthmoving contractor Trent Modra with a copy of the farm dams guide. with smaller dams. Water lost as a result of increased salinity or through evaporation could often support significant additional stock numbers. “The use of minimum and no-till farming practices has greatly reduced the amount of water that runs off paddocks and then a few years ago we had a run of dry years which meant many farmers were struggling to capture enough water in their dams for existing stock and domestic requirements. “Lack of water is often limiting the current and potential expansion of livestock enterprises on EP so it is important that landowners make good decisions when planning or managing a property’s water supply.” The book is ideal for contractors who build dams and landholders who are planning to build a new dam, alter an existing dam or perhaps looking for information on how to maintain or improve their current dams. “We have had a good response to the books we have handed out so far, with people commenting that it has been a great help to them when planning a new dam,” Mr Drewer said. “It’s been really rewarding to see the ideas in the book put into practice in new dams on EP, with features such as improved spillway design, use of contouring around the dam catchment area, utilising roads for catchment and evaporation control.” There has been a limited print run of the book, which is available free from the EPNRM office at 23 Napoleon St, Port Lincoln, or call 8682 7555. EPNRM footprint summer edition 2011 4
Protect your property against fire Caring for our natural resources A free booklet which gives advice to Eyre Peninsula householders on landscaping for fire protection is now available. It covers topics such as choosing plants with low flammability, where to plant them, maintaining your garden to protect your home and creating and maintaining a defendable space around your home. It also covers bushfire behaviour, how buildings burn and protecting your home from ember attack. The booklet was produced by EPNRM Board and Rural Solutions SA. Author Di De Laine of Rural Solutions SA is a senior environmental consultant and has been a volunteer with the CFS on EP for more than 10 years. She said it was important to remember that there was no such thing as fire retardant plant species and that all vegetation would burn if the fire was intense enough. “However, it makes sense to do everything you can for fire protection and this includes choosing plants that are less flammable for use close to the home. Some attributes you need to look for are low oil content Author Di De Laine in a Port Lincoln garden landscaped for fire protection. but high moisture and/or salt content in leaves, sparse foliage, little or no dead foliage retained on the plant, smooth bark texture and low amounts of litter produced during the bushfire season. If you still want trees, you must prune the lower branches so that their lowest foliage is at least two metres above the ground.” “You also need to think about other elements of landscaping such as mulch, fencing, lattices, edging and any garden structures. For example, mulch made of organic material such as bark, straw, shredded leaves and manure ignites easily and creates embers, so it is safer to use pebbles or gravel, which will help retain moisture in the soil and prevent weeds growing without producing embers. “Creeping saltbush and pig face are good examples of groundcovers with low flammability, because they have high moisture and salt content in their leaves. Similarly, the upright varieties of saltbush have low flammability and other good choices for shrubs are Christmas bush, emu bush and the correa species. “There are very few native tree species that have low flammability, and it is important that the canopies of trees are spaced two to five metres apart.” Ms De Laine said one of the most important steps property owners could take to protect their homes and other buildings was to maintain a defendable space around them. “A defendable space of relatively clear land should be a minimum radius of 20 metres wide around houses and five metres wide around other assets such as sheds, but you will need a larger circle of safety on sloping ground,” she said. The booklet explains how to create and maintain a defendable space, including maintenance of buildings for fire protection. It points out that well managed vegetation can play a positive role in fire protection by trapping embers and protecting buildings from ember attack, deflecting debris over or around a building, providing a barrier against heat and flames and by slowing wind speed and the rate of fire spread. Copies of Landscaping for Fire Protection are available from the EPNRM office at 23 Napoleon St, Port Lincoln or phone 8682 755 or from CFS headquarters in Port Lincoln. EPNRM footprint summer edition 2011 5
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Page 3: Free feral trees for Christmas Port
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Page 9 and 10: 1080 Fox baiting Distribution Days
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