Beyond the Salt Struggle - Cultivating Change with a Catchment Approach
Timeframe: June 2024 - March 2027
Funding Source: State NRM
Project Coordinators: Tamzin Bowe
Overview: This project builds on the Fitzgerlad Biosphere Group’s previous initiative, Regenerating Saline Land: A New Approach to an Old Problem. It aims to strengthen local skills and knowledge while implementing on-ground actions to address salinity and landscape degradation across catchments with the Shire of Jerramungup.
On-ground Works:
Revegetation and seed collection have been a focus of the project, to date 23 ha of previously unproductive land has been planted using a mix of locally sourced seed and nursery-grown seedlings.
Priority has been placed on sourcing locally adapted native seedings suited to saline and degraded environments. The project is working closely with the Nowanup Rangers to collect and clean seed collected from remnant vegetation close to sites.
Fencing degraded areas is also on-going.
Workshops:
Knowledge sharing is a project priority, in early 2023 a drainage workshop was delivered by John Firth and John Simmons from the department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, providing attendees with practical information on deign options, the influence of site characteristics and success, the process of submitting a Notice of Intent to Drain or Pump, how and why to conduct site investigations and legal considerations.
Monitoring:
Groundwater levels are monitored annually, via a network of piezometers across the shire. This data helps identify hydrological trends and supports informed decision-making for management. The local river systems (Bremer, Gairdner and Fitzgerlad) are monitored quarterly, 14 sites across the systems are visited and measurements including Electrical Conductivity, pH and turbidity are collected along with photo-points. This helps track river health and changes in water quality.