Creek Bank Stabilization & Water Management
Management of water flow in upper catchment & erosion prevention
Capacity building - LEP013
The issue
Controlling water flow in upper catchments is essential to keep country hydrated and to minimise flooding on plains. Slowing water flow and decreasing erosion are key to manage these issues.
Upper Mooki Landcare (UMLC) have committee members with great interest and skills in this area. Roger Ottery (landowner) has been building water retention structures over a number of years on "The Oaks" on Big Jack Creek. Andrew Wylie (Chair of UMLC) is the owner-operator of All Terrain Civil & Forestry Earthmoving, with a great interest in water control.
Roger and Andrew planned a "hands on" day in the paddock and creek to demonstrate water control techniques.
The solution
After an initial discussion of stream order and permissions, participants set off to view these structures.
The first was a swale - catching paddock water flow and preventing erosion, with a spill out across the paddock.
The second was log structure placed into the creek bank , designed to slow and divert the water flow, preventing further erosion.
The third structure was a demonstration of the use of rock bags and rock mattresses - a new technique to observers. The rock mattress is a wire structure laid flat across a creek and filled with onsite rocks, effectively slowing the flow. The rock bags were made on site, then placed upstream and adjacent to the mattress for maximum effect of slowing the flow and raising the water level.
The impact
28 landowners attended the day and feedback collected was overwhelmingly positive.
Information provided with maps of the stream order and permissions required before engaging in work was appreciated.
The simplicity of creating swales to prevent paddock erosion and allow slow water movement was remarked upon positively.
The approved use of placing heavy logs to divert and slow stream flow received positive feedback.
The making and placing of the rock mattress and rock bags engaged all, with several participants helping in the construction of these.
Several requests were made to return after heavy rain to monitor the success of the structures.