The “Sticks & Stones” Project is a whole- of- landscape project designed  to improve farm health and sustainability.  The Project utilised the services of Craig Sponholtz (Dryland Solutions Inc) and Alan Nicholson (NSW Dept. Primary Industries) . The Project focus was on regenerating salt affected lands and gullies. The Project was funded by Australian Government’s Caring for Our Country and the Central West Catchment Management Authority (CWCMA).

The Project was very well supported by local agencies and businesses including: Mid-Western Regional Council, Australian Rural Education Centre and Mudgee Toyota.

The innovative design of the Project required Landholders to address the unique issues on their own land. Twenty landholders were selected after expression of interest (EOI) process and were sought to receive an on-farm consultation for 3 hours by Craig Sponholtz  and also to receive a grant of $3,000 towards on-farm works . Support from the farming community was evident in the early stages of this project as many EOI were received for 20 grants. Landholders who were not successful in gaining grants were encouraged to attend either of the two public seminars, and farm visits – many of them did so.

Watershed Landcare did not just target innovative landholders but sought EOI’s from the farming community at large. A wide range of farming environments and backgrounds were represented in the Project. All but one of the 23 events were open to the public (see attached newspaper articles/or on WLI website). At two events personnel from local coal mining enterprises attended.

A total of 23 capacity building events, comprising 3 seminars and 20 farm visits were conducted over 11 days. The venues ranged from Cobbora & Leadville in the north to Rylstone & Dabee in the south. A total of 209 landholders attended . At time of writing this report participant surveys are still being collated, however verbal feedback has been of a very positive nature. This is supported by the increasing numbers of landholders who attended the second week of farm visits, through word-of-mouth publicity generated by peers attending.

Due to popular demand, a Demonstration Site was developed near Mudgee. This additional workshop involved Craig Sponholtz and Cam Wilson actually builidng the erosion control structures discussed in the Project. A major outcome of this demonstration site was that it provided hands on experience for landholders who helped Craig and Cam.  This will promote the correct construction of structures and enhanced understanding of processes. Funding for this additional program was provided by the Central West CMA Farming Systems Project and was held on 11 April 2013 at Coffin Creek.

The reduced carbon footprint of these low-tech, predominantly hand-built structures from local materials (ie Sticks & Stones found on own farm land)  were promoted throughout the Project, and will have an enduring positive impact on local environment. The Zuni bowls (rock lined plunge pools), one-rock dams, media luna, log – step downs, and associated structures are ancient, yet effective watershed remediation techniques. They have been developed in the North American dry lands by indigenous peoples farming in a harsh environment. They are well suited for adaptation in similar Australian farming conditions. This was the key outcome of the project – introducing these techniques not previously applied to Australian farmers, so they can undertake their own watershed restoration “treatments:” on their own properties.

Many of the structures were enhanced by associated seeding of native grasses, tree & scrub planting, stock exclusion and pasture management techniques. Due to improved water harvesting, or reduction in run-off, ground water will improve, hence improvement in ground cover and soil carbon. This all leads to a reduction in salinity on salt affected lands.

The commercial return to each landholder is the increased ability to hold the water on their property, and/or ameliorate the salt affected lands, hence an increase in farm productivity through improved pasture or cropping. The 20 selected landholders for on-farm works have a combined total of 13,500 hectares of farmland that will be improved by being exposed to these capacity building events.

The theoretical seminars (see outline of one seminar program attached) , combined with the on farm visits, to 20 different sites, provided landholders with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of water processes on their own on, or their neighbour’s (mate’s) property.  By outlining how water traverses their property and how it moves through the system gives the landholders a better understanding of the big picture of catchment issues.  It gave them a framework for understanding, and remediation to improve farm productivity. On many occasions in the field, during the 20 farm visits, landholders were made cognisant of simple, relevant cheap water harvesting techniques from roads and associated drainages.

Each of the 20 selected landholders were provided with a map overlaid with Hydrogeological Landscapes  (provided by the Central West CMA) on their property, and associated  data to help them manage and understand their landholdings better. They were also provided with written resources (salinity booklet from Alan  Nicholsen, How to Build several Structures from Craig Sponholtz booklet, web links to assist in ongoing capacity building and for reference purposes. These are available from WLI website Erosion Control Resources and Examples.

WLI was instrumental in arranging for Craig Sponholtz to come to Australia for this project during April & May. While he was in Australia, several other organisations utilised Craig’s, services in other areas of NSW (Bathurst – local council network; Central West Lachlan  Landcare and Queensland Cairns).

The major challenge we faced with this project was the short time-frame we had to utilise Craig Sponholtz services, and the large geographical area we had to cover.  We overcame these hurdles by cooperation of all landholders involved, tight scheduling, forward planning and the provision of support vehicle by local sponsor (Mudgee Toyota).

A steering committee comprising predominantly volunteer personnel was involved in the planning stages and provided ongoing advice and support to the contracted personnel who delivered the program events. The project manager (Karin Sheedy) and contracted technical practitioner (Craig Sponholtz) were the key personnel who delivered the events and liaised with the landholders in the Mudgee and surrounding region.

Watershed Landcare is proud of this achievement and the subsequent Project outcomes.