Sticks & Stones Workshop
Sticks & Stones Workshop
A decade in the making!
Capacity to Deliver -
LEP23-035_WSL_LLC02
The issue
Gully erosion is a widespread problem in Australia, degrading 620,000 kilometers of landscape and affecting agricultural productivity by lowering the water table and flushing topsoil into water bodies. This erosion creates deep, wide channels that disrupt land use and damage ecosystems. Erosive gullies and headcuts create a feedback loop that is difficult to manage. Most landholders do not know where to start with remediating erosion as well as how/why it occurs in the first place.
The solution
The Sticks & Stones project, aimed to combat gully erosion through practical methods like building rock structures and using plants and organic matter to slow water flow and catch sediment. This project engaged volunteers, landholders and experts in the field such as Mulloon Institute in hands-on workshops to learn and implement these techniques. The project spanning more than a decade has provided an informative test site which proves these techniques work and offers an opportunity for continual observation and learning. The workshop in 2024 provided over 20 landholders with the skills on how to prevent erosion, maintain erosion structures and create new ones with adaptive techniques, created with accessible materials.
The impact
The project's long-term impact was evident by 2024, with significant soil accumulation and plant growth at the project site, indicating successful erosion control. Volunteers and landholders gained practical knowledge, confidence and skills to manage erosion on their properties, enhancing landscape productivity and resilience.