Building capacity in dryland salinity
Weddin Landcare has partnered with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water to combat salinity
Capacity building - LEP23-005-Weddin-02_LLC_005
The issue
There has been no coordinated monitoring of salinity in the Central West region for over 20 years and data capture examining the extent of dryland salinity stopped being a governmental priority in 2000.
Following multiple wet years and a change in land use to largescale annual cropping a significant increase has occurred in the number and size of saline sites across the Central West.
The solution
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water partnered with Weddin Landcare, Harden Murrumburrah Landcare, Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc, and Mid Lachlan Landcare to collect data from local river and creek systems and build the capacity of Landcare groups to identify, manage saline sites, and promote hydrogeological landscapes (HGL).
For Weddin Landcare, knowledge will be generated through surface water sampling across the Tyagong Creek and Bland Creek catchment areas to provide new data to inform HGL development. Dryland salinity sites will also be visited, recorded, and characterised to set a benchmark for future changes to the landscape.
Landcare community and staff capacity will be built with regular mentoring and online training opportunities from Technical Salinity Officer Andrew Wooldridge.
HGL promotion via Weddin Landcare Steering Committee, Riverina Local Land Services (RLLS) and Central West Local Land Services (CWLLS) will help find problem areas and landholders experiencing negative impacts from salinity.
The impact
One year of data has been recorded across two sample loops, highlighting problem areas across the catchment.
Andrew Wooldridge demonstrated soil testing and benchmarking at four salinity sites to Weddin Landcare Coordinators and Steering Committee. The three landholders involved were provided reports and given information on how to best mange the site. Another local landholder has offered sites on private property to record samples.
Regular briefings by Weddin Landcare are had with Grenfell CWLLS Land Services Officers. CWLLS also provided support with approaching landholders with salinity sites. RLLS Natural Resource Management and Agriculture teams have been briefed by Weddin Landcare on the project and are aware that salinity could be an issue for their landholders in the catchment areas.
The project has been extended for another year with funding for two more sample collections and further capacity building.
Key facts
- Fifty-one sample points were set up across the Tyagong and Bland catchments.
- Four landholders engaged in the project.
- Success in securing further funding for another 12 months of monitoring.
- Weddin Landcare coordinators and steering committee have an increased understanding of salinity indicators and management solutions.