Cradle Coast NRM staff recently attended a ‘Train the Trainer’ day focused on Enhancing Farm Dams at Gunns Plains in north-west Tasmania, facilitated by Australian National University (ANU) Sustainable Farms and Landcare Tasmania.
The training highlighted the benefits of farm dam enhancement for farm productivity and biodiversity. By the simple adaption of excluding or controlling livestock access to dams with some revegetation, results can be seen within six months. Landholders see an increase in vegetation cover around their dams, improved water quality for livestock and they are supporting a increase to biodiversity and ecosystems services on their farm.
An ideal enhanced dam has healthy native vegetation in and around the water body, which creates a buffer to filter nutrients and sediment from run-off. As a result of stock exclusion and better vegetation cover, the water is cleaner. Native vegetation also provides habitat for wildlife.
It is well known that improving the quality of drinking water can have significant benefits for livestock health and weight gain, contributing to a farm’s overall productivity. Reducing stock access to dams reduces risks of pathogens from faecal contamination which can restrict stock weight gain, especially in dry conditions. There is also a reduced risk of the exposure to parasites such as liver fluke that live in the muddy banks of dams.
Further, enhancing a dam will reduce evaporation, which is the principal source of water loss from a dam. By strategically placing revegetation around a dam, evaporation can be reduced by 20-30%, and the reduced sedimentation helps to retain the capacity of the dam, improving a farm’s drought resilience and water security. Dam enhancement is a relatively small investment for a farm given the multiple benefits it brings. Dam enhancement can be as simple as restricting stock access to a dam and offering alternative access to water via a trough or hardened access point. Enhancement will extend the life of the dam as an asset to your farm, while bringing aesthetic appeal to the property.
If you would like more information on ways to improve natural assets on farms, please visit the ANU’s Sustainable Farms website at www.sustainablefarms.org.au.
