Creating W ater Sensitive Rural Landscapes

Transcription

1 Creating W ater Sensitive Rural Landscapes Silvana Predebon, Program Leader Rural St rat egy, Melbourne Water Victorian Storm w at er Conference May

2 Overview Water Sensitive Design urban landscapes vs rural landscapes Water Sensitive Farm Design Water Sensitive Farm Design concept principles Water Sensitive Farm Design - Melbourne Water s Rural Land Program Case Study MW s Rural Land Program MW s Rural Land Program achievements challenges How do we create water sensitive rural landscapes?

3 Water Sensitive Design landscapes urban landscapes vs rural The National Water Commission website shows no definition for terms water sensitive landscapes or water sensitive design NWC definition of water sensitive urban design The integration of urban planning with the m anagem ent, protection and conservation of the urban water cycle, that ensures urban water management is sensitive to natural hydrological and ecological processes (MW) adapted to a rural setting: The integration of land m anagem ent and farm ing practices with the m anagem ent, protection and conservation of the (rural) water cycle, to ensure water management is sensitive to natural hydrological and ecological processes

4 Water Sensitive Design landscapes urban landscapes vs rural Urban Landscape impermeable surfaces connected to constructed drainage systems, typically underground Treatments are mostly on public land EG street tree pits, wetlands in parks Treatments on private land are at house scale EG rain garden, rainwater tank works typically at (sub)catchment scale Works (usually) do not directly involve the polluter (litterers, homeowner ) Aims to cure (treat stormwater) more than prevent (pollution to stormwater and waterways) Rural Landscape permeable surfaces, surface water may interact with sub-surface or ground water not connected to constructed drainage systems, typically open surface drainage Treatments are on private land, and the land is landholder s source of income works typically at farm scale Works directly involve the polluter and the impact of their practices on waterway health Aims to prevent (pollution to waterways) more than cure

5 Water Sensitive Farm Design concept Aims to prevent the generation and transport of pollutants (nutrients and sediments) from farms to waterways, via changing practices and / or intervention works Approach will be site dependent and need to account for farming as a business EG availability of water for stock, vehicle access, space constraints Promotes agricultural Best Management Practices (principles of water sensitive farm design) and facilitates installation of treatments

6 Water Sensitive Farm Design principles A guide to reducing impacts of runoff from rural land on waterways

7 Overview of the document Color- Coded index to match key principles

8 Overview of the document

9 Water Sensitive Farm Design Program MW s Rural Land MW initiative to provide extension and incentives for landholders to adopt water sensitive farm design practices and works Extends from incentive program for works along waterways, to address source of problems in higher parts of catchment (tribs and drainage lines) A voluntary program operating in target catchments (selected by criteria of high modelled loads to bays (TN, TP, TSS))

10 Case Study 1 Heath Hill beef cattle property Our management goal is to maintain maximum groundcover at all tim es to stabilize the soil and prevent sediment run- off - 95 Hectare property - 9 WSFD projects - WSFD(MW) investment $63.8k - impact: 188 tonnes sediment, 314 kg nitrogen and 897kg phosphorus remain on farm and do not enter Lang Lang River

11 Case Study 1 Heath Hill beef cattle property Maj or access track = Maj or source of sedim ents

12 Case Study 1 Heath Hill beef cattle property Sedim ent s flow directly into m ajor drainage line from paddock

13 Case Study 1 Heath Hill beef cattle property Example of WSFD Works Project 1 reshape and stabilize track resulting in good all-weather access for stock and vehicles Project 2 re-align fences to allow better grazing management in wet areas

14 Case Study 2 Woori Yallock Excessive algal outbreaks have occurred in the dam in the past, indicating a high nutrient load.

15 Case Study 2 Woori Yallock A pre-treatment wetland was constructed to remove nutrients from runoff from greenhouses prior to entry into farm dam. The dam is a water supply to the greenhouse operation, and overflows to headwaters of Wild Cattle Creek.

16 Case Study 2 - Woori Yallock Wetland excavated to varying dept hs to accommodate different plants to uptake nutrients.

17 Case Study 2 Woori Yallock outcomes The pre-treatment wetland ensures cleaner water for both farm operations and overflow to waterway.

18 MW s Rural Land Program what s been achieved (end 2012) Estimated stats to end June 2013 Total MW Grants $887, proj ect s funded on farm s Total water quality benefits Sediment: 2560 tonnes/yr Nitrogen: 17,995 kg/yr Phosphorus: 19,345 kg/yr

19 MW s Rural Land Program - what are the challenges Understanding the diversity of rural land use and management in relation to river health Integrating water sensitive farm design principles and treatments into individual situations Building relationships with landholders and industry stakeholders Utilising limited resources (staff and funds) to address a complex and widespread problem Working without effective policy or regulation

20 How do we create water sensitive rural landscapes? Expanding the delivery of the program from pilot catchments into other rural catchments Increasing outreach through partnership models to deliver the program EG with local government, Landcare groups, etc Supporting the voluntary approach with regulations EG industry standards Refining and promoting knowledge and practices and modelling in diffuse pollution management in rural context Integrating rural runoff management to urban stormwater management to address stormwater at a catchment scale (Melbourne Water) Stormwater Strategy a future

21 Acknowledgements Thank You Questions