Farm dams target production and frogs

In a winning move for agriculture and the environment, a free Department of Primary Industries (DPI) farm dam biodiversity and water quality course will be held at Uralla on Thursday August 9.

DPI agronomist, Clare Edwards said the NSW Environmental Trust-funded course is being rolled out across the state following the success of the original pilot course which DPI delivered under contract to the Sydney Catchment Authority.

"The course is designed to generate positive results, both on and off the farm and has already proved popular with landholders," Ms Edwards said.

"We have seen that improved water quality in farm dams can lead to production, biodiversity and environmental benefits.

"The hands-on workshop will concentrate on boosting water quality and biodiversity by managing groundcover, inflow areas, drainage lines, stock, shelter belts, shade trees, vegetation in and around dams and frog habitat."

Ms Edwards said the workshop will offer practical exercises in evaluating existing farm dams and look at management strategies which lead to improved dam health.

"We will work with the group to identify management zones relating to each dam and its catchment and identify factors which could reduce water quality," she said.

"Farmers will design an action plan to meet targets which boost water quality outcomes and limit the impact of those negative factors.

"It’s not just a one-off look at dams, the action plan will also help farmers monitor ongoing water quality and biodiversity outcomes in terms of the water storage conditions and the impact on their grazing enterprise and the surrounding landscape."

The course was designed by DPI project officer, Tony Cox, who will be available to answer questions during the one-day workshop which runs from 9.00 am until 2.30 pm.

For more information and to register for the workshop, landholders should contact Clare Edwards, (02) 6738 8500 or clare.edwards@dpi.nsw.gov.au

Photographs are available from bernadette.york@dpi.nsw.gov.au

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