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Farm dam restorations

Turning working farm dams into healthy habitat - a win win for farms and nature!

1 August 2024

In 2022, Northern Grampians Landcare began a process of identifying opportunities to improve farm dam and associated wetland management in a portion of the Northern Grampians Landcare Area between Mount William Creek and the Wimmera River (near Dadswell Bridge and Glenorchy).

The group got started by inviting expert ecologist, Dr. Paul Foreman, to visit five properties in the Northern Grampians to assess the hydrology and habitat around farm dams. Dr. Foreman then created recommendation reports, identifying opportunities to improve habitat quality, water quality and drainage of farm dams and associated wetlands areas.

Dr. Foreman and a Northern Grampians landcare member discussing options for new fencing to protect habitat around a farm dam
Dr. Foreman and a Northern Grampians landcare member discussing options for new fencing to protect habitat around a farm dam

As part of the 2023 Victorian Landcare Grants, two of the landholders took the first steps, involving on-the-ground fencing and revegetation works. These properties will serve as test cases to showcase resources and options available for local farm dam improvement to the wider audience.

We are now ready to put new wetland plants in the ground at these sites!

If you would like to learn more about the process of converting a bare farm dam, into healthy wetland habitat, please come along to one of our upcoming plantouts! Our own in house wetland ecologist will be there to answer your questions, and get you inspired!

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Elia Pirtle

Landcare Facilitator and Communications Officer