Ponding bank project 7.5 years after construction (March 1981)

Picture 1: View from the top of the same watershed, as in picture one above, of the ponding banks after 7.5 years of re-growth.	Picture 2: A closer view of the re-growth after 7.5 years. These banks were near the top of the watershed and were not planted with trees and shrubs from the nursery. The re-growth, which is witchetty bush (Acacia kempeana) resulted from seed already present in the soil or seed that had been deposited by animals or by wind.

Picture 3: A similar view taken in picture two above 7.5 years later. Note the revegetation that has taken place.	Picture 4: View of healthy river red gums (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) growing in the ponding banks 7.5 years after planting. Note the banks are still present and collecting water.

Picture 5: View of the micro-climate that has developed along the ponding bank. Trash is continually collected and moisture is retained for longer periods thus allowing the germination and growth of plants that would not normally establish in a degraded site.	Picture 6: This picture shows how the retention of moisture by the ponding bank allows the growth of other plant communities like the old man saltbush (Atriplex nummularia), outside the ponding area in the centre left of the picture.

This project has been very successful and it demonstrates a process which can be used when re-claiming degraded land areas which often surround communities and homelands. The soil type in this project varied from a clay loam in the top half of the slope to a very powdery sediment in the bottom half. These factors made it possible to pond water and begin the revegetation process. Sandy soils are more difficult to revegetate as some of the other projects will demonstrate.