Landcare - Umuwa Project 1 > Site 1

This site was between the Resource Centre and the small hill used for the water storage tanks. The soil was sandy and there were roads up the slope to the hill which were showing signs of erosion from storm water. It was decided to construct ponding banks along the contour so storm water would be collected and not flood into the Resource Centre. Staggered furrows were ploughed in between the ponding banks. Eight ponding banks were constructed between the top of the watershed at the base of the hill and the Resource Centre. In this project the ponding banks were built to prevent any further roads being constructed up the slope thus avoiding any further environmental damage and to collect storm water from major rainfall events. The sandy nature of the soil would prevent storm water run-off from smaller rainfall events.

Picture 1. An aerial view of the ponding banks constructed between the hill and the Resource Centre at Umuwa in March 93. The top five were drainage banks with the bottom three being ponding banks. The idea being used in this sandy soil was for the drainage banks to be formed along the contour with a tail at one end (100 mm rise). If any storm water collected in the first drainage bank, it would flow into the second drainage bank. The drainage point on the bank below was at the opposite end to that of the bank above, allowing any storm water to flow in a zig-zag pattern down the slope. Any storm water reaching the ponding banks at the bottom would be collected for use by trees and shrubs (March 93).

Picture 2. A road grader was used to form up the ponding banks. As this was a small demonstration area and tap water was available, drip pipe was laid along the staggered furrows which were ploughed on the top and bottom side of each bank. Local tree species were planted and irrigated for the first year to aid their establishment (March 93).

Picture 3. A tractor with a front blade was used to form the top drainage bank as this machinery was more manoeuverable around the existing vegetation (March 93).

Picture 4. Desert cyprus trees (callitris glaucophylla) growing along the drainage banks at Umuwa eight years after being planted. Note the grass cover which is essential to prevent the sandy soil being blown away (February 01).

Picture 5. Tau trees (acacia pruinocarpa) growing along a ponding bank lower down the slope at Umuwa eight years after being planted (February 01).

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