The land of droughts and flooding rains
Australia really is the land of droughts and flooding rains. And it is invariably the flooding rains that bring the end to the drought - that's if the landscape can hold onto some of that precious water, rather than it otherwise scouring everything in its path as it then carries all your precious soil, nutrients and biodiversity out to sea or into the nearest reservoir.
Fortunately for the landholders within the Mulloon Community Landscape Rehydration Project (MCLRP) that have so far had leaky weirs constructed on their places, rather than erosion being the result of four major surges of water through the system in the last month, rehydration of the creek and of the floodplain, and nutrient rich sediment deposition has been the result.
Water flowing over structure DM4C1 at Duralla (Mulloon Creek Natural Farms), one week after a major pulse of water came through, which was only a week after the structure had been completed!
Designed to operate as an interconnected system of leaky weirs that all work together to dissipate the energy of storm surges, what used to be turbulent, high energy flows down the creek all of a sudden became gently flowing ponds and spreading riffles. Suddenly sediment can deposit and vegetation can re-establish. The pattern of degradation has been reversed.
Unfortunately, we are still unable to source logs due to the recent fires, so creek works are unlikely to recommence until the Spring-time. However, we continue to make progress on a number of fronts. Our field landscape regeneration expert, Max Brunswick, is working with each of the landowners in revegetating around the recently built structures. And Landscape Planners, Bill McAlister and Anne Gibson, are busy working on Controlled Activity Approvals for three more properties so that once we do get rolling again we can keep on rolling.