On-ground works at Boyup Brook, WA

Contour 2 at Blackwood Valley Beef in Boyup Brook, WA.

Work has started on constructing contours at Warren and Lori Pensini’s property ‘Paraway’ where they run Blackwood Valley Beef, a holistic planned cattle grazing operation in Boyup Brook, Western Australia.

The plan was developed by the Mulloon Institute and includes four contours which are placed quite high in the landscape, with two running above hillside seeps that are bare due to prolonged waterlogging. The contours will redistribute surface water away from these seepage areas. In one contour, a minor seep was encountered – the ground was soft but did not create any significant problem – so these locations will be observed over time to see if there is a concentration of flow out of the contour at these points. If so, clay will be compacted into the small areas. Contour placement has been strategic to manage surface water and allow the arrangements of paddocks more suited to landscape and soil. Luckily, a significant amount of rock outcrop was avoided in one contour.

Contour 4 after rain.

Works were about 80% completed when 35 mm of rain fell over two days, with water pooling in the contour trench and gradually moving along the contours, though it did not get to the point of spilling.

This winter, 25000 seedlings will be planted along the lower side of the contours and in blocks along the ridges to help restore the natural water cycle, as this area was predominantly tall woodland/forest with jarrah, marri and wandoo.

Contour 3 going in.