Key Messages:

• Investigate renovation and improvement strategies for underutilised dams
• Understand dam improvement options for saline dams to improve functionality and quality.

• Explore how revegetation can support improved water management

Project Summary:

Facey Group is working with the Grower Group Alliance (GGA), the University of Western Australia (UWA), and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) to support the restoration of a saline farm dam in the Wickepin region.

This collaborative project aims to investigate practical strategies to improve the condition and potential uses of the dam, transforming it into a productive and sustainable resource for the farm.

At the local level, the project is being guided by expert input from Associate Professor Nik Callow, Co-Director of the UWA Centre for Water and Spatial Science, and Dr Daniel Kidd, Head of Projects at GGA. Alongside the Facey Group team, a broader group of researchers and specialists will work with a local farmer to investigate restoration options.

Pending initial testing and site assessments, the project will determine whether salinity levels can be reduced. If salinity cannot be effectively managed, the team will explore alternative uses for the dam, such as enhancing its value for biodiversity, providing habitat for native species, or creating a feature for agri-tourism and community engagement.

Project Background:

Across the WA Wheatbelt, rising salinity continues to threaten the productivity and sustainability of mixed-farming systems. Decades of land clearing, reduced deep-rooted vegetation, and changing rainfall patterns have led to increasing groundwater tables and the accumulation of salts in surface water bodies.

Many older farm dams that once provided reliable stock and spray water are now too saline for practical use. This has significantly reduced the availability of quality on-farm water resources, increasing dependence on scheme water or costly carting. The decline in dam water quality not only limits livestock and crop management options but also undermines the resilience of farms during dry seasons.

The Ripple Effect project seeks to address these challenges by investigating restoration and alternative improvement strategies for a saline dam site. Through water quality testing, site and catchment assessment, and collaboration with local producers and researchers, the project aims to explore opportunities to either reduce salinity or repurpose degraded water bodies into functional assets that support farm resilience under a changing climate.

The project is supported through the Australian Government’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Program, with additional complementary work linked to the Future Drought Fund (FDF) WaterSmart Dams project. It brings together leading researchers and organisations from across the country to support grower-led innovation in water and land management.