Water is the most important thing for any farm, and a well-placed farm dam can keep your water safe for decades. I’ve been building and designing dams for more than 30 years, and I can tell you that choosing the right site is the most important thing you can do when building a new dam. If you pick the wrong site, it could cost you a lot of money, cause problems with upkeep, and even hurt the environment. On the other hand, a well-chosen site will give you reliable, high-quality water with little work on your part.
Tag Archives: irrigation
Water is very important for farming. Farm dams are crucial for irrigation, cattle, and keeping rural communities alive in Australia and around the world.
But every year, millions of litres of valuable water are lost to evaporation, especially in hot, dry places like much of inland Australia.
Calculating the right dam size and capacity for a farm dam requires balancing water demand, evaporation losses, catchment hydrology, and site-specific engineering factors. Here’s a systematic approach refined over decades of agricultural water management.
Innovations in spillway design for dams have significantly improved the safety and efficiency of these critical infrastructure projects. Dams play a vital role in managing water resources, providing hydroelectric power, and ensuring water supply for various purposes such as irrigation and municipal use. However, as essential as they are, dams can pose significant risks to downstream communities and the environment if not designed, maintained, and operated correctly. One crucial component of dam design is the spillway, which helps control water levels and discharge excess water during periods of heavy rainfall or flooding.
The unpredictability of the drought wreaking havoc in NSW is a stark reminder of the tenacity and will of the Australian people.
Australia, a country renowned for its stark environmental issues and contrasted beauty, is once again facing the terrible power of nature. Currently, towns and farmers in the state of New South Wales (NSW) are struggling due to an unpredictable drought, which poses a severe threat. We go deep into this dilemma in this blog article, telling the moving story of a farmer struggling against the wrath of nature.
Efficient irrigation systems play a pivotal role in modern agriculture and landscaping. They ensure optimal water usage, minimize wastage, and contribute to sustainable resource management. Designing a super-efficient irrigation system requires careful planning, knowledge of the landscape, and the utilization of advanced technologies. In this guide, we will explore the key considerations and steps involved in creating irrigation systems that maximize water efficiency and promote healthy plant growth.
For small-scale farmers, ensuring a reliable water supply is crucial for successful agriculture. In regions with irregular rainfall patterns or limited access to natural water sources, farm dams play a pivotal role in providing irrigation water throughout the year. These on-farm reservoirs offer numerous benefits, enabling small farms to thrive and sustain their operations. In this blog post, we will explore the significant role of farm dams in irrigation for small farms and delve into the advantages they bring to agricultural practices.
Design concepts for the dam refurbishment & rehabilitation at Robert Oatley Olives. Robert Oatley was one of Australia’s greatest yachtsmen – known for owning the nine-time Sydney-Hobart-winning yacht Wild Oats XI. He owned Hamilton Island & Rosemount Wines – which was the second largest wine brand in the US. Forbes ranked Mr Oatley as the …
Design concepts for a unique destination & experience AirBNB project with a heavy emphasis on permaculture and organic style. Located in the hills outside of Port Macquarie, this project is the brainchild of an innovative and creative young couple who are determined to showcase progressive permacutlure principles for their visitors.
States should ‘raise their fingers and do a little bit with us’ says Federal Water Minister David Littleproud New South Wales “has actually done a great deal of heavy lifting however other states have not” he said Littleproud has warned it will take a minimum of two years for farmers to recoup their losses …
The total active storage percentage of rural water supplies on 4 November 2019 was 30.7%. This was a decrease of 0.3% since last week. Significant rainfall was recorded near Bourke and surrounding areas over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd Nov 2019. Around 95mm was observed at Bourke and around 51mm at Brewarrina over …
A Queensland town with a wealth of underground water is offering it free to other drought affected towns that are lacking the valuable resource. The Queensland hamlet of Richmond is the lucky town – and the water originates from the Great Artesian Basin The Richmond County Council Mayor John Wharton has presented …
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) Climate and Water Briefing dated 22 October predicts a 50% chance of summer rain across NSW from November to January. However, rainfall is likely to be below average across most of the New South Wales for November. The drier outlook continues into December for most areas within New South Wales, …
Taxpayers have funded as many as 30 huge dams on land owned by private interests and big agriculture firms. These brand-new dams have been built on private property, with money coming from the Commonwealth’s $4 billion water efficiency program. Two of the dam projects cost taxpayers nearly $30 million. The dam projects were subject to …
A public service announcement for unhappily married acreage-owning men who hope for a better future
. Dam levels across NSW hit record lows. It’s developing into a glass half empty situation with no rain in the long range weather forecast through to February 2020
There’s one thing that farmers really like – and when they get it, they like it long, hard & wet
A new 20,000,000 litre water security project for the ultra premium super-fine merino fleece producer in Australia and 3 time winner of the premium global Ermenegildo Zegna fine wool award. Zegna is unique in the men’s fashion world for owning 100% of its supply chain. Ermenegildo Zegna spins ultrafine merino wool from farms in Australia …
The State Government has reached into it’s pockets and pulled out $50 million for the current drought dilemma The NSW Government has decided to make it rain money to confront the state’s H2O crisis situation. The Minister for Water announced the $50m to target a number of major water infrastucture initiatives $39 million will …
Big Ditch’s ‘Catch Every Drop’ tells the story of the crippling drought in Australia. This is the cinema long-form version edit of ‘Catch Every Drop’ – for showing at cinemas before features – with guest appearance by Jimmy Barnes.
Large dams capture lost rainwater run-off for avocado growers Avocado growers always worry about their dam levels and their ability to effectively harvest rainwater. The dam for Josh McMillan is completed. Large dams are helping Comboyne avocado growers like Josh McMillan ensure their water security for their stock and crops. These rainwater harvesting systems allow …