The Cummins Wanilla Basin Streamcare Group have managed to secure $250, 000 in funding to assist poor drainage on EP Farming land.

Up to 85,000 hectares have been increasingly affected by dryland salinity, waterlogging, erosion and sedimentation.

The drainage system now needs coordinated on-ground works to improve the hydrology of the catchment before it significantly impacts on local agricultural production as well as connected ecosystems.

The Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board has been working closely with the volunteer streamcare group to seek the funding from the South Australian Government’s Regional Growth Fund.

The basin contains a vast network of surface water and groundwater drainage channel systems that have been developed over many decades to support agricultural production.

Landscape Operations Manager with the EP Landscape Board Seb Drewer, says “The drainage channel systems are not only pivotal to agriculture production; they support a significant amount of habitat and biodiversity,”

“The channels connect up wetlands and other water dependent ecosystems including Coffin Bay, which in turn supports a thriving aquaculture and fishing industry.

 

 

Image credit: Supplied