Information
Level 4 Data summaries and links to related documents and reports
Key findings
Cane land study:
In the wet seasons of 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 (when measurements were carried out) the rainfall was 2740mm and 1349 mm respectively for the studied area with a long term average of 1807mm. Water furrows and major farm drains were found to be the main source of sediments at a net erosion rate 19 t/ha and 9 t/ha respectively. Minor drains were found to be the most efficient sinks at a net deposition rate 35 t/ha. When accounting for the whole unit area cane fields and water furrows were concluded to be the most important source of sediment at 425 and 376 t, respectively, with headlands and minor drains being the main sinks at 105 and 74 t, respectively.
Grazing land study:
In the wet seasons of 1999 – 2000, 2000 – 2001, and 2001 – 2002 (when measurements were carried out) the rainfall was 789 mm, 367 mm and 576 mm respectively with a long term average of 600mm. Rainfall was considered to be below average for two of the three monitoring years which was also reflected in the predicted values for average sediment export from Weany Creek at 874 tonnes per year corresponding to a unit area sediment discharge of 0.65 t/ha per year. Gully erosion was found to be the greatest source, accounting for 60% of sediment delivery mostly originating from a small band along the creek drainage lines. Sheet erosion from hillslopes was found to account for 35% of sediment delivery to the stream.
Key tables and figures extracted from data, literature and miscellaneous publications