Riverprize
The Denmark River - from salty to drinkable
Attachments
1.
The five-stage planning approach for recovery of the Denmark River (2011)
2.
2004 Salinity Situation Statement
3.
Land Use Change Impacts Catchment Model (LUCICAT)
4.
2011 Denmark River water recovery resource plan
5.
Denmark River project presented at international forum, June 2014
6.
Testimonial snapshots
7.
An award-winning project (media releases x 2)
8.
Media publicity
9.
Testimonial letter - John Ruprecht, Executive Director, Agricultural Resource
Risk Management, WA Department Food and Agriculture
10.
Photo 1 - Denmark Dam Spillway during an overflow event
11.
Photo 2 - Denmark catchment - Bluegums & farming
12.
Photo 3 - Upper Denmark River farming
13.
Photo 4 - Leading Denmark farmer Mike Jenkins & trees
14.
Photo 5 - Denmark catchment - Cattle grazing
15.
Photo 6 - Denmark Catchment - Yate Flat gauging stn
16.
Photo 7 - Upper Denmark River - high values
17.
Photo 8 - Impacts of Salinity in Denmark catchment
18.
Photo 9 - Important commercial bluegum plantations in Denmark catchment
19.
Photo 10 - Denmark River Pipehead Dam and reservoir
Attachment 1
Attachment 2
The Denmark River Salinity Situation Statement:
http://www.water.wa.gov.au/PublicationStore/first/40468.pdf
Attachment 3
Schematic representation of the LUCICAT model groundwater and surface water
processes
Source: (after) Smith, RA, Bari, MA, Dixon, RNM & Rowlands, DW 2007, Helena River
Salinity Situation Statement, Western Australia Department of Water, Water Resource
Technical Series, no. WRT 34, 190p.
Attachment 4
The Denmark River Water Resource Recovery Plan:
http://www.water.wa.gov.au/PublicationStore/first/101359.pdf
Attachment 5
INTERNATIONAL SALINITY FORUM, University of California, 16-18 June, 2014
River recovery from salinisation – Denmark River, Australia
John Ruprecht(1)(3), Tim Sparks(2) and Richard Harper(1)
(1)
Murdoch University, (2) Department of Water, Western Australia, (3) Department of
Agriculture and Food, Western Australia
Abstract
Widespread deforestation in south-western Australia has caused an increase in both land
and water salinity, due to the reactivation of groundwater systems and the discharge of salts
stored in deep regolith profiles. The impacts of this salinity on water resources are
particularly profound in a region with both a rapidly increasing population and drying climate.
Given the link between land cover and salinity various Western Australian Government
programs were developed from the 1960s. This paper describes these programs which have
been successful to the extent that one major catchment (Denmark River catchment) is now
fresh enough to be used as a drinking water supply, making it the first river system in
Australia to be recovered from salinity. The Denmark River catchment has an area of 525
km2 to the Mt Lindesay gauging station. Mean annual rainfall ranges from 650 mm in the
upper catchment to 1100 mm by the coast (1975– 2003 average). Since the mid 1970s,
mean annual rainfall in the south-west of Western Australia has decreased by an average of
10% (Hope & Foster 2005). Climate-change models project that it will keep decreasing,
resulting in reduced streamflow (Smith et al. 2009). Lower rainfall and less streamflow are
likely to increase salinity in the short to medium term and put at risk the declines in stream
salinity observed in the river. The longer-term prognosis with climate change is more
complex for stream salinity with lower salt loads counter-balanced with lower streamflows.
Clearing native vegetation for agriculture in the upper part of the Denmark River catchment
resulted in stream salinity exceeding potable levels (500 mg/L total dissolved solids) and
peaking at an annual flow-weighted salinity of 1500 mg/L TDS in 1997 at the Mt Lindesay
gauging station (GS). Clearing began in 1870 and continued at a steady rate until it rapidly
expanded after World War II when heavy machinery became more widely available (Collins
& Fowlie 1981). The native, deep-rooted perennial vegetation was replaced by annual
shallow-rooted pasture and crops changing the water balance. The lower evapotranspiration
rate of the new vegetation and the consequent increased infiltration of rainfall to groundwater
stores resulted in higher groundwater levels, saline valley floors and hillsides, and increased
saline discharge into rivers and streams. As recognition of the salinity problem spread, in
1961 the Government placed a ban on further release of Crown land for agricultural
development. In 1978 the Denmark River catchment was constituted as a Country Areas
Water Supply Act 1947 catchment area and made subject to clearing controls, but salinity in
the river continued to increase. The clearing of land peaked at 19% of the catchment (to the
Mt Lindesay GS). Reforestation in the catchment began in the early 1990s with the
Integrated Catchment Management – Upper Catchment Project promoted by the then Water
Authority and the Department of Agriculture (Ferdowsian & Greenham 1991). This project
helped farmers prepare farm plans identifying areas suitable for reforestation and
constructing fences and drains.
The Water Authority supplied investment capital and the Department of Conservation and
Land Management’s Timberbelt Sharefarming Scheme acted as a vehicle for managing the
plantations (Schofield et al.1989; Bartle 1991). Some farmers also used their own capital to
plant additional trees. These projects proved to be the catalyst for the commercial blue gum
(Eucalyptus globulus) industry in the south-west of Western Australia and from the late
1990s extensive areas were planted with blue gums. By 2010 over 5200 ha of plantations
had been established, leaving 7% of the catchment cleared. Reforestation with an additional
1400 ha of plantations is predicted to reduce stream salinity to below 300 mg/L TDS, well
within potable drinking levels. An element of risk exists with private forestry because of
uncertainty about the retention of plantations into the future. One approach may be to
consider environmental service payments to forest owners based on improvements in water
quality (Townsend et al. 2012). The response to the increasing salinity included not only
regulation and reforestation, but an integrated salinity recovery approach which incorporated
long-term monitoring of streamflow and salinity, research into causes and remediation of
salinity, and innovative computer modelling at the local and catchment scale to predict
impact of clearing and of mitigation measures such as reforestation. The recovery of the
Denmark River from annual salinities of over 1500 mg/L TDS to now within potable levels
shows the benefit of a diversified approach to public policy, ranging from initial legislation to
control clearing, to initial tree plantings by government which was taken up by commercial
entities. Moreover, it shows the scale of response needed to have an impact on catchment
water quality. These approaches have occurred under a framework of science, monitoring,
assessment, engagement with the local community, and policy guidance.
References
Bartle J (1991) Tree crops for profit and land improvement. Western Australian Journal of
Agriculture 32, 11-17.
Collins PDK & Fowlie WG (1981) Denmark and Kent River basin water resources survey,
Water Resources Branch, Public Works Department of WA.
Hope, P & Foster, I (2005) How our rainfall has changed – the south west, Climate Note,
Indian Ocean Climate Initiative, Perth.
Ferdowsian R, Greenham KJ (1991) Integrated catchment management – Upper Denmark
River. Western Australian Department of Agriculture Division of Resource Management,
Technical Report No. 130.
Schofield NJ, Loh IC, Scott PR, Bartle JR, Ritson P, Bell RW, Borg H, Anson B, Moore R
(1989) Vegetation strategies to reduce stream salinities of water resource catchments in
south–west Western Australia. Water Authority of Western Australia, Report No. WS 33.
Smith, K, Boniecka, L, Bari, MA & Charles, SP (2009) The impact of climate change on
rainfall and streamflow in the Denmark River catchment, Government of Western Australia,
Department of Water.
Townsend PV, Harper RJ, Brennan PD, Dean C, Wu S, Smettem KRJ, Cook SE (2012)
Multiple environmental services as an opportunity for watershed restoration. Forest Policy
and Economics 17, 45-58.
Attachment 6
Testimonial snapshots
This is the first time an Australian river has reversed salinity levels to become fresh. (the
Australian Water Association judges, in awarding the Department of Water the 2014
National Research Innovation Award.)
“The Denmark River Salinity Recovery Project can, quite rightly and proudly, be recognised
as what we believe to be a unique example of what can be achieved with sustained
commitment towards an environmental goal. There would probably not be many people
around today that would have publicly stated 20 years ago that this could be achieved. To
that end, the application should be acknowledged such that others can learn of the project
and be celebrated as an example for others to follow.” (Dale Stewart, CEO, Shire of
Denmark, 25/06/13)
“The work undertaken by the Department of Water, the community and partners including
South Coast NRM to reduce salinity levels in the Denmark River is consistent with the Water
Theme Aspirational Goal of the Regional NRM Strategy.” (Carl Beck, CEO, South Coast
Natural Resource Management Inc, 09/07/13)
“The Western Australian Department of Water is a worthy recipient and has demonstrated a
commitment to excellence that stands out amongst a dynamic field of Australia’s elite.”
(Australian Business Awards Program Director, Tara Johnson on DoW winning an
Australian Business Award for Environmental Sustainability, July 2013).
“Long-term recovery from secondary (dryland) salinisation of streams has few examples.
…Similarly, high levels of highly targeted reforestation with commercial eucalypt plantations
in the upper Denmark River catchment in Western Australia appear to have reversed salinity
trends in that river system.” (The Australian Government’s State of the Environment
Report 2011).
“A planned approach is exemplified by work in the Denmark River catchment in Western
Australia, where stream salinity caused by past clearing for agriculture has been reversed by
targeted reafforestation in the upper catchment, thereby reducing groundwater recharge and
so reducing saline groundwater discharge into the streams.” (Institute of Foresters of
Australia’s policy statement 5.7, Dryland Salinity Mitigation and Trees, 2011)
“The establishment of timber plantations helps to restore the hydrological balance that
existed prior to tree clearing. This has been documented in both the Denmark and Collie
River catchments in Western Australia.” (Planning Plantations website, Australian Local
Government Association, 2010)
“In the case of the Denmark River catchment on the South Coast of Western Australia,
large-scale profit-driven adoption of blue gums has transformed the region, and turned
around salinity trends in the river, but this has not been repeated elsewhere at the same
scale.” (Kevin Goss, CEO of the Cooperative Research Centre for Plant-based
Management of Dryland Salinity, UWA in the article, Integrated Forestry on Farmland,
2007)
“Nonetheless, trees can play an important and effective role and can be an attractive option
(often among many) because they can provide both income and flexibility for farmers and
environmental benefits for the wider public. As an example, salinity in the Denmark River of
south-west of Western Australia has been reduced since 1991, due to groundwater
approaching equilibrium following clearing and to the groundwater lowering effects of
plantation forestry from 1988. …The important question is whether this integration of forestry
with other salinity management measures can be repeated in other catchments.” (Focus on
Salt, the national newsletter of salinity research and development, March 2007).
“This (Denmark River) is the first major catchment in WA where there is a downward trend in
salinity as a result of direct intervention through on-ground works — primarily revegetation
and commercial forestry since 1988. If the trend continues, the Denmark River could
potentially be a major water source for the Denmark–Albany region.” (Dr John Williams,
award-winning environmental scientist in his article “Salt of the Earth” in the book In
the Living Forest, 2005.)
“This is the first time in Australia that a major river which had become too salty is showing
salinity reversal. More recently, it has been community and Government actions that have
helped bring about reductions in the river’s salinity.”(Former Premier Geoff Gallop, 23
March 2004).
Attachment 7
Ministerial Media Statement
Department of Water wins national prize for reversing salinity in Denmark River
Tuesday, 20 May 2014
•First time an Australian river has reversed salinity levels to become fresh
•Salinity in the Denmark River peaked on average at 700mg/litre, but has now dropped to
470mg/litre
•500mg/litre is the international standard for freshwater
The Department of Water has bolstered its reputation as a national leader in the
management of water resources by winning the Australian Water Association’s (AWA’s)
2014 National Research Innovation Award.
Water Minister Mia Davies said the national award for ongoing work to reverse salinity in the
Denmark River was a great achievement, as it follows on from last year’s prestigious
Australian Business Award Environmental Sustainability category win for the same project.
“In awarding the Department of Water the 2014 National Research Innovation Award, the
AWA judges noted this was the first time salinity levels in an Australian river had reversed to
the point where it was scientifically recognised as fresh,” Ms Davies said.
“This happened due to 20 years of excellent science and extensive stakeholder involvement
by the Department of Water and its predecessors. It is a great example of the WA
Government’s water resource management and water science expertise.”
The Minister said the salinity reversal project relied heavily on industry support with the
revegetation of cleared farmland playing a central part to the river’s recovery.
“Extensive private investment by the plantation industry played a part and helps to
demonstrate the collaborative nature of the work that led to this fantastic result,” she said.
“The turnaround in the quality of the river’s water means Denmark Dam can once again be
used as a source of drinking water. This in turn supports Quickup Dam as a back-up water
supply for Denmark and its neighbours and reduces the water demand pressure caused by a
drying climate and rising population.
“It is a significant achievement to win a national award for encouraging innovation, constant
environmental improvement and sustainable management of Australia’s water resources
against a field of this calibre.”
Fact File
•Project involved revegetation of 6,500 hectares of land including 5,800 hectares of timber
plantations and innovative scientific modelling
•The AWA, the nation’s leading membership association for water professionals and
organisations, has more than 5,700 members and operates in all States and Territories
•A full list of winners can be found at:
http://www.awa.asn.au/2014_AWA_National_Awards_Winner/
•In 2013, the department’s Denmark salinity recovery project won the Australian Business
Award for Environmental Sustainability, placing it in the ABA’s top 100 winners announced in
20 business and product award categories
Minister's office - 6552 5500
Ministerial media release
National award for improving river salinity levels
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
•Department of Water recognised for reducing salinity in Denmark River
The Department of Water has won a prestigious award for its work on returning saline water
to drinkable quality in the Denmark River on the State’s south coast.
Water Minister Terry Redman said the Australian Business Award for Environmental
Sustainability recognised the work achieved by the Western Australian Department of Water
and its predecessors over more than 20 years.
The award also placed the department in the ABA top 100 winners announced in 20
business and product award categories for 2013.
The improved water quality means Denmark Dam is again able to be used as a drinking
water source.
“The levels in the Denmark River are below World Health Organisation salinity guidelines for
drinking water for the first time in nearly 40 years,” Mr Redman said.
“This only happened because of 20 years of strong leadership, rigorous science and
extensive stakeholder involvement along with private investment by the plantation industry.
“The Denmark River is the only river in Australia to have reduced salinity to this extent.”
The Minister said the salinity reduction could mainly be attributed to the revegetation of
cleared farmland with blue gum plantations.
Fact File
•Salinity in the Denmark River peaked on average at 700mg/litre, but has now reduced to
470mg/litre
•500mg/litre is the international standard for freshwater
•The Australian Business Awards are convened by WorldBAES Awards Management and
the full list of winners can be viewed at http://www.businessawards.com.au/winners/2013
Minister’s office - 6552 6700
Attachment 8
Denmark is WA’s most water-efficient town, with households using less than half the
average water consumption of other WA homes.
According to the Department of Water, homes in Denmark used on average 147 kilolitres a
year in 2013, while the average home used 308 kl a year.
Water Minister Mia Davies congratulated Denmark for its achievement.
“While some of this success is dependent on the climate down there in the south, meaning
perhaps garden sprinklers aren’t used quite so much, it would appear that people there
really have taken on board the need to save water and use as little as possible in our drying
climate,” she said.
The Shire of Denmark can take some of the credit for implementing a town planning policy in
2010 to encourage residents to install rainwater tanks and grey water re-use systems in new
and existing homes.
Shire chief executive Dale Stewart said residents had become frugal with the resource.
“The Shire has initiated a number of key initiatives and systems with the Water Corporation,
which actually educates the benefits to residents … they can both save money and save the
scarce resource,” he said.
“We all have to live more sustainably into the future, you only have to look at the past 10 or
20 years of rainfall data for the South West of WA to prove that.”
Meanwhile, more than 20 years of work by the Department of Water to reverse salinity in the
Denmark River has been recognised nationally, with the Australian Water Association’s
National Research Innovation Award.
It is the first time an Australian river has reversed its salinity levels — salinity peaked at
700mcg/litre in the 1990s, but is now 470mcg/litre.
Work included revegetation of 6500ha of land, including 5800ha of timber plantations.
Ms Davies said the national award was a great achievement for the department and
community members involved in the effort.
“This happened due to 20 years of excellent science and extensive stakeholder involvement
by the Department of Water and its predecessors,” she said.
“It is a significant achievement to win a national award for encouraging innovation, constant
environmental improvement and sustainable management of Australia’s water resources
against a field of this calibre.”
Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee chairman John Rodgers said the organisation had helped
reduce nitrification of waterways in the Wilson Inlet, including the Denmark River since the
1990s, and said it was great the project stakeholders had been recognised.
(Denmark Now newspaper)
Award recognises innovation
Patricia Gill - Wednesday, May 28, 2014
DENMARK has been recognised for a water salinity reversal project and for having the
lowest household water use in WA.
The Denmark Salinity Recovery Project last week received the Australian Water
Association’s 2014 National Research Innovation Award, the second national gong the
project has been awarded since completion last year.
The Department of Water-led project is a landmark 20-year water quality improvement
project that has received two national awards.
Warren-Blackwood MLA Terry Redman said the project had transformed the condition of
water in the Denmark River from highly saline to being drinkable again.
Using timber industry support to revegetate farmland, Denmark River’s salinity dropped to
470mg/litre, a drinkable level now available as back-up supply for the town and neighbours.
This is the first time an Australian river has reversed salinity levels to become fresh again.
Separately, Denmark residents have been identified in an Economic Regulation Authority
report as the most water conscientious in WA, having the lowest average household water
consumption in the State for the second year running.
The ERA’s 2013 Water, Sewerage and Irrigation Performance report found Denmark
households used an average of 147KL a year while the average WA household consumed
308KL a year.
“Such a great result reflects the awareness Denmark residents have about conserving our
most precious resource, as well as the conscious shift towards sustainable living that the
community has pushed for many years,” Mr Redman said.
Overall average household water consumption in WA has dropped from 346KL a year in
2009 to 308KL a year in 2013. In 2013, Denmark had the lowest consumption a property
(147kL), almost unchanged from 2012.
Newman recorded the highest average annual residential water consumption (565kL), up by
12 per cent compared to 2012. The difference in the water consumption patterns for the two
towns correlates with the contrasting climatic conditions across the State; towns in the north
of the State have higher annual average temperatures, and higher consumption levels, than
towns in the South-West.
Ministerial media statement
Salinity managed in Denmark River
Monday, 29 October 2012
•Denmark River recovers from impact of high salinity
•Revegetation, management and monitoring help manage salinity levels
•Denmark Dam to provide back-up water supply source
Water Minister Bill Marmion has praised community and State Government efforts which
have succeeded in helping the Denmark River to recover from the impact of high salinity.
Speaking from Denmark yesterday, Mr Marmion said that for several decades, high salinity
levels, peaking at an average of more than 200 milligrams per litre (mg/L) above drinking
water levels, restricted the supply of drinking quality water from the Denmark Dam.
“However, through sustained catchment management and revegetation, a major reversal of
river salinity levels has been achieved,” he said.
“Recent monitoring data found average annual salinity levels had dropped to 470mg/L,
making these levels in the Denmark River below World Health Organization guidelines for
drinking water for the first time in nearly 40 years.”
The improved water quality means Denmark Dam has been returned as a drinking water
source, supporting Quickup Dam as a back-up water supply for Denmark and its neighbours.
The drop in salinity is mainly attributed to the revegetation of cleared farmland with blue gum
plantations.
“This excellent outcome demonstrates Denmark’s commitment to improving the water quality
of its river,” the Minister said. “It also supports the actions outlined in the Department of
Water’s Denmark River water resource recovery plan to manage salinity in the river and
protect the town’s water supply.”
The State Government will continue to monitor the Denmark River to provide effective water
quality management and keep salinity levels in check.
Fact File
•Denmark River water resource recovery plan available at http://www.water.wa.gov.au
Minister's office - 6552 6800
Attachment 9 - Testimonial letter from John Ruprecht
Attachment 10 - Photos of Denmark River, catchment and land uses