This two year project aims to develop knowledge and water planning tools for farmers who need their dams to work in all years, and be able to make water investment decisions with confidence.

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The project will involve 12 core demonstration sites, building farm-based water planning tools, workshops, field days and industry training. The project will investigate solutions including renovating existing dams, building new dams, and implementing evaporation suppression and runoff technologies.

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The GGA through the South-West WA Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hub, will collaborate with the Department of Primary Industries (DPIRD) and the University of Western Australia (UWA), leveraging their existing work and prior investment in this field as well as four grower group project partners including Compass Agricultural Alliance (Darkan), Southern Dirt (Kojonup), Merredin and Districts Farm Improvement Group (Merredin) and the Fitzgerald Biosphere Group (Jerramungup).

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WaterSmart Dams builds on the existing WaterSmart Farms program – a collaborative DPIRD designed program researching sustainable groundwater supply options using on-farm desalinisation technology.

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This project is jointly funded through Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund (FDF) and the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).

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Compass Ag SmartDam Champions

Paul and Janelle South

Darkan growers, Paul and Janelle South are assessing how harvesting sub-surface water in a V drain catchment affects water quality. The site aims to demonstrate how water can be extracted from underperforming waterlogged ground during the winter months and used productively. Using a V drain capture, the site aims to harvest and run this unproductive water to the dam to be stored for sheep during summer.