The presence of over 8,000 dams and watercourse diversions in the Eastern Mount Lofty Ranges (EMLR) is negatively impacting ecological cycles and long-term catchment health by intercepting surface water, especially critical early season flows.
The Flows for the Future Program (F4F), delivered by the Department of Environment and Water, works with landowners to restore flows around farm dams and through watercourses across the EMLR Water Resource Area. Driven by the EMLR Water Allocation Plan, policy plays a key role in the work of F4F. Funding is provided by the Australian Government through the MDB Plan to deliver flow outcomes to the lower River Murray.
As a globally innovative program, there are constant learnings from which the program continues to evolve. To date, F4F staff have engaged over 1070 landowners, striving to form respectful relationships, share knowledge and find common passion in the land.
Strategic catchment modelling identifies the dams which provide maximum potential for improved water management. So far, over 420 low flow solutions have been implemented in the region. No two scenarios are the same, every landowner has a different story, different land and water use, history and experience with government programs.
While F4F is ultimately working to improve ecological health, the relationship building and educational benefits for staff and landholders are immeasurable. F4F aims to integrate years of landowner learnings with policy and research to implement solutions to the worldwide issue of increasing water resource demand and declining catchment health.
Rebecca Freshwater has a background of working with people for environmental gain. She spent twenty plus years living and working with Indigenous communities, pastoralists and Park Rangers in remote Northern Territory. Rebecca is in her seventh year with the F4F program. She strongly believes that people respond to authenticity, passion and good intent.