Background
The ‘Linking land management, dryland salinity and soil health in the Eastern Murray Catchment’ project will combine research, on-ground monitoring and practical demonstrations to improve understanding of:
- How land use changes influence groundwater movement and salinity expression;
- The impact of salinity on soil health and productivity;
- Practical land management actions that can mitigate salinity’s effects.
Funded by the Australian Government’s Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust, the project is a collaborative initiative lead by West Hume Landcare (WHL), and involves Holbrook Landcare Network, Charles Sturt University, Murray Local Land Services and NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) – Basin Salinity Program.
What Will We Do?
- Identify 10 relevant groundwater monitoring sites and measure groundwater and salt levels at each twice per year.
- Conduct soil health testing at 5 salinity sites and compare to a “paired” non-saline paddock nearby.
- Establish a salinity rehabilitation demonstration site to showcase the latest practices in managing salinity discharge sites.
- Train and equip landholders and advisors to measure soil and water salinity levels, interpret the results, and take appropriate action.
How Can You Be Involved?
Landholders experiencing salinity on their properties or are unsure if they have salinity are encouraged to get in touch with the HLN office. We can provide advice around management of saline areas, soil test your site, and provide financial support for site rehabilitation!
Prefer to take a back seat? Keep checking back to this webpage, our social media, and member newsletter for project updates.
Timeframe
Project period: October 2025 – April 2028.
This project is supported by the Australian Government through funding from the Climate-Smart Agriculture Program under the Natural Heritage Trust.
