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BDTNRM and the Burdekin Bowen Intrgrated
Floodplain Management Advisory Committee (BBIFMAC) are inviting
interested growers in the Lower Burdekin to be involved in a new
project, which will give them valuable experience and greatly
assist in the sustainability of the lower Burdekin irrigation
area.
What is the WQ PIXEL Project?
In the past Lower Burdekin growers have shown
themselves to be leaders in the productivity stakes and are now
moving to take control of other issues like water management. The
WQ PIXEL Project is aimed at providing support for growers in the
Lower Burdekin to monitor key surface and groundwater quality
parameters. The results from the monitoring will allow growers to
relate on-farm management practices to the quality of the water
they are applying to their crops and running off their
paddocks.
The project will provide participants with a water
quality test kit, containing simple but effective methods for
measuring key water quality parameters. Participants will also
receive the basic training necessary to be able to use the kits
effectively and be given the opportunity to store their data onto a
web based, password protected database, and to share it with other
growers if they wish.
Why the name?
A pixel is the smallest entity that makes up a
digital image. Provided the large numbers of pixels are focused,
there is potential for a clear and impressive picture. Similarly
the paddock/farm is the smallest discrete entity in the landscape.
If we can fine tune these units with good management then the
result will transfer to the landscape and ultimately benefits the
whole of the catchment.
What is the importance of the Project?
In an irrigation area water is the major driver for
a healthy ecosystem. To keep the irrigation area sustainable the
water balance in the landscape should be maintained and the water
quality kept within acceptable limits. The farmer or land manager
therefore, has a major input into the success of the whole system.
Also by knowing runoff water quality the farmer can make management
changes to reduce loss of valuble farm inputs.
Who Facilitates the Project?
The project is funded by BDTNRM) and managed
by the Burdekin Bowen Intrgrated Floodplain Management
Advisory Committee (BBIFMAC). The project is grower driven
and the participants have ownership and a major say in how the data
is used.
What is involved in Participating?
You will be provided with a water quality test kit
so that you can monitor the salinity, turbidity and presence of
nitrates and phosphates in your irrigation water. Up to 3
monitoring sites will be selected from bores, tail-water recycle
pits, drainage systems and runoff points on your farm. You will
then use the test kit to sample during irrigation cycles to get a
feel for what is happening with water quality on your farm. Results
will be collated by
BBIFMAC staff who will also take additional samples for more
qualitative laboratory analysis.
BBIFMAC will maintain a database of the water quality
monitoring results and provide feedback on water quality trends.
The confidentiality of individual property data will be protected
by written agreements. BBIFMAC will also place results on a web
based central database so growers can view their own results.
Growers will be able to access water quality data from their farm.
Permission to view other grower’s water quality data will
only be granted if the grower consents. Regular updates on the
project will be provided to the community via presentations,
newsletter articles and the BDTNRM website