Managing Cumulative Effects of Farm Dams in Southeastern Australia

Abstract

Challenges abound for water managers attempting to address problems that have cumulative effects. This paper discusses some of these challenges and potential solutions through a case study of farm dam management in the Australian state of Victoria. Farm dams are useful sources of water but also have an impact on the environment because they capture water that might otherwise flow into streams. Responding to this problem, the Victorian government enacted the Farm Dams Act in 2003, which expanded the farm dam licensing system. To measure the outcomes of this law, farm dam maps were analyzed using GIS and dam owners were interviewed. Map analysis showed a 65% reduction in the construction rate ..