Managing the Riparian Zone within a Total Farm System

Contents

• Theme: Managing the riparian zone within a total farm system
• Case study 1: Oonooie: managing the riparian zone
• Getting a Grip: Notes from the field
• Case study 2: Helping your river system to recover
• Local government focus
• It's a Wrap: News from around Australia

Managing the riparian zone within a total farm system

Riparian zones are the vital transition areas between land and water. The natural vegetation on riparian land usually reflects the better soils and more moist conditions found in the lower parts of the landscape. Riparian land also plays an important role in the lifecycle of many native animals and plants. These zones are highly productive and, as a result, are often heavily cleared and used for intensive cropping (eg: cane, bananas, cereals), intensive grazing (eg; dairy) and intensive irrigation.

By its very nature, riparian land is fragile. Its productivity also makes it vulnerable to overuse and to practices that cause it to deteriorate, creating additional problems. Good management of riparian lands is not a substitute for good land management practices elsewhere in a catchment. However, it is increasingly being recognised by landholders that integrating riparian management into their overall farming system, is essential to achieving long-term ecological and economic sustainability on their properties.

From the Editor

This edition of RipRap looks at the benefits that landholders can gain from managing their riparian zones as part of a total farm system. It also examines the work that is being done by Gary Brierley and Kirstie Fryirs on identifying the 'recovery potential' of a particular reach of river or stream. This work enables us to focus attention on those parts of the river and riparian zone that will respond best to rehabilitation activities. The result is that Gary and Kirstie's work can be used by landholders to identify and develop cost-effective river and riparian management strategies that will reap optimum ecological and economic benefits.

Other news and events in the area of river and riparian management include the soon to be released Rehabilitation Manual for Australian Streams. The manual will be available via the internet and we would like your comments and feedback so that we can refine the document and make it even more useful and relevant for people working 'on the ground and in the river'. Full details can be found on page 15. The beautiful River Landscapes poster and brochure is now available in each State and Territory, and page 16 has the agencies you need to contact to get your free copy. Work has also begun on a new internet site for our Riparian Lands program, and I will be able to give you the site address in the next edition of RipRap.

As you can see, there is a lot happening in river and riparian manage-ment. 1999 will be a year in which we continue to investigate, implement and hopefully inspire people to work in this important area. I hope you enjoy this edition and welcome any feedback and comments you have on future themes for RipRap. Happy reading!

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