STOPPING SEDIMENT AT ITS SOURCE

Overview

We are repairing erosion hotspots and improving land management practices in the Upper Johnstone River catchment. Ultimately this is improving the quality of water flowing to the Great Barrier Reef, and making the land more resilient.

Background

The Johnstone River catchment is a ‘high priority’ for sediment reduction within Queensland’s Great Barrier Reef zone.  Subsoil erosion causes most of the fine sediment load entering the Reef lagoon. This is the first project focusing on the Upper Johnstone, and it complements the Wet Tropics Major Integrated Project (use link) in the lower Johnstone.

Solutions

  • A range of engineered rock structures
  • Revegetation work
  • Fencing
  • Off-stream watering points
  • Soil health and grazing workshops for landholders

Locations

Malanda, Ithaca-Thiaki and East Palmerston-Nerada sub-catchments in the Atherton Tablelands-Innisfail region south of Cairns.

Funders

This $2.3M four-year project is funded by the Queensland Government’s Natural Resources Investment Program.

Partners

Landholders
Community organisations
Local contractors and service providers

Achievements so far

  • 5 gully remediation sites completed
  • On-farm ‘Zuni bowls’ constructed at two sites
  • 160+ landholders at Grazing Naturally workshops
  • 3 workshops to gather local landscape knowledge
  • Water-sampling workshops for landholders

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