Sustainable Water Management
Jillamatong is a farm in Braidwood, NSW, that has implemented regenerative agriculture practices, particularly holistic water management, to improve landscape function and resilience. Key strategies include creating a chain of ponds to slow water and prevent erosion, planting trees and other ground cover on contours to capture and hold water, and restoring the land's ability to store water within the landscape. This approach has led to clearer water, increased fertility in the landscape, and greater resilience to drought, even as nearby rivers have run dry.
Key water management strategies at Jillamatong
Chain of ponds: A series of ponds was created down an erosion gully to slow water flow and allow it to seep into the land, hydrating it from the ground up.
Contour planting: Planting trees and creating contour systems on the slopes helps to slow water, spread it out, and allow it to soak into the soil rather than running off.
Land restoration: The farm has restored eroded areas and improved ground cover, which are crucial for holding water in the landscape, notes SOILS FOR LIFE.
Using mud for fertility: Mud from standard dams is moved uphill to capture rainfall and fertility, a strategy that also helps to stop erosion.
Holistic management: The overall approach integrates water management with other aspects of farming, recognizing that working with the landscape leads to better results.
Peter Andrews
Stuart Andrews
Walter Jehne
Didi Pershouse
Benefits of these strategies
Enhanced biodiversity: The restored landscape supports more life, with water plants, fish, and yabies thriving in the system.
Reduced erosion: The chain of ponds and contour planting directly combat erosion and prevent soil and fertility from being washed away, further information and Soils For Life.
Improved water quality: The ponds and plants in the system filter the water, which runs out clear, and can even harvest fertility from the water itself, as seen in the decrease of phosphorus concentration.
Increased resilience to drought: By slowing down and storing water in the landscape, the farm becomes more resilient during dry periods. This was evident when the ponds remained full while nearby rivers went dry.
Through these regenerative and holistic water management practices, Jillamatong demonstrates that working with natural processes, rather than against them, can rejuvenate degraded land, build resilience to climate extremes, and restore ecological balance. The success of this farm stands as a model for other landholders seeking to create productive landscapes that are not only sustainable but also regenerative—where water, soil, and biodiversity thrive together for generations to come.