The Hydrologic Impacts of Farm Dams

Farm dams play an important role in Australian life. Small dams storing just a few megalitres provide essential supplies for stock and domestic consumption. Larger dams are used for irrigation purposes, and play a vital role in increasing the productivity, and hence viability, of many agricultural enterprises. Dams are also constructed for recreational and ornamental purposes, for aquaculture, and as artificial wetlands for environmental purposes. Over time there has been an increase in the number of dams used for irrigation purposes. There has been a general trend towards constructing larger dams, some impounding many hundreds of megalitres, to provide additional security of supply and to irrigate high value crops. An increase in the number of farm dams used for domestic, stock or aesthetic purposes is also expected in new peri-urban developments.