Water is a major factor limiting production of crops and the increasing scarcity of water is poised as a major issue in global politics in the future. Water plays a crucial role in understanding site characteristics and is often of central focus in the layout and integration of systems on a farm.
Our role in perpetuating a full, healthy and balanced hydrological cycle is vastly important for our renewed success as ecological stewards on planet Earth. Common techniques include the use of earthworks, stacked plant material, animals, and the keyline plough to help create the edge for water to rest, spread itself and infiltrate. To further increase its infiltration rate we support the system with bio-diverse plantings with a focus on forests and perennial vegetation as well as stimulating a diverse soil food web.
Wetlands are encouraged as well as fowl that help drive the system. Dams can be created where appropriate for lager stores of water and use of appropriate technology allows us to move water around a site. Aquaculture systems allow for abundant yields and direct interaction with water to ensure its state is quality.
When approaching water storage systems, we can calculate the volume of water a catchment will deliver, and we must account for those weather occurrences that exceed averages, making sure that we have safe routes for overflow. Water storage makes spaces far richer in life, both in the water itself and around it. We can potentially increase that catchment space for water storages and the productivity of sites by adding swales to them and planting trees downslope. For our own use, when we catch water as high as possible in the landscape, we have the potential for it being gravity-fed rather than relying on energy inputs. Then, we can work our water storage down the landscape for life systems.
Small dams and storage tanks scattered throughout a landscape are extremely valuable for providing wildlife and domesticated animals with water. They also capture water surpluses when they are there so that we can take advantage in drier times. They can be used for aquaculture, providing both aquatic plants and animals, which creates nutrient flows into our system. Dams moderate the destructiveness of floods, lessen the effects of drought, and decrease the likelihood of wildfires. It’s important to have dams both high in the landscape, where they cost more to construct but provide higher energy value, as well as in less sloped landscapes, where life tends to congregate.
Our role in perpetuating a full, healthy and balanced hydrological cycle is vastly important for our renewed success as ecological stewards on planet Earth. Common techniques include the use of earthworks, stacked plant material, animals, and the keyline plough to help create the edge for water to rest, spread itself and infiltrate. To further increase its infiltration rate we support the system with bio-diverse plantings with a focus on forests and perennial vegetation as well as stimulating a diverse soil food web.
Wetlands are encouraged as well as fowl that help drive the system. Dams can be created where appropriate for lager stores of water and use of appropriate technology allows us to move water around a site. Aquaculture systems allow for abundant yields and direct interaction with water to ensure its state is quality.
When approaching water storage systems, we can calculate the volume of water a catchment will deliver, and we must account for those weather occurrences that exceed averages, making sure that we have safe routes for overflow. Water storage makes spaces far richer in life, both in the water itself and around it. We can potentially increase that catchment space for water storages and the productivity of sites by adding swales to them and planting trees downslope. For our own use, when we catch water as high as possible in the landscape, we have the potential for it being gravity-fed rather than relying on energy inputs. Then, we can work our water storage down the landscape for life systems.
Small dams and storage tanks scattered throughout a landscape are extremely valuable for providing wildlife and domesticated animals with water. They also capture water surpluses when they are there so that we can take advantage in drier times. They can be used for aquaculture, providing both aquatic plants and animals, which creates nutrient flows into our system. Dams moderate the destructiveness of floods, lessen the effects of drought, and decrease the likelihood of wildfires. It’s important to have dams both high in the landscape, where they cost more to construct but provide higher energy value, as well as in less sloped landscapes, where life tends to congregate.
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Readings
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Properties of Water
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Water Quality
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A Water Catchment
A catchment is a basin shaped area of land, bounded by natural features such as hills or mountains from which surface and sub surface water flows into streams, rivers and wetlands. Water flows into, and collects in, the lowest areas in the landscape. The system of streams which transport water, sediment and other material from a catchment is called a drainage network.
A catchment catches water which falls to earth as precipitation (rainfall), and the drainage network channels the water from throughout the catchment to a common outlet. The outlet of a catchment is the mouth of the main stream or river. The mouth may be where it flows into another river or stream, or the place where it empties into a lake, estuary, wetland or ocean.
Catchments are part of a gigantic water circulation network. Powered by the sun, the water cycle moves water between the earths surface and atmosphere in a continual circuit. It may seem that this powerful natural process is entirely independent of human activity, that it is indestructible and capable of continually replenishing and purifying our water. However, two critical aspects about the cycle are often overlooked: the tiny amount of the water that is usable (within streams, rivers and lakes), and the rate at which water travels around the cycle.
Of all the water on Earth, 97.2 percent is sea water. Of the remaining (fresh) water, 2.24 percent is trapped in ice caps. Groundwater accounts for 0.61 percent and lakes for just 0.009 percent. The atmosphere holds about 0.001 percent. All this means that the amount of water flowing water in streams and river at any one time is an almost negligible 0.0001 percent.
The rate of movement of water through the cycle can be altered dramatically through changes we make to the land surface. Vegetation and wetlands act like sponges to slow and absorb water during wet times of the year. When we replace vegetation and wetlands with impervious surfaces (roading, paving, parking areas, rooftops, etc.), less water infiltrates into the ground and more water flows directly into streams through drainage ditches and stormwater drainage pipes. The increased runoff may cause a variety of problems, including flooding, streambank erosion, sedimentation and pollution.
The problems created by paved surfaces are made worse at dry times of the year. Because infiltration is slowed, there is less build up of groundwater. The sponge becomes dry. Without the return of groundwater, many streams simply dry up during periods of low rainfall. By reducing the amount of water a catchment can hold, you end up having too much when it rains and not enough when it doesnt. The balance of the cycle may be further disrupted when we take water for domestic, agricultural or energy needs. Dams, taking water from streams and rivers and pumping groundwater from wells all affect the amount, and quality, of water within our waterways. While human uses of land and water have changed the quantity and timing of water cycling through catchments, they have also affected the quality of water resources.
A catchment catches water which falls to earth as precipitation (rainfall), and the drainage network channels the water from throughout the catchment to a common outlet. The outlet of a catchment is the mouth of the main stream or river. The mouth may be where it flows into another river or stream, or the place where it empties into a lake, estuary, wetland or ocean.
Catchments are part of a gigantic water circulation network. Powered by the sun, the water cycle moves water between the earths surface and atmosphere in a continual circuit. It may seem that this powerful natural process is entirely independent of human activity, that it is indestructible and capable of continually replenishing and purifying our water. However, two critical aspects about the cycle are often overlooked: the tiny amount of the water that is usable (within streams, rivers and lakes), and the rate at which water travels around the cycle.
Of all the water on Earth, 97.2 percent is sea water. Of the remaining (fresh) water, 2.24 percent is trapped in ice caps. Groundwater accounts for 0.61 percent and lakes for just 0.009 percent. The atmosphere holds about 0.001 percent. All this means that the amount of water flowing water in streams and river at any one time is an almost negligible 0.0001 percent.
The rate of movement of water through the cycle can be altered dramatically through changes we make to the land surface. Vegetation and wetlands act like sponges to slow and absorb water during wet times of the year. When we replace vegetation and wetlands with impervious surfaces (roading, paving, parking areas, rooftops, etc.), less water infiltrates into the ground and more water flows directly into streams through drainage ditches and stormwater drainage pipes. The increased runoff may cause a variety of problems, including flooding, streambank erosion, sedimentation and pollution.
The problems created by paved surfaces are made worse at dry times of the year. Because infiltration is slowed, there is less build up of groundwater. The sponge becomes dry. Without the return of groundwater, many streams simply dry up during periods of low rainfall. By reducing the amount of water a catchment can hold, you end up having too much when it rains and not enough when it doesnt. The balance of the cycle may be further disrupted when we take water for domestic, agricultural or energy needs. Dams, taking water from streams and rivers and pumping groundwater from wells all affect the amount, and quality, of water within our waterways. While human uses of land and water have changed the quantity and timing of water cycling through catchments, they have also affected the quality of water resources.
Calculating Catchment Size
Below are a few great resources for calculating the water harvesting potential of a given, catchment or roof - depending on rainfall and catchment size. As rainfall varies through the year it is good to base estimates on average monthly rainfall data from NIWA.
This has a variety of applications - from calculating how much water your roof can collect, how much water will flow into swales and re-charge dams (minus water infiltrated into soil and lost to evaporation - which will be a lot - unless the soil is already saturated or is excessively dried out).
This has a variety of applications - from calculating how much water your roof can collect, how much water will flow into swales and re-charge dams (minus water infiltrated into soil and lost to evaporation - which will be a lot - unless the soil is already saturated or is excessively dried out).
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Springs
As water flows across the landscape it infiltrates into the soil and permeates down to ground water. Depending upon the composition of subsoils and bedrocks - this may results in a flow of water between the subsoil and rock layer, or multiple layers of water moving through the soil, subsoil and above the bedrock layer. When these underground streams of water emerge to the surface they are called springs.
These emergence points may be in the beds of streams and rivers, within gullies, or at other points where changes in subsoil, bedrocks layers force the water to the surface.
Depending upon the extend and type of vegetation and rainfall, will determine the amount of water infiltrating into the soil and how the soil is able to store that water and slowly release it into the springs.
Springs dry up when a landscape has been altered by management practices (removal of trees and erosion of soil) that reduce its ability to hold onto water - and when rainfall is low (or non existent) the springs starts to dry up. In extended dry periods - these drought-prone-modified landscapes can result in springs and small streams quickly drying up.
NIWA provides great information (freely available to public) on the impact of drought in New Zealand.
These emergence points may be in the beds of streams and rivers, within gullies, or at other points where changes in subsoil, bedrocks layers force the water to the surface.
Depending upon the extend and type of vegetation and rainfall, will determine the amount of water infiltrating into the soil and how the soil is able to store that water and slowly release it into the springs.
Springs dry up when a landscape has been altered by management practices (removal of trees and erosion of soil) that reduce its ability to hold onto water - and when rainfall is low (or non existent) the springs starts to dry up. In extended dry periods - these drought-prone-modified landscapes can result in springs and small streams quickly drying up.
NIWA provides great information (freely available to public) on the impact of drought in New Zealand.
| groundwater_impacts_from_agriculture.pdf |
Aquaculture
In permaculture the aim is to use the behavioral constants of water to our advantage in design. In doing so, we mustn’t only address water harvesting and storage, but we also should think about hydrating the landscape and using water to enhance life and biodiversity.
Our goal is to use water many times over before letting it leave a site, and equally so, designs should also account for any polluted water we create or that crosses a location, dealing with it in a productive way.
At the heart of permaculture design is the concept of getting multiple positive benefits from an element incorporated into the design of as system. The construction of swales and ponds and wetlands to re hydrate and nourish and landscape and restore it productivity and benefit to wildlife, can also be beneficially linked to aquaculture production.
Higher in the landscape the swale and pond systems established in a typical permaculture design are more prove to drying out in dry seasons and do not represent a consistent habitat for aquaculture production, However as the volume and permanence of water in the landscape multiples lower in the catchment 0 the opportunities for aquaculture production becomes more numerous.
The simplest expression of this is large ponds lower in the landscape - linked to swales and smaller ponds higher in the landscape. The catchment uphill should ideally bee protected and stabilised by a diversity pf perennial grasses, shrubs and trees - that are growing healthily and preserving the water retention capacity of the soil.
This upstream system acts as a water storage battery, allowing for more reliable and consistent levels of water in downstream larger ponds. It is these ponds that offer the best potential for incorporating aquaculture practices. This may include crayfish, crayfish, perch, goldfish, tench or eels - depending on local laws and available fish stocks.
The design possibilities within these systems are explored in greater detail in the aquaponics course - but the concept is included here for consideration and integration with the other topics on water management and use on a property.
Our goal is to use water many times over before letting it leave a site, and equally so, designs should also account for any polluted water we create or that crosses a location, dealing with it in a productive way.
At the heart of permaculture design is the concept of getting multiple positive benefits from an element incorporated into the design of as system. The construction of swales and ponds and wetlands to re hydrate and nourish and landscape and restore it productivity and benefit to wildlife, can also be beneficially linked to aquaculture production.
Higher in the landscape the swale and pond systems established in a typical permaculture design are more prove to drying out in dry seasons and do not represent a consistent habitat for aquaculture production, However as the volume and permanence of water in the landscape multiples lower in the catchment 0 the opportunities for aquaculture production becomes more numerous.
The simplest expression of this is large ponds lower in the landscape - linked to swales and smaller ponds higher in the landscape. The catchment uphill should ideally bee protected and stabilised by a diversity pf perennial grasses, shrubs and trees - that are growing healthily and preserving the water retention capacity of the soil.
This upstream system acts as a water storage battery, allowing for more reliable and consistent levels of water in downstream larger ponds. It is these ponds that offer the best potential for incorporating aquaculture practices. This may include crayfish, crayfish, perch, goldfish, tench or eels - depending on local laws and available fish stocks.
The design possibilities within these systems are explored in greater detail in the aquaponics course - but the concept is included here for consideration and integration with the other topics on water management and use on a property.
| aquaculture_placement.pdf |
Wetlands
Wetlands have been used for agriculture for thousands of years. They provide a range of valuable ecosystem services, such as the provision of food and clean water, the retention of soil and the cycling of nutrients.
However, the value of these services is sometimes underestimated. In some areas, the drainage and reclamation of wetlands for agriculture has been widespread, but there is increasing recognition of the critical interdependencies between agriculture and healthy wetlands.
However, the value of these services is sometimes underestimated. In some areas, the drainage and reclamation of wetlands for agriculture has been widespread, but there is increasing recognition of the critical interdependencies between agriculture and healthy wetlands.
| wetlandsrestorationguide.pdf |
Video Resources
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