When determining the design of the flood recovery projects, the issue of silt was a major topic for many growers. They were dealing with something that many hadn’t experienced before and there were so many variations of how silt was impacting their farms.
“Silt” is a term used to describe the soil deposited on the surface by a flood. The silt varies in different locations, but many found it to be a loamy sand texture which when wet is very slimy.
Every flood was different and every paddock was different, which meant there was no one size fits all for managing silt.
The extent of the silt damage also was dependent on the stage of growth of the turf, the turf species and the time of year.
Other factors included the clogged creeks and drains that prevented the clearing of flood waters and for those in the Richmond Lowlands and Cornwallis area they had to deal with a major collapse of a drain that changed the flow of flood waters and destroyed farms.
The information developed on Silt Management includes:
An online platform that growers can navigate to learn ways to manage silt using different applications for different turf species.
A video of growers interviewed on how they managed the challenges of the floods and in particular the silt.
A report undertaken by Dr Mick Battam from AgEnviro Solutions
This platform is easy to navigate and explores different options to manage silt following a flood. There is information on assessing the silt damage, understanding the impact of different applications from a salvage to partial restart through to a full restart. The program also includes the variations between Buffalo and Couch type grasses. Click the link below.
This interview was developed in 2024 and the videos produced reflects on grower's experiences with managing silt over many floods. What they tried, what worked and what didn't and why.
Dr Mick Battam presents findings of the March 2022 floods on farms in the Hawkesbury and other regional areas in NSW.
Silt Images
Disclaimer: The information provided is a compilation of experiences and general guidance intended to support the turf industry following floods. It is not a definitive solution for all individual circumstances. Every flood is different, and each grower’s circumstances are unique, so it is important to evaluate your own circumstances. Turf NSW and its contractors are not liable for any outcomes resulting from the application of this information or project works.
These projects are funded by the Australian and NSW Government's Storm and Flood Industry Recovery Program.
To learn more about projects, please contact Turf NSW