Greetings fellow foxies
Yesterday my wife Aileen and I were happily inspecting the effectiveness of erosion control and water spreading measures while rain was falling in in Foxes Lair. Aileen suggested that I should write down my reclamation tips for my successor (any offers?)
As in most small reserves, wildlife and plants in Foxes Lair have suffered greatly from European settlement. This blog showed that most of our soils are very water repellent but many native plants had exploited it to direct water to their roots. However water repellence greatly reduces seed germination. For regeneration, plants relied on periodic fires to reduce surface repellence, and the wealth of native burrowing animals such as bilbies, quendas and woylies to trap surface water. Early accounts mention that some areas of bush resembled ploughed paddocks. Alas most native animals have gone and water runs away.
As in most small reserves, wildlife and plants in Foxes Lair have suffered greatly from European settlement. This blog showed that most of our soils are very water repellent but many native plants had exploited it to direct water to their roots. However water repellence greatly reduces seed germination. For regeneration, plants relied on periodic fires to reduce surface repellence, and the wealth of native burrowing animals such as bilbies, quendas and woylies to trap surface water. Early accounts mention that some areas of bush resembled ploughed paddocks. Alas most native animals have gone and water runs away.
Below ground roads become waterways Access roads are another problem. They are too narrow for modern road graders to form roads up properly with two passes. Each time a road is graded, the road level is lowered, and water, which normally flows down a slope is diverted by the lowered road and the spoil bank. This starves slopes of water and causes excess stream flow. Narrogin shire has imported road making material to build up some eroded roads.
More sensitive road maintenance, burrowing animals and periodic burns are required. Feral pigs and rabbit cause great soil disturbance, but at great cost to agriculture and the environment.
More sensitive road maintenance, burrowing animals and periodic burns are required. Feral pigs and rabbit cause great soil disturbance, but at great cost to agriculture and the environment.
Narrogin's solution was to introduce a Dougosaurus. Considered by some to be a primitive tool-using hominid, he is an active digger and harmless unless provoked. He can even quite friendly if approached carefully! The digging is a cardio activity to increase lifespan, but he may forage for worms and witchetty grubs.
Can you spot him?
Can you spot him?
Here are some examples of Dougosaurus activity, which can reduce the time between road grading.
Frequent road drains reduce road erosion and return water to slopes
Frequent road drains reduce road erosion and return water to slopes
 As many drains as possible on clay roads |  Lots of water returned to slope |  Through spoil bank to water seedlings |
Where roads are too far below the road surface to use drains, rock barriers can be used to reduce water flow and trap silt.
Corrugations are best prevented by reducing traffic speed.
Potholes tend to form on flat road sections. Without a compactor clay, sand or gravel fill is splashed out by tyres in wet weather. Experience has has shown that angular blue metal is the best material for drainage while staying in place.
Sand which accumulates in road side spur drains is not water repellent and often contain seeds. Seedling readily establish there, and the sand fast-racks seedling establishment when spread on bare areas.
Corrugations are best prevented by reducing traffic speed.
Potholes tend to form on flat road sections. Without a compactor clay, sand or gravel fill is splashed out by tyres in wet weather. Experience has has shown that angular blue metal is the best material for drainage while staying in place.
Sand which accumulates in road side spur drains is not water repellent and often contain seeds. Seedling readily establish there, and the sand fast-racks seedling establishment when spread on bare areas.
 Stone groups reduce water flow and erosion |  Blue metal reduces gully erosion |  rapid regeneration with sand cover |
Areas which have been bare for years are difficult to revegetate. Images below show how random Dougosaurus shovel scoops trap water, ground litter and seeds, which often enable new plants to establish. The process can take years.
 1. Fresh digging traps water |  2. litter forms a mulch |  3. box poison germinates |