With floodwaters exceeding 1974 levels, Desert Channels Queensland (DCQ) were pleased to see past flood mitigation work holding up. The unusual and widespread rainfall and subsequent flooding across Central-West and South-West Queensland has damaged properties, destroyed infrastructure and eroded land, posing a threat to the condition of resources in the Lake Eyre Basin.
Four years ago, with Australian and Queensland Government’s Disaster Recovery funding, the DCQ field team worked with landholders to return grass cover to upstream pastures to reduce silt from washing downstream during flooding events, preserving the creek system and reducing cleanup for landholders downstream.
Early observations are promising, with both DCQ team members and a landholder reporting that silt has not built up in previous problem areas like the O’Briens Creek spillway or on fence lines, as has happened during previous floods.
