Berri Barmera Local Action Plan

  - Irrigation & Drainage
  - Wetlands & Floodplains
  - Water Quality
  - Conservation & Biodiversity
  - Education & Awareness
  - Monitoring & Evaluation

Page last updated: 24/08/04

Irrigation & Drainage

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Floating Flag Program

The Floating Flag Program aims to raise awareness of perched water tables that can occur in an irrigation area.

Floating flags demonstrate how irrigation activity influences perched water tables. A perched water table can arise in areas where clay or impervious layers stop the natural leaching process of irrigation water past the root zone of hortcultural plantings

1. Do you have an area on your property that is showing the effects of salinity?
2. Do you have soils that are susceptible to drainage problems?
3. Are you unsure about your irrigation scheduling requirements?

If you have answered yes to any of these questions you are probably interested in installing a floating flag.

What is a Floating Flag?

A floating flag is usually a 3.5-metre deep hole cased in PVC piping. Within the pipe is a floating device or flag that rises and falls to indicate the changing levels of a perched water table. Markings on the side of the floating device indicate if the perched water table is threatening the root zone of the crop.

How do I get a Floating Flag?

The Berri Barmera Land and Water Management Planning Committee have secured funding from the River Murray Catchment Water Management Board and the Central Irrigation Trust to install over 200 test wells throughout the Cobdogla and Berri Irrigation Districts.

The committee would like to assist as many growers as possible to install a floating flag. They cost approximately $145 to install, and the Land and Water Management Planning committee will cover the ENTIRE COST.

Only one free Floating Flag will be installed per property. Priority will be given to growers who have completed a RiverCARE course or have undertaken an Irrigation and Drainage Management Plan for their properties. Growers who are seeking more than one test well for their properties are encouraged to make an application for further floating flags, which will be installed at $75.

Growers who are interested in obtaining a Floating Flag(s) should contact Paul Stribley.

Please note that 2002 is the final year the floating flag program will run in its current format. New guidelines are currently being developed, and information will be provided in the near future.