793-222 Water Resources Management

Credit Points

HECS Band

Coordinator

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

The objective of this subject is to enable students to develop their skills and knowledge in relation to the management of water resources.

The content includes: Farm water resources available above or below the ground. Water quality and its suitability to livestock, domestic or irrigation uses. Estimation of water yields from catchments. Determining the needs of livestock and other domestic uses. Water storage, their design and suitability to varying topography and use situations. Understanding water hydraulics and the principles of pumps, pumping and pipe flow. Water reticulation systems their design and automation. Surveying as applied to water management. The principles of irrigation and the extent and use of irrigation in Australian agriculture. Irrigation scheduling and the need for improved efficiency of irrigation. Spray irrigation systems, their design and suitability to particular topography and specialised pasture or crop requirements. Surface irrigation systems, design and management considerations. Economics of irrigation. Introduction to farm drainage and need in Australian agriculture. Surface and sub-surface drainage systems, design and economics of use in particular enterprises.

Assessment

Internal students - Two assignments of 2000 words each (30% each); three hour test (40%). External students - Two assignments of 3000 words each (50% each).

Prescribed Texts

• Nelson K D (1985), Design and Construction of Small Earth Dams. Melbourne, Inkata.
• State Electricity Commission Victoria (1991), Rural Stock and Domestic Water Supplies. R7 (Energy Services Department).
• Irrigation Association of Australia (1990), Irrigation for Profit (Water Force Victoria).