Are fluctuations in your creek flows becoming more noticeable? Are you seeing erosion along your waterways? Join Creek Doctor Peter McAdam at Kandanga Farm for a day of learning about the hydrological system (creeks and waterways), learn to read your landscape and gain knowledge on how to conserve or rehabilitate them. This is a three-day course crammed into one.  Peter gets to the bottom of how you can flatten your hydrograph to reduce damage and increase utilisation of our precious resources – water and landscape.

Your day will be split into 2  sessions

Session 1

An introduction to creek processes and behaviour.  Learn how to interpret the patterns of change and understand the clues in the forms and processes.  What is the hydrological cycle? How can drawing streams/creeks/catchments give you a better grasp of the stream as a dynamic system? When dealing with erosion, is creek bank erosion the real problem or is erosion of the creek bed the core issue? Where is the best place to focus your efforts? Is rehabilitation or conservation required?

Session 2

Visit different areas of a local creek to understand theory in practice. Identify landscape features and how they impact hydrology. Discuss potential remedies.

At the completion of the day you will have a better understanding of how waterways behave due to natural processes and human impact. You’ll have a better appreciation of how well intentioned but uninformed groundworks can create more problems than they solve. You’ll also begin to understand some of the basic actions you can take to improve hydrological function in your landscape as well as touching on potential permits and conditions you’ll need to address when applying to do in-stream works.

Attendees will be encouraged to participate, share ideas, problems, thoughts and doubts!  You’ll do some simple drawings of landscape features and you are encouraged to bring photos of your own problems and ideas for discussion as practical examples are the best way to broaden your understanding in a real sense.

On booking, participants will be invited to phone Peter to discuss preparation for the sessions to get the most out of the days.  You will also have the opportunity to follow up afterwards with questions for clarification.

Price of $150 includes both sessions, morning tea and lunch. 

About The Creek Doctor

Peter has lived in the Mary Valley for nearly 18 years and visiting this area regularly for around 40 years.  He studied environmental science and his favourite subjects were hydrology and soil physics, environmental chemistry, soils and geomorphology.  Peter has expanded his knowledge to include a study of history, especially descriptions of landscape, and has a strong interest in community participation and planning.  Peter also studied environmental law.

Peter has designed and constructed hundreds of instream structures focusing on locally available natural materials like logs, rocks and clay.  They’ve worked and lasted well, and proved good value for money.