The next major project here is to start clearing out the dam.
As the following photos bear witness, it has been completely taken over by Cumbungi Orientalis, an invasive native weed.
Actually Cumbungi (or Typha) is a very interesting plant and has a number of positive permaculture qualities. However, in shallow water, it can get completely out of hand.
The plan is to get in a small digger to remove the cumbungi from the deeper part of the dam, as well as a metre or two of accumulated sludge. Cumbungi can’t grow when the water depth is more than a metre.
The other strategy is too then plant out the northern and eastern sides with tall native trees & shrubs to shade the dam. Cumbungi also hates shade.
I am happy for a limited amount of cumbungi to grow on the inflow side of the dam as the plant actually helps clean water by retaining sediment as it passes through.
The end result will hopefully look more like the adjacent dam next door (final photo).
[...] there’s a dam in there somewhere Posted by admin on November 11, 2009 random The next major project here is to start clearing out the dam. [...]
[...] month ago I posted an entry ‘there’s a dam in there somewhere’ highlighting the poor state of the dam on our property, [...]