This document summarizes research on quantifying and predicting the impacts of forest plantation water use. The research aims to improve models for predicting plantation water use over seasons to help managers make informed land use decisions. It also seeks to estimate water use across regions with plantations to predict growth and production per unit of water used. Related research examines plantation water use interactions with growth to apply results at catchment scales. The overall goal is to better understand and quantify plantation water use to improve efficiency and ensure balance with other water needs.

1. FEATURE
Water sharing plans:
not just about economics
by G. Kuehne, CRC for Irrigation Futures, University of SA and H. Bjornlund, University of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada
W ater is not just an economic
good; people value it in
different ways reflecting
non-economic values and its social
dimensions.
the fundamental importance of public
consultation – ostensibly to help
implement reforms by improving the
public’s awareness and understanding of
the need for them.
reduction and continuing deferrals of
implementation dates contributed to
their uncertainty.
License holder discontent was also
attributed to a mistaken belief that they
Much information to do with were to be involved with the formulation
economics, psychology, social and The Namoi Valley – non economic of the WSPs rather than just providing
health psychology, social and community values in action an opinion. If there was no intention to
and farm decision making disciplines The implementation of the Namoi Valley involve stakeh olders in making actual
supports this statement. It also suggests Ground Water Sharing Plans (WSPs) is decisions they should have been made
that farmers’ management responses an example of where the consultation more explicitly aware of this. It seems
to any new policy will not be based process could have been implemented that this, combined with the failure to
on profit maximising goals alone but differently for a more harmonious consult appropriately, has contributed
will also depend on the influence of outcome, and where water markets further damage to an already strained
their values, attitudes and objectives. might not achieve the expected result relationship between license holders and
However, policies introduced to achieve because of the non-economic values the government.
certain outcomes do not normally reflect influencing water users’ decision making Originally, the department (then
these non tangible elements. Instead, The process for developing the WSPs called the Department of Land and
they generally assume that water users involved a long period of consultation. Water Conservation) indicated that HOE
behave in a uniform and economically To achieve sustainability, reductions in would be applied. This was changed,
rational way and, as a result, often have extractions had to be made, but license however, to ATB for equity reasons. It
unintended and sometimes undesirable holders disagreed as to whether it was argued that license holders with
outcomes. should be “history of extraction” (HOE) unused or underused licenses would
Among other changes, the 1994 CoAG or “across-the-board” (ATB). Despite suffer losses in the form of property
reforms encouraged the adoption of this, they all strongly perceived that value and development potential. It was
water markets – allowing water to be the process of developing the WSPs further argued that, if ATB was applied,
traded from low value to high value was unfair, confusing and frustrating. the active irrigators could buy water
agriculture. They also acknowledged Changing methods of entitlement from the inactive license holders. In this
CRCIF farewells founding member the CRC IF. Wayne has left to take up Performance. Wayne has also been a key
The Cooperative Research Centre for the inaugural chair of Natural Resources proponent of the innovative Regional
Irrigation Futures (CRC IF) recently Science at the University of Adelaide. Irrigation Business Partnership model.
farewelled Chief Scientist and founding An internationally renowned Wayne was responsible for a
member, Dr Wayne Meyer, who tended irrigation researcher, Wayne played number of major CRC IF publications,
his resignation from CSIRO and thus an indispensable role in the timely including an eye-opening report
establishment of the CRCIF, the first on The Irrigation Industry in the
national grouping of irrigation and Murray and Murrumbidgee Basins
water management researchers in (2005) and A Review of Methods to
Australia. Estimate Irrigated Reference Crop
Wayne can be justly proud of making Evapotranspiration across Australia
a huge contribution to this national (2005). Copies of these reports
collaborative research capacity. are available for downloading at
Highlights of Wayne’s contribution www.irrigationfutures.org.au under
to the CRC include guiding the ‘Publications’.
development of The CRC’s two Everyone in the CRCIF extends their
strong research programs, System very best wishes to Wayne as he takes
Harmonisation through Regional on a new challenge and thank him for
Irrigation Business Partnerships and his significant contribution over the last
Irrigation Toolkits to Improve Enterprise three and half years.
IRRIGATION AUSTRALIA
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2. FEATURE
way they would be able to maintain their they are also influenced by different We suggest that the social side of water
production and compensate the sellers values, attitudes and goals towards non- resource management is important
for lost property value and development economic dimensions such as family, and should not be an afterthought.
potential. land, water, community and lifestyle. When implementing new policies
It is therefore uncertain whether the with sensitive stakeholder groups,
Don’t assume people behave in an expected reallocation would take place stakeholders should be clearly informed
economically rational way under ATB. of the role that they are to play to help
This expectation was, however, based The alternative method, HOE, leaves stop any misunderstanding about their
on the assumption that license holders more of the water with those who responsibilities.
would behave in an economically rational are already using it, and does not rely In addition policy instruments that are
manner, with inactive irrigators selling nearly as much on a market process designed and implemented with a more
their water to maximise their profit. The for redistribution. Consequently, it accurate understanding of landholder
problem with this assumption is that disrupts the production of existing active values and attitudes, and acknowledge
our research indicates that the potential irrigators, and the economic life of the the different motives and influences
sellers are not just motivated by the affected communities, less. Despite their of farmers rather than just making
possibility of making a profit on the sale concerns for equity and fairness, the an assumption of profit maximising
of their water. Apart from a variety of department eventually reverted to the behaviour, are more likely to achieve
farm and production characteristics, use of HOE as their preferred option. policy aims.
Irrigation Research
How much water DO forest plantations use?
T he effect of forest plantations on
water availability has been the
subject of much debate in the last
few years. Now, research is underway
to try and get a better handle on this
improving models to predict plantation
water use, including seasonal variations.
With these model, plantation managers
will be able to explore the relationship
between water use and plantation
almost doubled the total plantation area
in the region, prompting questions about
the effect of this land use change on
water resources.
Dr Benyon is working towards
tricky issue as well as quantify economic growth to make informed decisions developing a method to evaluate this
benefits derived from water. In essence, about future land use and to improve impact on a regional scale. His current
the research aims to quantify and predict efficiency, ensuring catchment water research will determine how accurately
the impacts of plantation water use to balances are not adversely affected. modelling can be used to estimate water
improve efficiency. For the past two years, ENSIS principal use across the region, and to predict
The research is being funded by the research scientist, Dr Richard Benyon, growth and production per unit of water.
Forest and Wood Products Research and has been working in the Green Triangle In other related research, scientists are
Development Corporation (FWPRDC), – an area that stretches from Victoria’s trying to better understand plantation
the Glenelg Hopkins Cavtchment Port Campbell north to Dimboola and water use and its interaction with
Management Authority and ENSIS. west to SA’s Naracoorte – to measure plantation growth, and plan to apply
While water management has always water use at representative plantation the results at the larger catchment scale.
been an important issue for the forestry sites and test and improve models to catchment-scale modelling will include
industry, the drought has added pressure quantify plantation water use. Although the water balance of other land uses.
on it to conserve and maintain water this area has accommodated a radiata * ENSIS is a joint venture between the
resources. pine industry for many years, in the past CSIRO and New Zealand’s Scion.
The focus of the research will be on decade new blue gum plantations have
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