rain and dams. seeking advice - a broad rambling search for information

[d_donahoo]

hey all.

11 april 2003. has been pouring rain in Central Victoria for most of the night. a most pleasant experience, one that i'd almost forgotten.

anyway - now that large dam i've been thinking about.

i'm interested in permaculture articles on dams...how an integrated watering system using swales, dams, appropriately placed header tanks etc.. can work.

anyone know of any good sources?

other questions:
what size dam is suitable for what type of aquaculture?

any recommendations for beneficial water plants in cool temperate climates?

does this rain mean that the women who did the rain dance in ouyen were actually successful?

mmmm. wet ground smells good.

dan

[Jeff Nugent]

I know what you mean by the sweet smell of rain Dan. It's raining here as well. Some swales even have some water in them.
I've never seen a book on swales and dams. "Water for every Farm" is probably the closest thing but does not deal with swales.
Aquaculture ponds are not really dams, they are usually fairly shallow and kept topped up with storage dams.
Over your way the Murray Cod is probably a good fish for a big dam.

[twiggy]

Earth Ponds The Country Pond Maker's Guide to Building, Maintenence & Restoration by Tim Matson published by The Countryman Press PO Box 748 Woodstock VT 05091 USA
ISBN 0-88150-155-7
Don't know how available this title would be in Australia but it is a lovely little book. Written in a lyrical prose style. Not written from a strictly permaculture perspective, but probably useful to someone who is looking at water in this way...
There are a couple of Australian books on the subject I think,
isn't one called "Building Small Earth Dams"? or something similar? I think it was disttributed by the Permaculture International Journal and it is probably available in libraries.

[d_donahoo]

ta.

love good book suggestions.

thinking i might have to start up a website to document our properties ongoing development.

we'll see..will let you know if it happens

cheers

dan