Increase your working knowledge of passive water harvesting, erosion control and stream restoration practices with this three-day, intensive, hands-on workshop. Applied Watershed Restoration is designed for landowners and land managers, as well as practitioners, farmers, restorationists and advanced students of Permaculture. Craig Sponholtz is a world-leading expert in watershed restoration using techniques that harness natural hydrology to self-repair riparian zones and watersheds. |
|
|
Thes techniques emphasize working with, rather than against, nature and will establish the foundational knowledge needed to work effectively with our most precious resource, water. Acquire the critical skills needed to recognize the root-causes of watershed problems and identify the best opportunities to make improvements.
Learn how to read the landscape, assess, design, plan and implement projects that utilize runoff as a resource. In addition, gain exposure to cutting-edge watershed restoration methods including natural channel design, induced meandering and agro-ecological restoration.
|
|
This course will cover:
- Watershed patterns and processes
- Introduction to watershed restoration methodologies
- Passive water harvesting
- Restoration treatments and structures
- Watershed restoration practicum
See below for full outline...
|
 |
So if you're a land manager, land owner, or someone curious and passionate about restoring precious water soil to the landscapes of your farm or community, please join us for 3 days of unique and incredibly important knowledge that will help you heal your land... This tour is Craig Spoonholtz's first visit to Australia to share these cutting edge and very effective techniques that put watershed restoration back into the hands of those who live on the land...
|
|
"Craig Sponholtz's Applied Watershed Restoration courses are a must. I was very impressed with the thoroughness, hands-on learning, and Craig's deep knowledge - based on years of real-life experiences. The strategies taught are simple and effective. They build on natural patterns so you work with natural processes not against them.
This way nature does the bulk of the work once the structures are in place. I highly recommend these courses for anyone working with the land and water..."
Brad Lancaster, author of Rainwater Harvesting for Drylands and Beyond
Some resources to get you thinking:
This course is part of RegenAG's 2012 program. RegenAG is an alliance of Australian farming families who are committed to helping regenerate Australia's farms, soils, communities and on-farm livelihoods. For more courses like this across Australia, go to RegenAG.com
About FarmReady funding:
This course is FarmReady approved. Eligible farmers, primary producers, land managers and their families may be eligible for a 65% reimbursement of course costs, and possibly also travel and accommodation costs. Go to our FarmReady page for more information. The FarmReady course code for this course is: FRTC 1100
About this course:
This course will be held on-farm at Milkwood Farm. We will use a combination of our woolshed classroom and field time for teaching this workshop. Bring good solid boots, work clothes and expect to get dirty and wet, as well as knowledgeable, during this course.
The weather at Milkwood in mid Autumn is often brisk but sparkling. We will warm you up with amazing hearty stews and hot chocolate if need be. This course will proceed regardless of the weather, so come prepared. A full outline of what to expect and bring will be supplied on booking.
About the teacher:
Craig Sponholtz is internationally respected for his innovative work with numerous stream and wetland restoration methods, as well as his extensive hands-on experience in designing and constructing passive water harvesting, erosion control and stream restoration projects.
Craig founded
Dryland Solutions, Inc. in 2003 and continues to design and implement watershed restoration projects throughout North America. He specializes in low impact techniques and in-stream structures. Craig teaches watershed restoration techniques internationally and strives to foster beneficial relationships between people and the watersheds they live in.
Craig is a member of the much respected
Quivira Coalition, alongside Bill Zeedyk. Quivira do world-leading work in watershed restoration and landscape function.
Included in your course fee:
You will receive extensive handouts and digital resources as part of your course, exclusive in Australia to participants of this RegenAG tour.
Your course fee includes morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea with organic, hearty country cooking, each day of your course. For a small additional fee you can camp at Milkwood Farm for the duration of your course, and this option includes breakfast and dinner each night. See our Staying at Milkwood page for full info on accommodation and facilities.
Mates rates: we know that you're more likely to succeed in changing the world with a like-minded crew. To enable this, we can arrange a 15% discount off full price for group bookings of 2 or more for this course. Please get in touch for details.
As part of our Fair Share policy, we provide pensioner, couples and unwaged discounts where needed. Please get in touch for more information.
Applied Watershed Restoration Curriculum Outline:
Craig Sponholtz, Dryland Solutions, Inc.
Watershed Patterns and Processes
I. Reading Watershed Patterns and Processes
II. Forms of Runoff and Sediment Transport
III. Erosion Processes and Deposition Dynamics
IV. Disturbance Regimes and Regenerative Cycles
V. Watershed Health, Degradation and Desertification
VI. Landscape Evolution and Ecological Change
Introduction to Watershed Restoration Methodologies
I. Restoration Philosophy
II. Watershed Restoration Principles and Priorities
III. Natural Channel Design, Induced Meandering and Other Methods
IV. Agro-Ecological Restoration
V. Watershed-Scale vs. Reach-Scale Applications
VI. Restoration Site Selection Criteria
Landscape-Scale Passive Water Harvesting
I. Source and Sink Relationships
II. Natural Passive Water Harvesting Features
III. Traditional Runoff Farming
IV. Water harvesting Earthworks
Restoration Treatments and Structures
I. Land Management Improvements
II. Sheet Erosion Treatments
III. Rill and Gully Erosion Treatments
IV. Headcut Treatments
V. Channel Pattern Adjustments
VI. Floodplain Access and Expansion
VII. Restoration Project Case Studies
Watershed Restoration Practicum
I. Site Assessment and Survey Skills
II. Restoration Project Design
III. Project Planning and Logistics
IV. Site Layout
Hands-on Construction of Structures 
