Understanding Farmer Monitoring of a ‘Sustainability Indicator’: Depth to Saline Groundwater in Western Australia

Abstract

Dryland salinity is a serious resource conservation problem in Western Australia. A number of projects are in progress to provide more comprehensive information about the location and extent of potential saline areas in the landscape. Associated with some of these projects, a large number of bores have been installed or are being installed throughout the agricultural area to provide information on depth to groundwater. This information helps to forecast the rate and extent of salinisation of soils and to assess impacts of current treatments. However, many farmers choose not to install bores, or having installed them, do not continue to monitor them. Using data from the Jerramungup Land Conservation District (LCD) we explore factors influencing the behaviour of farmers in choosing whether or not to monitor their existing bores. In 1989, 110 bores were sunk in seven catchments in the district. Monitoring was initially exceptionally high, with 96% of bores observed in 1990, but then fell steadily to 44% by 1997. Our statistical analysis indicates that the probability that a bore will be monitored decreases with time and is influenced by the current depth to groundwater, the amount of salt stored in the soil and the farm location. As well as these physical factors, we explore some of the sociological and economic factors which influence bore monitoring behaviour. Monitoring is more likely to continue when farmers are clearly able to link the collected information with land management practices, such that the information collected is of potential economic value.