1.1. Purpose and Context
This project is focused on the management of dryland salinity, its manifestations and socioeconomic effects in South-Eastern Australia (New South Wales), North-eastern Thailand (Lam Pao, Kalasin and Khorat [Nakorn Ratchasima]) and Lao PDR (Vientiane and Savannakhet). It was developed in response to the review of ACIAR project LWR1/92/22 and FST/93/16 in consultation with collaborators in Thailand, Lao PDR and Australia.

1.2. Collaboration
Commissioned Organisation: National Centre for Groundwater Management, University of Technology, Sydney (NCGM)
Collaboration in Australia: Hall Resource Economic Modelling, Canberra (HREM)
Collaboration in Thailand: Land Development Department (LDD), Royal Forest Department (RFD), Khon Kaen University, Faculty of Technology, Humanities and Social Science (KKU)
Collaboration in Lao PDR: Department of Irrigation (DOI), National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI)

1.3. Expected Results, Importance and Value (Key Achievements)

After a delayed start the project is well under way with continuing data collection established in all three countries. A summary of the key achievements follows for each of the project countries.

Australia
Important links have been made with regional DLWC staff. Through this cooperation the Little River- Buckinbah creek catchment was selected as a research area. Further stakeholder meetings resulted in the identification of several study sites with known salinity problems and different management approaches.
Numerous environmental monitoring stations have been installed including groundwater, climate, and tree water use. There has been an ongoing program of data collection and analysis with four Masters projects completed on various salinity issues.
Regional socio-economic data has been collected by HREM in preparation for the Spatial Optimisation Model for Analysing Catchment Management (SMAC). There has also been on going discussions with Dr Romy Greiner (CSIRO) regarding the optimisation of the SMAC model and calibration for application in Thailand.

Lao PDR
Strong links have been forged with the Department of Irrigation (DOI) and Muang Champone in the province of Savannahket was confirmed as the Research area. A GIS database has been established with the DOI and a catchment boundary has been defined as a focus for hydrogeological studies. Local DOI staff have been appointed to the project and a preliminary survey of shallow village bores was carried out to assess groundwater quality and level. This has been combined with geological data collected from Hec 1 and Phu Doi Geo consulting companies to develop a 2 stage drilling program and environmental monitoring strategy.

Thailand
Previous relationships with collaborating institutions have been strengthened and two catchments have been selected in Khorat and Mahasarakham provinces. Numerous team meeting have been held to introduce the SMAC model. New personal have been introduced to the team to accommodate the specialist modelling needs and have been working closely with HREM to develop a model appropriate to the Thai environment (ThaiSMAC). Preliminary village surveys have been conducted to collect the socio-economic data required by ThaiSMAC. Concurrently local staff have been trained to use monitoring equipment and several automated logging stations have been installed collect groundwater, sapflow, and climate data.

1.4. Directions for Future Research

All directions for future research are outlined in detail in the flow chart contained in Section 3.2 A summary of the major directions are outlined below.

Australia
In Australia tree water use and related environmental data will continue to be collected for comparison with research results from Thailand. This data will also facilitate the development of an Agroforestry unit within the SMAC model. The final collation of data will provide input for the SMAC model and thus an economic assessment dryland salinity management in the upper Macquarie Valley

Lao PDR
The drilling and installation of groundwater monitoring stations is continuing and is due for completion in mid 2002. The drilling program will provide valuable geological samples for analysis and comparison with Thai geology allowing a wider regional understanding of underlying geological influences. Those results combined with the ongoing collection of climate, water level and water quality data will allow the development of hydrogeological models for the region and thus a scientific understanding of salinity related processes. These models can then be utilised to assess the potential impact on salinity from regional development including land use changes, and major irrigation developments (reservoirs). It may then be possible to extend this knowledge along the remainder of the Mekong plain. Finally it is foreseen that the increased awareness of salinity issues among local managers will enable improved land management in an area with the potential to avoid salinity development. Given the importance of enhancing local knowledge planning is also underway for an education workshop to increase managers understanding of salinity, this would involve taking local Lao staff to Thailand where they can witness the impacts of salinity and view LDD management approaches and techniques.

Thailand
The project team is will established and joint socio-economic surveys to be conducted by LDD and KKU are planned for later in 2002. Final data results will provide the input for the ThaiSMAC model which is undergoing customisation for the Thai environment and strong seasonality. Following initial results there are plans to develop the model further resulting in a decision making tool suitable for various levels of government including local institutions resulting from decentralisation. Tree water use measurements will be complemented by student projects on grass water use, given the large areas of grasslands in the area.

This project is focused on the management of dryland salinity, its manifestations and socioeconomic effects in South-Eastern Australia (New South Wales), North-Eastern Thailand and Lao PDR.

Expected Results, Importance and Value

Strong relations formed between research teams has resulted in a highly productive second year. Fieldwork and data collection have been carried out with staff now focussing on analysing data and calibrating models.

In Australia the SMAC model was developed for the Liverpool Plains with a focus on farm practices and water management. The forestry focus was on trees planted for environmental reasons rather than for forestry. Tree water use measurements have also been made on a number of species in rural NSW and results will be used in the Thai-Australian database. SMAC has been updated and forestry activities included for the Liverpool Plains.

In Lao PDR a drilling program was conducted early in the year with a system of piezometers installed for monitoring purposes. Data loggers were installed to record water level fluctuations whilst water and soil samples were sent for analysis in Vientiane. This information is being used to develop a conceptual model of the relationship between groundwater and the development of salinity.

Significant progress has been made towards increasing the awareness of salinity after a number of Lao PDR government officials attended the ACIAR Salinity Awareness Workshop held in Khon Khon November 6-9, 2002. Links have also been established with the National University of Lao, and a Norwegian Hydrogeology project to share information and involve local students in the research process.

In Thailand after transferring equipment and training staff tree water use measurements have continued and will provide valuable input to the Thai-Australian database.
Socio-economic and cultural surveys have been conducted in rural communities within the study catchments. The resulting combination of qualitative and quantitative data is being used for input into the SMAC model. Customisation work has continued on the ThaiSMAC model with applications to Ban Dong Bang and Khorat.

(01/01/2003-31/12/2003)
The Savannakhet monitoring program continued, with loggers recording daily groundwater levels in project piezometers. Seasonal water samples were collected. Temperature, pH, EC, and Salinity were recorded in the field before ion analysis in the Vientiane Lab. The water level and quality data is now under analysis.
Geological records have been collected from the Phou Doi water supply project in Xeno, and Phailom drilling. These records were combined and entered into 'Rockworks' software for modelling as a 3D geological model.
Conductivity values were computed from soil samples obtained during piezometer drilling. Meteorological data was collected from Savannakhet, Kengkok, Xeno and surrounding villages, including daily rainfall, evaporation, and humidity information. Flood height records were collected for 2001-03, along with river discharge for the three major tributaries in the study area. Construction records were obtained for irrigation reservoirs in the area, including proposed sizes and completion.
Analysis of all available hydrogeological data has been done and a hydrogeological database for the study area for 2001-03 established. Geological cross-sections and fence diagrams and seasonal groundwater contour maps have been developed along with a hydrogeological conceptual model (flow and salinity mobilisation).
Tree clearing and plantation records were obtained from the Lao Forestry Department. An analysis of a GIS database, allowed preparation of maps to identify salinity risk areas. GIS maps for the Mekong plain including: geology, land use/forest cover, irrigation infrastructure (existing and proposed), and soil classification are available along with a salinity risk areas map-based on GIS data.
An artesian bore at Ban Bu Rawai was capped to halt discharging saline water. Socio economic surveys in Khorat and Kalasin were completed, with data summarised into modelling units and transferred to HREM for modelling.
A Spatial optimisation Model for Analysing Catchment Management (SMAC) model adaptation for Thailand was completed, with a new model named Isaan Catchment Hydrological and Agricultural Model established. Hydrogeological models using Visual MODFLOW have been built for the study areas.
Tree water use (TWU) measurements were completed on eucalypt, acacia ampliceps, and neem trees. The TWU data collated from the project's duration was converted into Excel spreadsheets in preparation for the final project database. Statistical analysis of Thai TWU data similar to Australian was data carried out in 2001-02. A SMAC model was adapted to the Upper Macquarie Valley and developed to include an agroforestry component.

Activities
Sub-Project 1
Groundwater modelling in the Champhone catchment to assess the scale of flow systems, interaction with salt sources and potential impact of agriculture and irrigation expansion.
Isotope analysis of ground, surface and meteorological water samples from the Champhone district to assist in determining the age and origin of groundwater systems interacting with the salt sources in Lao PDR. These results are being used to calibrate and strengthen groundwater models for the area.
Continued development of the hydrogeological database to verify conceptual flow models.
Presentations and awareness workshops for government staff and departments concerned for salinity and irrigation.
Education programs for village farmers working in saline risk areas.

Sub-Project 2
Utilisation of groundwater modelling results in conjunction with existing GIS databases to assess the impact of irrigation development in Savannakhet province and more widely in Vientiane Province.
Further training for project staff on data management and analysis methods, ensuring familiarity with project techniques carried out by fellow researchers.

Sub-Project 3
Final calibration of the groundwater modules for preparation and input into ICHAM.
Application of all project data for ICHAM modelling runs.
ICHAM calibration and verification.
Analysis and reporting of ICHAM results, identifying the cost of salinity and options for managing salinity.

Sub-Project 4
Statistical analysis of tree and grass water use measurement results of salt tolerant species in Thailand and Australia.
Database collation and finalisation for future reference and presentation.
Continued tree water use monitoring, Sap Flow Installation in Eucalyptus plantation on the recharge area at FAO research site in Kham Taleso, combined with piezometer monitoring in the discharge area.

Sub-Project 5
Data base management and finalisation.
Reporting and writing based on final modelling results.
Community and institutional meetings to disseminate research and modelling results.

Results
Sub-Project 1
Hydrogeological database for study area 2001-2004.
3D geological model (constructed in Rockworks 02).
Geological X-sections and fence diagrams.
Updated seasonal groundwater contour maps.
Validated hydrogeological conceptual model (flow and salinity mobilisation).
Updated numerical groundwater flow model for Champhone district, Savannakhet province.
Isotope studies describing the age and origin of groundwater interacting with salt sources.
Massive increase in local awareness of salinity management issues amongst local stakeholders.
Successful transfer of salinity research methods including monitoring and remediation techniques.

Sub-Project 2
GIS maps for the Mekong plain including: geology, land use/forest cover, irrigation infrastructure (existing and proposed), and soil classification.
Salinity risk areas map- based on GIS data.
Report outlining the potential for salinity and the processes driving the problem, including sources of salinity and methods of mobilisation.

Sub-Project 3
Isaan Catchment Hydrological and Agricultural Model (ICHAM) updated and completed for study areas in Khorat and Kalasin provinces.
ICHAM runs for different land use and socio-economic scenarios.
Baseline report including modelling results outlining the cost of salinity. Assessments of the economic cost of salinity and potential management cost for reducing and or eliminating the problem.

Sub-Project 4
Reports including statistical analysis of tree water use measurements in Thailand and Australia, including formulae for predicting water use from meteorological data and new assessments of salt tolerant grass species.

Sub-Project 5
SMAC modelling runs performed to assess a number of land use and management scenarios including the newly added agroforestry component for the Liverpool Plains, NSW.
Report containing a review of developments in the way in which models deal with the issue of investment in dryland salinity management. In particular, with advances since the development of the SMAC model as part of the Liverpool Plains Integrated Modelling project under the National Dryland Salinity Program. The report also discusses issues surrounding the use of trees, either in the form of plantations, or as trees on farms or agroforestry.