Farm Dam Construction
Licensing of Dams
A range of requirements exist for farm dams depending on the nature and size of the dam. This page outlines these requirements - including formal licensing, planning permits, DSE approvals, and notification of non-licensed dams.
Protecting Fish Passage & Aquatic Habitat
Constructing dams, weirs and erosion control structures in or across watercourses can potentially interfere with the movement of fish along waterways and the quality of the aquatic habitat. However, aquatic habitat and fish passage are protected by a number of Victorian legislative Acts.
Dam Safety Surveillance & Maintenance
Many farm dams suffer from age, lack of maintenance and outdated design standards. Partial or total failure of a dam may cause extensive damage to downstream properties, for which you, the owner, are likely to be held liable. Common law liability, expensive repair costs and lost income are other potential costs.
Many farm dams fail through lack of maintenance so a definite maintenance plan will protect the life of your storage. This page summarises Your Dam: an Asset or a Liability, a comprehensive illustrated summary of the causes, consequences and remedies for many dam maintenance problems.
| Victoria has an estimated 170,000 farm dams of all sizes and shapes. Constructing a farm dam represents a substantial investment - it's not just a matter of putting a wall across a gully or waterway. |  Farm dam, near Moe, Gippsland Photo: Barry Lewis |
 Regularly monitoring your dam and its surroundings will enable timely maintenance of potentially unsafe trends. | Source: B. Lewis, Your Dam - an Asset or a Liability, Dept. Conservation & Natural Resources, Melbourne, 1992. Available from DPI Information Centre or DPI Library Services |
Further Information
This page lists a range of publications and Landcare Notes to assist you in planning and maintaining a farm dam.
© The State of Victoria, 1996 - 2009.
This document was last reviewed on 18/08/2009