When the Dams Run Dry: A Winter to Remember at G's Lane
Water is something we can sometimes take for granted, especially when we have a couple of dams and multiple water collection points around G's Lane. But this year has been a reminder of just how precious water is and how quickly things can change.
Here at G's Lane, we have two dams that we have previously relied on when our other water collection points have run low or completely out. We have a system where we can pump water from the dams into our IBCs and transport it where it is needed.
We have one dedicated tank for our drinking water, while our remaining tanks are used to keep everything growing. From our Proteas, Finger Limes and Citrus trees to our pumpkins and the many other plants growing in pots, keeping everything watered is a big part of what we do here.
Over the years, we have only needed to rely on the dams twice: once when we ran out of water and another time when fire conditions threatened. We have always known they were an important backup, but Winter 2026 really put our water management plans to the test.
The Winter We Ran Out of Water
Winter 2026 was different.
For the first time, we found ourselves running out of water not just in our tanks, but in one of our dams too. The second dam was so low that there wasn't really enough water to pump out and use.
It was a situation we had never experienced before.
June, July, August and September recorded our lowest rainfall figures to date. With so little rain falling, our usual water supplies weren't replenishing, and we were faced with a difficult decision.
We had plants and trees that needed water, and we couldn't simply let them struggle through the dry conditions.
For the first time, we had to buy water in to keep our plants alive.
Photo 1 shows just how dry things had become, with what was once a dam reduced to little more than a dust bowl.
It was a pretty confronting sight and a real reminder of how much we depend on rainfall.
Making It Work, One IBC at a Time
Thankfully, we were able to access water when we needed it.
Rather than having to organise one huge bulk delivery, we could bring water in as required. With Luke's ute and our IBCs, we had a pretty good system going.
We would organise the water, collect it and transport it back to G's Lane, making sure our trees and plants received what they needed to get through the dry spell.
It wasn't necessarily how we had planned to manage our water, but it worked.
We have always had a bit of a plan in place for what we would do if our water supplies became low. This year was the first time we really had to put that plan into action.
And it certainly made us appreciate having those backup options.
October Finally Brought Some Relief
After months of watching our water supplies dwindle, October finally delivered some much-needed rainfall.
We had some lovely rain throughout the month, followed by a significant downpour towards the end of October. It was exactly what we had been waiting for.
Slowly, our dam has started to fill again, and seeing water return has been incredibly refreshing.
It's amazing how something as simple as watching a dam refill can bring such a sense of relief.
It's Not Just About Us
Having water back in our dams isn't just good news for us and our gardens.
It's also incredibly important for the wildlife that calls G's Lane home.
Our dams provide a valuable water source for the birds and other wildlife that visit and live around the property. During the dry months, having even one dam with some water remaining meant there was still somewhere for them to access a drink.
We are very fortunate to have two dams, and even more fortunate that one of them retained enough water for wildlife when everything else was so dry.
It's a good reminder that our water resources support more than just our household and our plants.
A New Appreciation for Water
This winter has taught us a lot.
We have always known that water management is important, particularly when you are growing trees, maintaining gardens and relying on rainfall to replenish your supplies. But there is a big difference between having a plan and actually needing to use it.
For the first time, we experienced what it was like to have all our usual water sources running dry, and we had to adapt.
We are grateful that we could access water when we needed it, that we had a practical way to transport it, and that October finally brought the rain we had been hoping for.
There is something incredibly refreshing about seeing water back in the dam. Not just for the plants we have worked so hard to grow, but for us and all the wildlife that depends on it too.
Here's hoping the dams continue to fill, the rain keeps coming and we don't have to repeat Winter 2026 anytime soon!
Sometimes you don't realise just how valuable something is until you run out of it. This year, at G's Lane, that something was water.
