Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
Key
site specific
region wide
Improving Darling and Murray river health
Low flow at the Darling River, Weir 32
Burtundy Weir and its upstream pool on the Darling
Checking the weir structure
It's hard enough swimming upstream but when a fish has the added hurdle of belonging to an endangered ecological community - like the Lower Murray River - life gets even tougher.
So the Lower Murray Darling Catchment Management Authority threw the Murray Cod a lifeline through a project examining the aquatic health of the area.
The project involved a feasibility study into improving fish passage on the Darling River, research into priority fish habitats, and a baseline assessment of fish species.
Funding
These were supported with $98,000 through the Australian Government and contributions from the State Government.
On-ground work building on the results of the studies is now underway with funding of $1.5 million over three years from the Australian and State Governments.
Activities
Manager Lesley Palmer said the aim was to restore stream banks along the Darling and Murray Rivers, to progress threatened aquatic species recovery plans and to monitor the Lower Murray Darling system to determine the ratio of native to introduced fish.
"The aquatic ecological community in the Darling River's lowland catchment is endangered," Lesley said. "It's home to the endangered Trout Cod, vulnerable species such as the Silver Perch, Macquarie Perch and Southern Pygmy Perch and endangered populations of Purple Spotted Gudgeon and Olive Perchlet."
A fish passage is under construction at Burtundy Weir to improve habitat along a 234 kilometre-reach of the Lower Darling River between Wentworth and Burtundy Weir.
A vertical slot fishway was designed to allow fish to migrate to complete essential lifecycle processes such as spawning.
"A habitat management plan has also been developed to improve the quality of river snags and plants between Lelma and Burtundy," Lesley said. "This will help determine work needed, such as fencing to control stock access, replanting and weed removal to help the aquatic ecological community to recover."
In an effort to raise community awareness consultation was undertaken with landholders near Burtundy Weir to keep them informed of the project's progress. The Barkindji Elders Council was also consulted on cultural issues and schools, anglers and local government were kept informed through media and newsletters.
More information
- Lesley Palmer, Manager: (03) 5021 9460.
See also
Key
Links to another web site
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