Mosaic Map: NRM funded projects
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Restoring the Murrumbidgee
The Murrumbidgee River is well on the way to becoming a lot healthier thanks to recent restoration work by the Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority (CMA).
Murrumbidgee CMA Catchment Coordinator, Michael Dunn, said many people think because things have always been done a certain way, that's the way they'll stay. But fresh ideas are needed to solve some of the old erosion problems.
"When the Murrumbidgee was originally settled much of the land was cleared and people farmed right up to the edge of the river,” he said. “This clearing accelerated erosion and deterioration of the banks.”
Structures like major dams, road and railway crossings and flood levees plus increased run-off from urban areas have all affected the flow of the river.
The Murrumbidgee CMA is now working to reducing the amount of sediment in the river and in turn, improve water quality.
Funding
The Australian and State Governments have provided $1.1 million to the Murrumbidgee CMA for this project.
Murrumbidgee CMA has also worked with CSIRO to determine high priority areas for repair. Company Earth Tech was contracted to perform major restorative work on the mid and upper part of the Murrumbidgee River.
Activities
The two key aspects of the project are protection and restoration.
Protection involves maintaining and improving existing remnant vegetation along riparian areas.
“The Murrumbidgee CMA is working with landholders to ensure existing vegetation is managed well,” Michael said. “Stock access has to be managed in some areas to allow for plant growth, so alternative watering sources are developed.”
Restoration involves similar activities, but it also involves major structural works such as securing gabions (a galvanised wire box filled with stones) to protect the stream bank from further erosion.
Willow removal is also part of the project and has taken at Yanco Creek, near Narrandera.
The public has helped the CMA identify locations where work is needed.
"We have been targeting areas in Bredbo, Queanbeyan, Jugiong and the main channel downstream from the Burrinjuck Dam through advertising campaigns,” Michael said. “Landholders with stream bank erosion problems contact either the Murrumbidgee CMA or Earth Tech for advice or to arrange a site inspection."
More information
- Michael Dunn, Murrumbidgee Catchment Management Authority: (02) 6932 3255 or michael.dunn@cma.nsw.gov.au
- Murrumbidgee CMA
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