Fish to get an easier passage past Emu Bridge

 

 Work to modify a gauging station at Emu Bridge on the Broken River near Tatong will start next week.

Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (CMA) Manager Strategic River Health Wayne Tennant said a rock ramp would be placed on the downstream side of the gauging station wall to help fish passage along the river.

“The drop over the gauging station, which measures river height and flow, is over half a metre.  This is difficult for the fish to swim over to get to the upstream reaches of Hollands Creek and tributaries,” Mr Tennant said.

 “This project is one of three along the Broken River, which will also see a historic water extraction site at Gouldings Weir slightly modified and a further man-made crossing downstream of Caseys Weir modified to allow fish to move upstream  to areas where they may have if there were no barriers.”

Fish need to move up and down the river freely to access food and shelter, to avoid predators, and to seek out mates and breed.   Barriers to fish passage prevent the migration of native fish species and can have severe implications for these populations. In extreme cases, barriers can result in localised extinction.

Mr Tennant said the three Broken River barriers were identified as part of the Goulburn Broken CMA’s priority barrier review.

“We also worked with the Tatong Angling Club members who recognised that barriers to movement were a key threat to fish in the local region,” he said.  “Their support in the application for funding for the barrier removal projects was critical.”

These works will complement the modification of Caseys Weir, Lake Benalla Weir and Hollands Creek Weir (removed as part of the Lake Mokoan Decommissioning) and facilitate open movement of native fish along a large part of the Broken River / Hollands Creek systems.

The project is being delivered by the Goulburn Broken CMA and is funded through the Fisheries Victoria’s Recreational Fishing License initiative and the Victorian Government’s Healthy Waterways Initiative.

For more information, phone the Goulburn Broken CMA on 5820 1100 or visit www.gbcma.vic.gov.au