Native fish species in the Broken
River are set to flourish
following the installation of a fishway at Casey’s Weir.
Research has shown that native fish including Murray Cod and Golden
Perch are using the fishway allowing them to continue their upstream journey.
Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority river health strategic
manager Wayne Tennant said migrating upstream was a key component of a fish’s
lifecycle.
“Migration is essential for many native fish for breeding,”
Mr Tennant said. “Movement allows native
fish to return to their traditional breeding grounds.”
The Golden Perch has been known to travel more than 1000km to spawn.
Before the fishway was built, studies showed Casey’s Weir created a barrier
for fish with large numbers of fish congregating below the structure.
“The fishway will ensure that native fish stocks
survive and breed both upstream and downstream of the structure,” Mr Tennant
said.
“The research
shows that the fishway is performing and that native fish are able to move
further into their natural migrational range.”
The fishway is an open
concrete chute with a number of vertical slots placed at regular intervals. It
is about 80m long, ranging in depth from 1.6m to 2.6m and comprising 23 cells.
Each of the fishway cells
provides an area where native fish can rest between short bursts through the
slots as they “climb” the ladder. They swim onwards and upwards into another
pool and finally into the weir.
Casey’s Weir was built in 1884 to divert water for stock and domestic
supply from Lake Nihlacootie,
down the Broken River.
Arthur Rylah Institute carried out the recent research for the Goulburn
Broken Catchment Management Authority. A fishtrap was inserted into the fishway
which found several native species were using it successfully. More research
will be carried out in the coming months.
The fishway was funded by the Victorian Government through the GBCMA.
Goulburn-Murray Water undertook the construction works in conjunction with
environmental consultants Sinclair Knight Merz.
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