Hughes Creek, in Northern Victoria, is home to an important population of the nationally endangered Macquarie perch.
The species was once abundant but is now reduced to isolated populations due to habitat degradation, sedimentation and competition from non-native fish species.
To combat these challenges and assist in genetic enrichment programs, the Goulburn Broken Catchment CMA (GB CMA) is leading a project aimed at improving the instream habitat of Hughes Creek to support the resilience of this population and its unique genetic contribution to the recovery of the species.
The Supporting Hughes Creek Macquarie Perch Population Resilience and Recovery project is a three-pronged approach to improving habitat for the endangered species.
It involves the placement of snags into the creek, the installation of stakes to capture small twigs and leaves and the planting of instream vegetation.
The GB CMA’s river health officer Christine Glassford said improving fringing vegetation along streams helped to stabilise sediments, encouraged sand bars to form and enhanced diversity of flow and habitats
“The aquatic vegetation is important shelter for young Macquarie perch as well as small-bodied fish including the threatened Southern Pygmy Perch.
“Increased habitat diversity helps aquatic communities to find resources and suitable refuges as stream flows and temperatures become more extreme with fluctuating weather patterns,” Ms Glassford said.
She said the project was funded by the Victorian Fisheries Authority and supported by volunteers from Native Fish Australia (NFA), who helped with instream plantings.
NFA Victoria president Tim Curmi said NFA members had a strong connection to Hughes Creek and were always keen to be involved in the delivery of works to benefit native fish.
“This work will help improve habitat diversity and flood resilience to benefit Macquarie perch and other native fish,” Mr Curmi said.
The instream planting was designed and will be monitored by specialists from Arthur Rylah Institute.
The second phase of the project is planned for next month and involves the placement of instream wood, using timber donated by Goulburn Valley Water.
Volunteers helping to improve instream habitat in Hughes Creek.