Minimum flows and smoothest possible fluctuations in Gunbower Creek height have made for better conditions for native fish to breed, feed and survive, resulting in impressive fish numbers.
“As part of the Native Fish Recovery Plan, we’re working with Goulburn-Murray Water to build fishways at the Cohuna and Koondrook weirs,” NCCMA program delivery executive manager Rachel Murphy said.
“We spent time salvaging and relocating any fish we could find so they didn’t get trapped. And what we found surprised us.”
Thousands of small native fish, about 100 threatened Murray-Darling rainbow fish and about 50 Murray cod of varying sizes were all found in the catchments.
“But the big find was 28 trout cod immediately below Koondrook and Cohuna regulators, a fish that was facing extinction in the late 1980s, and is still critically endangered,” Ms Murphy said.
“We have rarely encountered them in Gunbower Creek and we only have a few records in years of monitoring.”
Ms Murphy said the discovery of the trout cod showed how important the new fishways would be.
“Just like Murray cod, silver perch and golden perch, trout cod need to move to thrive,” she said.
“Giving them the opportunity to do that in the Gunbower Creek, and allowing them to move freely in and out of the Murray, will make a big difference.”
The project is a partnership between Goulburn-Murray Water and the NCCMA, which will oversee construction by Bendigo-based company S&R Engineering and Construction.
The fishway projects are jointly funded by the Victorian Environmental Water Holder through the sale of water for environment, G-MW and the Victorian Government’s $2.7 billion Building Works package to support projects and jobs across the state as part of the coronavirus economic recovery.
The flows are authorised by the Victorian Environmental Water Holder in line with its Seasonal Watering Plan 2020-21, which is available for download from www.vewh.vic.gov.au
Regular watering updates are posted on the NCCMA website at www.nccma.vic.gov.au
Fish monitoring is carried out each year in Gunbower Creek through The Living Murray program, a joint initiative of the NSW, Victorian, South Australian, Australian Capital Territory and the Commonwealth governments, co-ordinated by the Murray Darling Basin Authority.
