Management Target:
Habitat improvement actions implemented on 20% of identified priority areas of stream, floodplain and riparian areas by 2015

Floodplain and Wetlands Structures

To maintain the health of a river and its floodplain, the river needs to occasionally break out of its banks and fill or reconnect billabongs and other wetlands. Inappropriately placed levees, channels, banks, raised roads and other structures on the floodplain can limit the frequency and amount of floodwaters reaching ecologically important and productive wetlands. While preliminary studies have been carried out in key areas of the Barwon-Darling floodplain further work is required to help guide floodplain management planning.

Progress in this area will help contribute to the appropriate modification of key impeding structures to ensure the flow of floods reach important wetlands and floodplains.

Key floodplain and wetlands of the Barwon-Darling, Lower Balonne, Paroo Rivers and Narran and Pinaroo Lakes will be priority areas for this activity.

Riparian Zone Management

Healthy native vegetation, including trees, shrubs, grasses and water plants growing in the rivers and wetlands and on their banks, improve water quality and river health in general, as well as being important biodiversity values in their own right.

Riparian vegetation protects water bodies from pollution travelling overland in run-off and strengthens the river’s banks against erosion. Bugs that eat riparian vegetation are important food for fish. Trunks and branches from riparian vegetation that fall into the river provide important habitat for fish and other animals. Riparian vegetation also provides shade and dappling effect, camouflaging fish from predators.

Riparian zones need to be specifically managed to protect and enhance their values. Therefore, priority riparian areas need to be identified and degraded areas protected and/or repaired.

Protection and Rehabilitation of Fish and Threatened Aquatic Species Habitats

Pest fish species such as carp, redfin (English Perch) and Gambusia (mosquito fish) are already well established in the Western Catchment. Other pests, including Banded Grunter, are likely to have serious impacts on aquatic biodiversity but have not yet established within the Catchment.

Programs to address existing and potential impacts as well as to arrest the spread of pest fish species are important.

This sub-program will identify priority river reaches and implement strategies that improve aquatic habitat. Current information identifies the Barwon-Darling reach from Brewarrina to Bourke as one area for priority work.

Fish Passage

Native fish populations have been impacted by many adverse influences in the Western Catchment. Weirs interrupt the river’s flow, prevent fish from migrating to spawn and create still water habitats more suitable for introduced species such as carp and mosquito fish. There are a significant number of weirs on the Barwon-Darling River.

The WCMA is aware that weirs in the Catchment have been reviewed in terms of their essential use and potential for removal or adjustment under the State Weirs Policy and understands that while there are essential-use situations, opportunities exist to significantly improve the negative impacts of weirs on fish passage. This will be achieved by promoting effective fish passage through obstructions rather than removal of any existing weirs.

Activities that will help achieve this management target include:

• Establishment of alternate stock watering points away from riparian zones
• Fencing off riparian areas to protect riparian vegetation
• Removing / modify structure to encourage floodplain flows
• Establish riparian vegetation through replanting
• Establish fish passage over weir
• Establish a local carp control strategy
• Grazing management control in a local wetland

Priority Areas (but not limited to):

• Barwon-Darling River system
• Intersecting streams (Paroo, Warrego, Culgoa, Birrie, Bokhara & Narran Rivers )
• Lower Bogan River
• Ramsar Wetlands – Narran Lakes Nature Reserve, Lake Pinaroo , Nocoleche Nature Reserve & Peery National Park
• National Directory of Important Wetlands – Paroo Overflow, Salisbury Lake, Lake Nichebulka, Yantabulla Swamp, Willeroo Lake, The Salt Lake, Green Creek Swamp, Talyawalka Anabranch, Teryawinia Creek, Lake Burkanoko, Murphys Lake and Sturt Nation Park Wetlands.