Meeting: Fish Ladders in the Barwon and Moorabool Catchments

Wayne McLaren, Senior Project Officer, CCMA to speak on Fish Ladders in the Barwon and Moorabool Catchments.

The Barwon and Moorabool rivers support a rich diversity of native fish and other aquatic life. For many native fish species, the ability to move freely throughout the river system is essential for feeding, breeding and completing their life cycle. Some species, known as diadromous fish, rely on movement between freshwater and saltwater environments to survive and reproduce.

Over time, the construction of weirs, dams and other in-stream structures has disrupted these natural migration pathways. These barriers can prevent fish from reaching important habitats for feeding, shelter and spawning, placing pressure on fish populations and affecting the health of the broader river ecosystem. In some locations, natural rocky barriers can also restrict fish movement.

To help address these challenges, Corangamite Catchment Management Authority (CMA) has secured $1.67 million in funding to improve fish passage along the lower Barwon and Moorabool rivers. The project will support the planning and construction of fishways that enable fish to move more freely throughout the river system and bypass barriers such as weirs and artificial rock-ramp structures.

Visitors are welcome.

Featured image: Photo by Peter Roupas, Nankeen Night Heron Nycticorax caledonicus, Buckley Falls Park, ML269677831