A threatened native fish species, an Australian grayling, has been found at the top of the newly constructed fishway in the Buchan River.
The Buchan River rock ramp fishway was built to address the barrier to native fish migration caused by the Buchan River’s potable water supply log weir.
Post-construction fish monitoring was completed last week with the exciting find of an Australian grayling. The fish was found at the top of the fishway, a section of the river that they wouldn’t have been able to get to before the fishway was constructed.
“This is inspiring news and exactly what we were hoping monitoring would prove, that fish can now migrate upstream of the weir, and the fact that a threatened species was found is icing on the cake.” Said Bec Hemming, East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority’s CEO.
Monitoring before construction of the fishway provided a snapshot of native fish populations close to the weir. Seven species of native fish were detected, with fewer upstream than downstream.
The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority worked with East Gippsland Water to construct the fishway designed and built to allow fish to migrate a further 127km along the upper reaches of the Buchan River.
The Buchan Fishway project forms part of a $248 million investment by the Victorian Government to improve the health of waterways and catchments across regional Victoria.
