Work is well underway to restore pile fields along the Buchan River destroyed during the Black Summer bushfires.
The pile fields are designed to slow the water during high flow events, preventing bank erosion and assisting in stabilising the riverbed.
Native vegetation will be planted on both sides of the banks, which will, in time, contribute to holding the banks and slowing the flows naturally. The pile fields are designed to do this until the vegetation has matured.
The vegetation’s job isn’t just to hold the banks, amongst other benefits, it also creates a habitat for all things living including insects which are vital to instream critters too.
This project is designed to go towards creating an ecologically diverse and healthy waterway.
The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority recently teamed up with Arthur Rylah Institute on a very chilly day to do some backpack electrofishing surveys in the Genoa River.
Undertaken at a historical site under the Genoa Bridge, the survey looked at the whole fish community, including smaller fish species that live in this river.
The data collected will help us understand how our native fish are recovering since the fires.
The results are encouraging, with nine species detected, including Short and Long-finned Eels, Tupong (Freshwater Flathead), Shortheaded Lamprey, Common Galaxias, Australian Smelt, and three species of gudgeon.
In particular, young Common Galaxiids and Tupong were collected, indicating recent recruitment of these diadromous species (which migrate between freshwater and saltwater).
Are you interested in creating habitat for frogs in your own backyard? Watch this video where Bryce from the EGCMA shows you how.
As well as some underwater home renovations, platypus in the Tambo River have been given a little bit more help with some native vegetation being planted along the riverbanks.
The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA) placed a series of instream wood structures in the Tambo River north of Bruthen. These structures will play an essential role in supporting platypus populations by providing food and shelter.
The Natural Resource Management crew from Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) helped students from Swifts Creek Primary School with some planting along the riverbanks at the site where the instream structures have been placed.
Once this vegetation is established, it will complement the instream structures by providing a whole range of benefits. Some of these benefits include reducing sediment runoff into the river improving water quality, and providing habitat for terrestrial animals, food for aquatic animals, providing shade for the water, which helps control water temperature. As this vegetation matures in the long term, it will also offer natural recruitment of instream habitat as it falls into the water.
“This project is a partnership, and it was great to see the kids and GLaWAC work together to achieve a positive environmental outcome but also to see them having so much fun.” Said acting EGCMA CEO Bec Hemming.
Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI) conducted water bug surveys before any of the work was done and will repeat these surveys in spring to compare any changes in types and density of bugs. This project was funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.
We promised the platypus in the Tambo River some home renovations, and we’ve delivered on our pledge!
The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA) have placed a series of wood structures in two locations north of Bruthen that will play essential roles in supporting platypus populations. The wood structures will become home to aquatic plants to grow on, water bugs to live on and also provide food for platypus and give platypus shelter.
The 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires have affected the Tambo catchment, with increased instream sediment entering the river following rain events. Sadly, this is a big concern for the already vulnerable platypus populations, affecting their habitat and food source.
“This project is a partnership with many activities and on-ground works that will improve the environment at these sites.” Said acting EGCMA CEO, Bec Hemming.
Project partner Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI) conducted water bug surveys before the structures were installed and will repeat these surveys in spring to compare any changes in types and density of bugs.
The Natural Resource Management crew from Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC) will be doing weed control and planting a variety of native species along the riverbank. This vegetation, once established, will complement the instream structures by providing different habitats for bug species, shade for the water and will help reduce sediment runoff into the river.
The local Swifts Creek Primary and Secondary College students and the Swifts Creek Landcare group will also contribute to this project with planting, signage and assisting ARI with further surveys.
Platypus was listed under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 as vulnerable in Victoria in 2021, in recognition of its decline in the last 30 years. The species is threatened by a range of human activities, primarily related to changes in land use and water condition.
We are grateful to all project partners for getting this work done and contributing to improving the Tambo River and platypus habitat. This project was funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.
Another 50 fish habitat structures have been installed in the Snowy River.
In partnership with the Marlo Angling Club and through funding from the Australian Government’s Fisheries Habitat Restoration Program, the 50 large wood structures have been installed in the estuarine reaches of the Snowy River.
Installing these structures is part of an ongoing fish habitat project in the Snowy River and will complement previous work. The purpose-built fish habitat structures will benefit key recreational fish species by providing shelter and food sources.
“This project is a joint effort, and we value the contribution by the Marlo Angling Club in getting work like this done and helping us plan for future projects and future generations of fish and anglers,” said Bec Hemming, A/CEO of the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA)
A representative from the Federal Government visited East Gippsland last week to see the fish habitat project site and talk through the process of the on-ground work. “It is great to have investors inspect the projects they have funded, and even better when they see what an important and worthwhile investment it is.” Said Bec.
As well as the wood structures, one kilometre of the river’s banks will be protected from erosion with rock. The project will also include a trial of establishing seagrass. This seagrass habitat plays a vital role as fish nurseries.
Over the last ten years, dozens of fish habitat structures have been introduced into the Snowy Estuary. These structures, along with stocking around 600,000 Bass fingerlings, has helped native fish species thrive. Recreational angling projects on the Snowy River are a partnership with many agencies and community groups contributing, including the Marlo Angling Club, Arthur Rylah Institute, the Victorian Fisheries Authority and the EGCMA.
Plenty of froggy fun was had in the Far East last weekend, with people getting up close and personal with various frog species.
The East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA) hosted the Frogs of the Far East community event, inviting Blacksnake Productions to showcase their private collection of frogs.
With frog displays and talks at Mallacoota, Genoa and Cann River, people got to see the frogs and learn all about how and where they live. People were also
shown how they can create a suitable habitat and “frog motels” in their backyards to give frogs a frog friendly environment and safe place to live.
Many people attending the event were already lucky enough to have various species of frogs living in their backyards and around their properties, with lots of comments about how loud they can be at night!
With their new frog knowledge, people were encouraged to head out into their backyard to help track frog recovery following the bushfires. By downloading the iNaturalist project “Frogs of the Far East” and tracking all frog findings, people can easily contribute to studies that will help scientists and environmental agencies track and assist these species long term.
“We have already seen the number of observations in our iNaturalist project increase since the weekend’s events which is a great sign people are downloading the app and contributing to this citizen science project.” Bec Hemming, acting EGCMA CEO, said.
This event was made possible with bushfire recovery funding from the Victorian Government.
Stabilisation works on a section of the Mitchell River have been completed at Woodglen.
Local landholder Malcolm Cox, whose property is under a landholder agreement with the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA), had an issue of erosion on a section of the riverbank following a moderate flood event in 2021.
Approximately 170 metres of the river frontage received stabilisation work. The method included building a track on the bank’s slope with the angle of the bank reduced to lower the risk of erosion. Rock was placed on the bank to form the stabilisation.
“There were a few times the river came up after heavy rainfall whilst the work was being carried out, but I’m pleased to see the finished product and very happy to work with the EGCMA,” said Malcolm.
EGCMA’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Bec Hemming said, “landholder agreements are crucial in gaining a mutually beneficial outcome in river health, and we are thrilled to work with Malcolm on his property.” Agreements include supporting landholders to exclude stock from river frontages, weed control and planting of native vegetation.
Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation’s (GLaWAC) NRM Team will complement the stabilisation work with the planting of native vegetation. The vegetation, once established, will provide further stability to the riverbanks.
This work was completed using funds received from the Victorian Government for waterway health programs.
Mallacoota community members enjoyed tours along the Wallagaraugh River last weekend aboard the Gipsy Princess with the East Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (EGCMA).
Graeme Dear and Bryce Parker-Watts from the EGCMA talked about river health projects undertaken in the area as well as bushfire recovery, including water quality monitoring.
Bec Hemming, EGCMA Acting CEO, said, “It was a fantastic couple of days out on the water with EGCMA staff spending time with community members and talking about our rivers. No better way to do this than on the beautiful Wallagaraugh River.”
Although the weather went from wild and wet to sunny and humid, the one constant thing was the passion and enthusiasm from community members to explore the Wallagaraugh River by boat.
Azure Kingfishers and Gippsland Water Dragons made an appearance adding to the experience of the tours. As well as many unique flora and fauna species sighted, participants enjoyed interesting conversations with some people having a long history of river knowledge to newer and younger community members passionate about learning more.
The EGCMA will be hosting more of these boat tours in the future as it is the perfect opportunity for the community and staff to learn from each other.
More fish habitat structures will be placed in the estuarine reaches of the Snowy and Brodribb Rivers over the next 3 years.
The East Gippsland Management Authority (EGCMA) is working in partnership with the Marlo Angling Club, through funding from the Australian Government’s Fisheries Habitat Restoration Program. This project will focus on increasing instream habitat for key recreational fish species in the estuarine reaches with the installation of 50 large wood snags.
As well as the placement of snags, 1km of the river’s banks will be protected from erosion with rock.
Another important part of this project will include a trial of establishing 0.5ha of seagrass, a habitat that plays a vital role as fish nurseries.
Over the last 10 years dozens of fish habitat structures and/or logs have been introduced into the estuary. This along with around 600,000 Bass fingerlings has helped native fish species recover. This previous work has been a joint effort between many agencies and community groups including the EGCMA, the Arthur Rylan Institute (ARI), Victorian Fisheries Authority and the Marlo Angling club.
Graeme Dear, EGCMA CEO said, “The benefits of introducing fish habitat and stocking iconic Australian fish species into East Gippsland’s rivers is showing positive results.”
Recent fish surveys completed by the EGCMA with ARI in this area proved that fish species are recovering with many healthy fish, including Bass, gathering to spawn in the Snowy.
