Community Planting Day set to revitalise fish habitat in Horden’s Lagoon
A new crop of native trees and plants are set to breathe new life into the banks of Horden’s Lagoon at Wirlinga as Woolshed Thurgoona Landcare Group and OzFish Unlimited prepare for an upcoming community planting day on Sunday August 22nd.
Volunteers will meet at Horden’s Lagoon, Riverina Highway, Wirlinga at 9.30am and get their hands dirty planting native vegetation over three hours out on the field.
The restoration will help stabilise banks, preventing erosion while also providing valuable habitat of aquatic wildlife and birdlife.
Braeden Lampard, OzFish Project Manager for the Murray-Darling Basin says, “it’ll be muddy and dirty work due to the recent rain but loads of fun for young and old”.
“By planting native grasses and shrubs in the catchment, we are ensuring our native fish have a better chance to flourish and thrive”, says Braeden.
“Native vegetation plays an important role in maintaining water quality as it helps filter sediments, nutrients, and pollutants from run-off before they enter our waterways”, said Braeden.
“Plus, up to 40% of a freshwater fish’s diet can also come from surrounding vegetation, so it’s important we provide a place for these insects and terrestrial species to reside,” said Braeden.
David Petrovic, from Woolshed Thurgoona Landcare Group, is also excited about the prospect of having the local community get involved.
“Wetlands are essential ecosystems in providing habitat for many kinds of organisms including waterbirds, fish, invertebrates. It is pleasing to see local farmers willing to fence and revegetate these areas as a way to protect a range of species for generations to come”, says David.
“The Woolshed Thurgoona Landcare Group have carried out works on several properties in the region, and hope to expand on this with other landholders in the future”, says David.
Sandwiches and refreshments will be offered at the completion of the planting to celebrate the hard work.
Interested community members and local anglers can register their attendance
HERE
This project was made possible by the OzFish-Landcare NSW partnership with funding support from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trusts.