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Cudgewa Creek and trout cod

At the end of 2019, prolonged drought impacts and then widespread bushfire, followed by subsequent rainfall, saw some of Australia’s most precious and unique waterways destroyed.

OzFish and Landcare Australia have joined forces to help threatened species which suffered from the Black Summer fires thanks to the Landcare Australia Aquatic Wildlife Habitat Bushfire Program.

Fishos helping fish

The Cudgewa Creek is home to many of our favorite freshwater native fish including the iconic Murray cod, the beautiful mountain galaxias and of course, the endangered trout cod which are also fondly known as bluenose cod.

Local fishers have been absolutely central to the recovery of the habitat and fish stocks in the Cudgewa Creek, near Tintaldra in the Upper Murray, following the devastating 2019-20 summer bushfires.

Three new log structures along with eight bed seeding boulders have been installed. 400 trees will also be planted. The structures will increase the habitat diversity within the Cudgewa Creek, providing refuge for young fish and reduce the rate of bank erosion and sedimentation.

“Our community is absolutely thrilled with the amazing works we’ve been able to undertake. For the public to see things happening brings us an unbelievable amount of joy.” – Shea Bloom, WIRF Leader and Corryong Angling Club representative

Devastation and fish kills

Cudgewa Creek meets the Murray river about 2km downstream of Tintaldra and after a large section of the Cudgewa Creek catchment was devastated by bushfire in 2019-20, there was a complete loss of riparian vegetation along much of the creek. The rains that followed then washed significant loads of ash and sediment into the waterways.

Following these events, fish kills were observed across the entire Upper Murray catchment.

Previously, other key habitat issues identified within the catchment included exotic weeds, stock access to the creek, historic clearing of native riparian vegetation and degraded water quality, along with bed and bank erosion.

A team effort

Local fishers with the Corryong Angling Club and Women in Recreational Fishing Network (WIRF) had been assessing the impacts of the damage and the subsequent fish kills at their beloved creek and fishing holes. The reached out to OzFish and got the ball rolling.

OzFish partnered with the North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) and local fishers to install of more habitat structure in Cudgewa Creek, as well as replace the riparian vegetation – key elements to kick starting the recovery of fish habitat.

Fishers, the local community and agencies will continue their care of the creek as it recovers. They will monitor and maintain the plants, review fish use of the new habitats over time, monitor water quality, and a employ range of other monitoring activities.

LATEST NEWS

24 JUNE 2021 | Local Fishers Support Recovery Of Cudgewa Creek

Local fishers have been central to the recovery of the habitat and fish stocks in the Cudgewa Creek, near Tintaldra in the Upper Murray, following the devastating 2019-20 summer bushfires. Cudgewa Creek, which meets the Murray river about 2km downstream of Tintaldra, is known for its populations of Murray cod, mountain galaxias and the national endangered trout cod Maccullochella macquariens, also known locally as the bluenose cod, over an area encompassing 825km2. After a large section of the Cudgewa Creek catchment was devastated by bushfire in 2019-20, significant fish kills were observed across the entire Upper Murray catchment.

Find Out More

The Landcare Australia Aquatic Wildlife Habitat Bushfire Program is funded by the Australian Government’s Wildlife and Habitat Bushfire Recovery program.