Home / Projects / Trees for Fish / Emigrant Creek, NSW

3,750

trees planted

6 kms

of riparian zone restored

25 reef balls & 5 snags

installed for fish habitat

Emigrant Creek has faced challenges such as habitat degradation, reduced water quality, and invasive species that threatened the native fish populations. However, thanks to the collaborative efforts of OzFish, DPI Fisheries, Ballina Shire Council, and other stakeholders, the creek continues to undergo a remarkable transformation.

Report carp sighting

The ongoing issue of carp poses a challenge to the native fish populations as they will disrupt the balance of the ecosystem.

Through the course of the restoration work on Emigrant Creek OzFish discovered a growing population of carp in the Creek. While efforts to restore the habitat that favors native fish will assist their resurgence it is important to also get an understanding of the extent of the carp problem and its impact.

We are asking local residents, visitors and fishers to report sightings of carp in Emigrant Creek so that we can build a picture of their movements and habits and form a plan for eradication efforts where needed.

Emigrant Creek Restoration Journey

2018 Resnagging

Starting in July 2018, OzFish commenced their restoration work on Emigrant Creek with funding from DPI Fisheries Habitat Action Grant, they embarked on a resnagging project. By strategically placing large tree and rootballs in the creek, they created essential habitats for fish, providing shelter, breeding grounds, and additional food sources.

2018 Restoring a riparian zone

The restoration efforts continued in October 2018 when OzFish, in partnership with Ballina Shire Council and BCF, planted 1200 trees along the creek banks. These trees offered shade to keep the water cool, provided cover for fish, and attracted insects, which are crucial food source for native fish.

Emigrant Creek is a popular fishing location that is abundant in both estuarine and freshwater species. This location is important for the migration of Australian bass and their spawning success.

Fishers for Fish Habitat Forum

2020 Planting trees for more fish

OzFish continued their planting, with Habitat Action Grant funding moving to work with private landholders on the southern side of Emigrant Creek, fencing the creek and planting 1550 trees and reconnecting a critically important fish habitat corridor from the creek to an open freshwater paperbark and soft rush meadow wetland, critically important as a native fish nursery.

The initial work undertaken sparked significant interest and momentum, with North Coast Local Land Services and Ballina Shire Council working along the southern side of the bank to continue the planting and restoration. Resulting in an almost fully intact and continuous riparian zone on both sides of the Creek from Tamarind Drive to Tintenbar Road, plus the reconnection to the floodplain wetland on the southern side.

The restoration efforts along Emigrant Creek have yielded remarkable results. Platypus sightings have increased, and native fish populations, such as Australian bass, have thrived. Schools of herring and mullet have returned, indicating a healthier and more vibrant aquatic ecosystem.

Late in 2020 OzFish secured funding with the assistance of North Coast Local Land Services through the Australian Government’s Fisheries Habitat Restoration funding, to continue restoring Emigrant Creek further upstream.

Over 2021 – 2023 the OzFish Richmond Chapter was assisted to tackle the significant woody weed in particular Camphor Laurel infestation of the riparian zone on the western side of Emigrant Creek in a further 4kms from Tintenbar Road upstream to Emigrant Creek Dam, covering seven properties. The Chapter held two more planting days with a further 1000 trees planted in this stretch of river.

With this area restored, the project connects 6km of fish habitat corridor from the Emigrant Creek Dam through to Tamarind Drive.

2023 Reef Ball Trial

The Australian Government’s Fisheries Habitat Restoration funding allowed OzFish to innovate with some concrete reef ball trials. Emigrant Creek is known for its Australian bass population, and on investigation, it seemed that the area of the riparian corridor restored was also critical brackish spawning habitat for a local bass population. With a significant lack of in-stream habitat complexity, the reef ball trial was developed. OzFish has now installed 25 reef balls into the Creek, and will monitor for fish use and growth of algae and other creatures that form the basis of a fish diet.

By reintroducing complex habitat structures and closely monitoring their impact, OzFish aims to create favorable conditions for fish reproduction and overall ecosystem resilience.

LATEST NEWS

AUG 2, 2023 | Restoring Emigrant Creek to create a haven for native fish and wildlife

AUG 2, 2023 | Restoring Emigrant Creek to create a haven for native fish and wildlife

With 4500 new native trees planted, the installation of 25 reef balls, along with the creation of a connected floodplain wetland, Emigrant Creek in northern NSW has undergone a habitat transformation.    OzFish Unlimited, in partnership with local landholders and North Coast Local Land Services, has achieved remarkable success in restoring a 2.65km stretch of Emigrant Creek, creating a thriving habitat for native fish and other wildlife.    The two-year project funded by the Australian Government’s Fisheries Habitat Restoration program also saw an innovative pilot of concrete reef balls placed onto the riverbed. The area lacked in-stream habitat complexity so the placement of 25 reef balls into the creek will be of critical importance to the creek corridor where freshwater

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DEC 9, 2020 | Local fishers band together to enhance fish habitat at Emigrant Creek

DEC 9, 2020 | Local fishers band together to enhance fish habitat at Emigrant Creek

A dedicated team of almost thirty OzFish volunteers and community members came together to restore a critical riparian zone at Emigrant Creek to help native fish. The volunteers planted 1550 native trees and shrubs along an 800m stretch of creek bank to enhance fish habitat which will aid recreational fishing in the Northern NSW region. Emigrant Creek is critical habitat for key recreational fishing species as well as native turtles and platypus. The plants are already providing shade, bank stability, overhang and insect fall for local populations of bass, bream, mullet, flathead and more. The final result will be a healthy, intact corridor of riparian vegetation over 2.5kms long providing significant

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This project was made possible through the support of government organisations, corporate partners and grant providers over many years. This includes OzFish’s Regional Land Partnerships Program – Emigrant Creek – Partners for Fish Habitat Restoration with North Coast Local Land Services, Habitat Action Grant through the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust and funding support from the Australian Government’s Fisheries Habitat Restoration Program and BCF – Boating, Camping and Fishing.