OzFish Wagga Chapter worked with Bidgee North Landcare to restore woody habitat to the waters of Bethungra Dam and support native species, such as Murray cod and golden perch.
Bethungra Dam is a significant water storage dam in the Riverina region of New South Wales, on the Tumut River and was built to hold water for irrigating crops within the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area.
It is listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia and is also on the NSW state stocking register. This means in the coming years Murray cod and golden perch will be restocked within the system as part of efforts to help reduce the number of invasive redfin and common carp. It is a popular destination for recreational activities such as fishing, boating and camping.
Complex habitat – The missing piece in supporting Australian native fish
In their natural environment, native species rely on complex habitat structures such as snags, rocks and logs to spawn, feed, and seek shelter from predators.
These structures provide important hiding places for juvenile fish as well as for small invertebrates, which form a critical part of the fish’s diet. OzFish and Landcare NSW volunteers conducted extensive on-ground and in-stream monitoring to identify where that habitat can be placed to best support restoration.
The sites chosen take into account recreational fishing opportunities, such as site access and navigation. By restoring and enhancing complex habitat structures in Bethungra Dam, OzFish is not only improving the health of fish populations, but also improving the health of the entire aquatic ecosystem.
Through the support of Junee Shire Council woody debris, which has been recycled from construction works, has been placed within the dam, creating a network of places for Murray cod and golden perch to thrive.
Volunteers also placed numerous limestone blocks, each at least the size of an 80 litre esky, into the dam’s waters.
The project is part of OzFish’s Driving Fish Habitat Action partnership with Landcare NSW, in collaboration with Junee Shire Council, with funding support from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust, the Australian Government through the CRC Program, and BCF – Boating, Camping, Fishing.
