Reaching Out to Native Fish

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Reaching Out to Native Fish - Jan 28   by Jasmine - MDBA      

The MDBA, on behalf of the joint Basin governments, currently provides funding in 2013-14 for five demonstration reaches across the Basin.

Are you asking the question, “What’s a demonstration reach?” Put simply, it’s a stretch of river used to demonstrate or showcase possible ways to restore rivers and help native fish. They are also a great example of communities and governments working together to improve the health of the river through a range of beneficial on-ground works, including revegetating and fencing river banks, re-snagging (putting snags – trees, branches and roots – back in the river) and improving fish passage.



Resnagging at the Dewfish demonstration reach.  Photo: Condamine Alliance


The fish in the dewfish demonstration reach on the Condamine River in Queensland, must be enjoying the fruits of recent restoration work. The native fish now have at their disposal a re-snagged stretch of river with a newly constructed rock ramp fishway, fish hotels and cod holes.



A cod hole. Photo: Condamine Alliance

The dewfish reach won the 2012 Australian River prize and a 2012 Banksia Award. Another award-winning demonstration reach, the Katfish, won a South Australian Premier’s Natural Resource Management Award in 2011.



Fishway at the dewfish reach. Photo: Condamine Alliance

Following the success of demonstration reaches across the Basin in restoring habitat for native fish and engaging the community in river health issues, the MDBA is now funding the development of a Demonstration Reach Toolbox. The toolbox will help those wanting to create new demonstration reaches anywhere in the Basin, which should be good news for native fish populations. The project, which is funded to June this year, will also include setting up a demonstration reach network. If you want more information or you’re interested in getting involved in the project, make your way to the Finterest website.