Freshwater Fish Habitat Rehabilitation in the Mackay Whitsunday Region

Transcription

1 Freshwater Fish Habitat Rehabilitation in the Mackay Whitsunday Region TIM MARSDEN, RICHARD STEWART, KRISTEN WOODS, DARREN JENNINGS, SHANTELE IANNA AND GARRY THORNCRAFT

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3 Information Series QO Freshwater Fish Habitat Rehabilitation in the Mackay Whitsunday Region December 2006 Tim Marsden Richard Stewart Kristen Woods Darren Jennings Shantele Ianna Gary Thorncraft DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES 2006 i

4 QO ISSN Agdex 470/60 Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information contained in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate enquires to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter. For further information contact: Tim Marsden Fisheries Biologist Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Ph: (07) The State of Queensland, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries 2006 Copyright protects this publication. Except for purposes permitted by the Copyright Act, reproduction by whatever means is prohibited without the prior written permission of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland. Enquires should be addressed to: Deputy Director General (Fisheries) Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries GPO Box 46 BRISBANE QLD 4001 Cover Photograph: Demonstration sites for stream rehabilitation in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Left side, Vines Creek drain rehabilitation, right side, Gooseponds Creek barrier rehabilitation, centre juvenile barramundi common in these systems. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES 2006 ii

5 Table of Contents ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS...V GLOSSARY OF TERMS...V EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... 1 INTRODUCTION... 4 THE MACKAY WHITSUNDAY REGION... 4 CLIMATE... 5 GEOMORPHOLOGY... 6 VEGETATION... 7 HYDROLOGY... 7 LAND USE... 8 FRESHWATER FISH COMMUNITIES OF THE MACKAY WHITSUNDAY REGION... 9 OVERVIEW... 9 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES... 9 RECREATIONAL FISHERIES LIFE STRATEGIES FRESHWATER FISH HABITATS OF THE MACKAY WHITSUNDAY REGION LARGE STREAMS Lowland reaches...15 Headwaters SMALL STREAMS Lowland Reaches Headwaters WETLANDS...18 LAGOONS CONDITION OF STREAMS, FISH HABITAT AND FISH COMMUNITIES REGIONAL OVERVIEW CATCHMENTS St Lawrence and Clairview Flaggy Rock Carmila, West Hill and Marion Rocky Dam Plane Creek Sandy, Alligator and Bakers Pioneer Reliance and Constant Murray, St Helens, Blackrock and Alligator O Connell Proserpine Whitsunday Gregory KEY THREATENING PROCESSES TO FRESHWATER FISH HABITATS BARRIERS TO MIGRATION Weirs and Dams Culverts and Pipes...30 Causeways and Stock Crossings Weeds FLOW MODIFICATION WATERWAY MODIFICATION WATER QUALITY RIPARIAN VEGETATION SEDIMENTATION INTRODUCED FLORA AND FAUNA DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES 2006 iii

6 Flora Fauna REHABILITATION TECHNIQUES TO INCREASE FISH HABITAT AVAILABILITY PROVISION OF FISH PASSAGE AT BARRIERS Vertical Slot Fishway Fish Locks Fish Lifts Denil Fishways Rock Ramp Fishways Other Nature-like Fishways Culvert Fishways...50 INSTREAM FISH HABITAT REHABILITATION Bank Stabilisation LUNKERS Structures Instream Pool Formation and Wetland Reconstruction PROTECTING WATER QUANTITY AND IMPROVING WATER QUALITY Flow Modification Water Quality Introduced Flora and Fauna TARGETS AND ACTIONS GOALS RESOURCE CONDITION TARGETS, MANAGEMENT ACTION TARGETS AND ACTIONS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS BIBLIOGRAPHY APPENDIX 1 - NATIVE FISH SPECIES INFORMATION Whaler sharks Tarpons Freshwater eels Herrings Fork-tailed catfish Eel-Tailed Catfish Longtoms Hardyheads Rainbowfishes Blue-eyes Scorpionfishes Glassfishes Giant Perches Grunters Flagtails Cardinalfishes Mullets Gudgeons Archerfishes Snappers Scats Tenpounders Milkfish INTRODUCED FISH SPECIES INFORMATION Livebearers APPENDIX 2 - BARRIER PRIORITISATION IN THE MACKAY WHITSUNDAY REGION PRIORITISATION CRITERIA BARRIER PRIORITISATION TOP 25 BARRIERS TO MIGRATION IN THE MACKAY WHITSUNDAY REGION DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES 2006 iv

7 Abbreviations and Acronyms MWNRM Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group HWI Healthy Waterways Initiative NHT National Heritage Trust DPI&F Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries PICMA Pioneer Integrated Catchment Management Association PRIT Pioneer River Improvement Trust SLCMA Sarina Landcare Catchment Management Authority WRICMA Whitsunday Rivers Integrated Catchment Management Association Glossary of Terms Queensland the Smart State Diadromous - Diadromous fishes are truly migratory species whose distinctive characteristics include that they (i) migrate between freshwaters and the sea; (ii) the movement is usually obligatory; and (iii) migration takes place at fixed seasons or life stages. There are three distinctions within the diadromous category, catadromous, amphidromous and anadromous. Catadromous - Diadromous fishes which spend most of their lives in fresh water, and which migrate to sea to breed. Amphidromous - Diadromous fishes in which migration between freshwater and the sea is not for the purpose of breeding, but occurs at some other stage of the life cycle. Anadromous - Diadromous fishes which spend most of their lives at sea, and which migrate to freshwater to breed. Potadromous - fish species whose migrations occur wholly within freshwater for breeding and other purposes. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES 2006 v

8 Executive Summary Freshwater fish communities of the Mackay Whitsunday Region form an important component of the freshwater aquatic ecosystem of the region. As peak predators within these aquatic systems, many freshwater fish have bourn the brunt of the changes to habitats in freshwater systems. These changes have come about through agricultural and urban development. The Mackay Whitsunday region has some of the most intensive utilised river systems along the east coast of Australia, dominated by the production of sugar cane. This development has reduced the variety and quality of habitat available to fish through activities such as riparian vegetation removal, river training and straightening and wetland draining. Access to habitat has also been restricted in many streams through the construction of barriers to fish migration. Structures such as dams, weirs and culverts restrict fish passage for the many migratory species that occur in the region, impacting on the life cycle of these species and reducing the habitat that is available for freshwater fish. The Mackay Whitsunday Freshwater Fish Habitat Rehabilitation Project was funded by the Natural Heritage Trust and is a component of the Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group s (MWNRM) Healthy Waterways Program. The initiative seeks to improve the condition of freshwater fisheries within the region through a cooperative program between federal, state, and local governments and the local community. As a member of MWNRM, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) Northern Fish Community and Fishway Monitoring Team is focusing on regional freshwater fisheries issues through a series of projects addressing freshwater habitat rehabilitation. The Mackay Whitsunday Freshwater Fish Habitat Rehabilitation Project looks to build on successful local projects such as the Gooseponds Creek Fishway Project. Using these projects as a model this project will provide a comprehensive analysis of the condition of freshwater fish communities and their habitats and the techniques required to successfully rehabilitate these communities to ensure their long-term success. The Mackay Whitsunday Freshwater Fish Habitat Rehabilitation Project aims to: 1. Provide information on the condition of the freshwater fish communities and fish habitats of the Mackay Whitsunday region. 2. Identify the Key threatening processes affecting these fish communities and their habitats. 3. Outline techniques that can successfully rehabilitate the habitats these fish communities rely on. 4. Provide targets for future rehabilitation work in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Australia has just over 300 species of freshwater fishes, of which around 45 are found in freshwater streams in the Mackay Whitsunday region. They form an important commercial and recreational fishing resource. Commercial fishing is restricted to estuarine and marine waters in Queensland, but many of the species targeted by commercial fishermen spend some portion of their life-cycle in freshwater. Species such as barramundi, mangrove jack and striped mullet all live in freshwater or upper estuaries for portions of their lives, generally entering freshwater as juveniles and leaving as adults to spawn at sea. Recreational anglers also target many freshwater fish species, including jungle perch, barramundi, mangrove jack, sleepy cod, sooty grunter and eeltail catfish. There are still significant riverine fisheries centred around the many small towns of the district. Streams such as the Pioneer River, St Helens Creek and the O Connell River provide excellent riverine fisheries utilised by many recreational anglers. The Mackay Whitsunday Region has a wide variety of streams that provide fish habitat for numerous fish species. In the coastal ranges there are many steep, clearwater, DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

9 rainforest streams that provide habitat for specialised species such as jungle perch. These streams generally remain in good condition due to relatively light development pressures. In the lowland areas there are large rivers that are fed from the smaller upland streams, as well as small streams that feed directly from the coastal ranges to the sea. Many of the streams in these lowland areas have been extensively modified, as this is where most agricultural and urban development takes place. Some of the small lowland streams are still relatively intact and in fair condition, with good riparian and instream habitat, however all of the larger streams show signs of degradation from urban development and agricultural activities such as cropping and cattle grazing. The lowland region also contains numerous wetlands, floodplains and lagoon systems that are fertile nursery areas for fish species such as barramundi. These too have suffered considerable degradation with few of these systems in good condition in the region. The changes to the streams of the region have affected the fish communities of the Mackay Whitsunday region in various ways. Most fish communities are still in good condition, however they may be very different from the communities that originally inhabited these streams due to major changes in habitats. Barriers to migration have had the greatest affect on the fish communities of the region, affecting access that fish have to the various habitats upstream. In the Pioneer River communities of migratory peak predators (barramundi, tarpon) have been reduced to very low levels by the construction of the 16m high Dumbleton Weir. This has led to a corresponding explosion in the population of small prey species such as bony bream in the now predator free environment upstream of the weir. There are a number of key threatening processes affecting fish communities and destroying fish habitats throughout the Mackay Whitsunday Region. For the most part these processes are a result of human influence on the environment and alter the natural state of a waterway to the point where it becomes a threat to fish communities. These influences can come in a number of different forms and impact in many different ways. The major threatening processes in the region include barriers to migration, modification of flow, waterway modification, water quality degradation, riparian vegetation removal, sedimentation of waterways and introduced flora and fauna. To counter the impacts of these threatening processes a number of rehabilitation techniques can be implemented. Most of these rehabilitation techniques can only ever partially compensate for the damage caused to the environment, however, they can still provide a useful outcome for the environment. Rehabilitation techniques generally can be implemented for threatening processes that physically impact the environment with such techniques including, removal of barriers, construction of fishways, reinstating instream habitat, replanting riparian vegetation, creating habitat pools, reducing offfarm runoff and control of exotic weeds. The Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Plan 2005 document outlines goals for the protection and management of waterways in the region. A number of the goals within that document are important for maintaining healthy fish communities, especially those within the goal for the provision of natural hydrological and ecological processes within channels, wetlands and riparian zones. The aim of this document is to detail specific targets and actions for a subset of activities that relate to this goal of the Management Plan. These include: 1. Ensure healthy natural fish communities are maintained in the streams of the Mackay Whitsunday Region. 2. Manage infrastructure development in waterways to ensure that fish habitat quality is maintained and there is free access to habitats. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

10 3. Preserve and enhance the freshwater fish habitats through active management and rehabilitation of habitats and structures. To achieve these goals, resource condition targets, management action targets and actions have been developed to address threatening processes and help guide investment in suitable activities that enhance the fisheries of the Mackay Whitsunday region. Resource condition targets and management actions include: 1. Fish passage re-established at 30% of high priority fish passage sites by 2010 a. Create a strategy for rehabilitation of barriers to fish migration throughout the Mackay Whitsunday Region by b. Negotiate with stakeholders the design and construction of 4 barrier removal projects per year until % of high priority instream habitats are in good natural condition by a. Identify critical habitats for priority freshwater fish species in the Mackay Whitsunday Region by b. Identify the condition of all instream freshwater fish habitat in the Mackay Whitsunday Region with particular reference to those used by priority fish species by c. Negotiate with stakeholders the design and construction of 4 critical freshwater fish habitat rehabilitation projects per year until Through implementation of these more specific targets and actions using the rehabilitation techniques outlined in this report it is anticipated that productivity within freshwater systems can be increased, improving both commercial and recreational fishing opportunities within the Mackay Whitsunday region. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

11 Introduction Freshwater fish communities of the Mackay Whitsunday Region form an important component of the freshwater aquatic ecosystem of the region. As peak predators within these aquatic systems, freshwater fish have bourn the brunt of many of the changes to the habitats in freshwater systems. These changes have come about through the extensive modification of freshwater systems in the Mackay Whitsunday region in association with agricultural and urban development. The Mackay Whitsunday region has some of the most intensive agricultural systems along the east coast of Australia dominated by the production of sugar cane, but also affected by the expansion of the Mackay city area. This development has reduced the variety and quality of habitat available to fish through activities such as riparian vegetation removal, river training and straightening and wetland draining. Access has also been restricted in many streams through the construction of barriers to fish migration. Structures such as dams, weirs and culverts restrict fish passage for the many migratory species that occur in the region, impacting on the life cycle of these species and reducing the habitat that is available for freshwater fish. The Freshwater Fish Habitat Rehabilitation in the Mackay Whitsunday Region Project is funded by the Natural Heritage Trust and is a component of the Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group s (MWNRM) Healthy Waterways Program. The initiative seeks to improve the management of aquatic resources within the region through a cooperative program between federal, state, and local governments and the local community. As a member of MWNRM, the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) Northern Fish Community and Fishway Monitoring Team is focusing on regional freshwater fisheries issues through a series of projects addressing freshwater habitat rehabilitation. The Freshwater Fish Habitat Rehabilitation in the Mackay Whitsunday Region Project looks to build on the successful projects that have been undertaken to date by providing a comprehensive analysis of the condition of freshwater fish communities and their habitats and techniques to successfully rehabilitate these communities to ensure their long-term success. The Freshwater Fish Habitat Rehabilitation in the Mackay Whitsunday Region Project aims to: 1. Provide information on the condition of the freshwater fish communities and fish habitats of the Mackay Whitsunday region. 2. Identify the Key threatening processes affecting these fish communities and their habitats. 3. Outline techniques that can successfully rehabilitate the habitats these fish communities rely on. 4. Provide targets for future rehabilitation work in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. The Mackay Whitsunday Region The Mackay Whitsunday region is located along the central coast of Queensland, Australia and is centred between the Bowen Basin to the West and the Great Barrier Reef to the east. The study area for the Mackay Whitsunday Freshwater Fish Habitat Rehabilitation Strategy is bounded in the south by St Lawrence Creek and includes all coastal streams northwards to the Gregory River north of Proserpine (Figure 1). The region is the centre of extensive agricultural development based on the sugar cane, with numerous small townships and communities based on sugar production radiating out from the central hubs of Mackay and Proserpine. On the fringes of the sugar producing areas there are widespread cattle grazing areas that also contribute to the agricultural base of the region. Tourism is highly developed in the Whitsunday region based around the coastal town of Airlie Beach and the Whitsunday islands. The DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

12 city of Mackay (population 75,000) is the largest urban area in the region and hosts large scale industrial development and ports to support the sugar, grazing and mining industries. Figure 1: Satellite image of the region of interest, Bowen to St Lawrence. (2003/207-07/26 at 00:20 UTC, Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Satellite: Terra - Pixel size: 250m) Climate Australia is an arid to semi-arid country, with approximately 80% of the country receiving less than 600 mm of rainfall annually, and with 50% of this receiving less rainfall at 300 mm annually. The warm circulating waters of the Tasman and Coral seas influence the temperate conditions of the coastline of Queensland and provide moisture for rainfall. Situated on the central-east coast the Mackay Whitsunday region is classified by the Köppen System Classification Scheme as a subtropical zone that exhibits distinctly dry winters (Figure 2). In general the region has a distinct wet season during the period from December to April, followed by a dry season May to November. This is demonstrated in the mean monthly rainfall figures for Mackay, with a mean wet season rainfall of mm and a mean dry season rainfall of 389.6mm for a total annual rainfall of mm. There is significant variation in rainfall throughout the Pioneer Valley catchment. The mean annual rainfall ranges from less than 1,000 mm at the southern end on the catchment near the headwaters of Denison Creek, to more than 2,200 mm at Dalrymple Heights in the headwaters of the Cattle Creek catchment (Arthington et al. 2001). DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

13 Figure 2: The climate classes within the major classification groups of Australia. (BOM 2003a) Temperatures in the Mackay Whitsunday Region are typical of subtropical coastal zones with a long period of warm temperatures before, during and after the wet season and a short period of cooler weather during the middle of the June, July and August. Temperatures range from a mean overnight low of 23 o C to a mean maximum of 30 o C in January to a mean overnight low of 13 o C to a mean maximum of 21 o C in July. Geomorphology The Mackay Whitsunday region has a generally narrow coastal plain made up of Quaternary sediments and a coastal range of hills made up of older (Carboniferous- Permian) igneous and sedimentary formations. In some places the coastal ranges are quite close to the coast, such as around Airlie Beach and Clairview, while the coastal plain extends considerable distances inland in the Pioneer River basin and around Proserpine. South of Sarina the coastal plain is narrow, being generally less than 10km wide, rising rapidly into the Connors Range, which reaches around 500m in height. Headwater areas are quite steep, being confined in short steep valleys, but quickly drop into low sloped incised channels that cross the coastal plain. North of Sarina the coastal plain expands landward in the Pioneer River Basin reaching a maximum width of 45km. The headwaters of the Pioneer River form relatively steep gradient streams in large incised valleys in the igneous deposits of the Connors and Clarke ranges. These ranges reach up to 1300m in height. The headwater streams of the Pioneer River often flow over bedrock, but may form small floodplains in wider sections of the valley. The middle reaches of the Pioneer River begins to enter the Quaternary deposits of the coastal plain, however is still controlled by bedrock sediments in the base of the river. The lower Pioneer River and other coastal plain creeks have a lower gradient and an incised channel that can accommodate quite large floods. To the North of the Pioneer Basin the coastal plain again contracts to less than 5km around the Mesozoic volcanic outcrops of the Habana-Seaforth region before expanding to around 20km wide in the Proserpine region. Streams close to the Seaforth volcanic intrusions have incised DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

14 valleys with narrow floodplains, while further north streams have a similar pattern as those found in the Pioneer River basin. In the Whitsunday region there are extensive outcrops of Cretaceous igneous rocks close to the coast, and little or no coastal plain. Streams of this area are generally short and steep located in incised valleys with little or no floodplain (Arthington et al. 2001). Vegetation Vegetation of the Mackay Whitsunday region varies according to soil type, altitude and rainfall. In the Clarke/Conners/Conway ranges, high rainfall and cooler temperatures have led to the development of rainforests and notophyll vine forests similar to those of the wet tropics bioregion further north. Dryer parts of these ranges consist of tall open eucalypt/bloodwood forests. Elsewhere in the region, the vegetation on hilly areas is predominantly medium to low open sclerophyll woodland with some semi-deciduous vine forest in sheltered fireproof sites. Most of the flatter parts of the Mackay Whitsunday region have been cleared for agriculture, particularly for sugar cane production and grazing of cattle. The original vegetation of these areas was dominated by ironbark, redgum, bluegum, bloodwood, poplar gum, swamp mahogany and paperbark woodlands. It also included small areas of swamps, gallery rainforest and notophyll-microphyll vine forest in wetter areas (Kemp et. al. 2001). Hydrology Streamflow in the Mackay Whitsunday region in variable, reflecting climatic conditions in the region. Generally flows peak during the monsoonal wet season in the period December to April and then tail off to low or no flow during the dry season May to November (Figure 3). Figure 3. Mean monthly discharge for the Pioneer River at Mirani in the period 1917 to Around 80% of the discharge of Mackay Whitsunday streams occurs during flood flows in the wet season. Mean annual discharges vary according to catchment size, with the Pioneer River catchment having the largest measured mean annual discharge at 900,000ML. The O Connell River has the next largest mean annual discharge with 200,000Ml, while most other streams in the region having less than 100,000Ml/year (Arthington et al. 2001). DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

15 Land Use The Mackay Whitsunday region has some of the most intensively develop agricultural areas in Queensland, with some catchments in the region having over 50% of their area intensively cropped. The dominant agricultural industry within the Mackay Whitsunday region is sugar cane cropping, however agricultural land is also used for rangeland beef grazing, orchards, market gardening and horticulture. It is estimated that within the Pioneer catchment alone about 20% of land is used for cane, 16% for grazing, 15% for other purposes and the remaining 49% is rainforest, steep open forest or steep woodland (Arthington et al. 2001) (Figure 4). Many of the districts plains have been cleared for agricultural purposes, with the majority of the forests occurring in the mountainous regions where cultivation is not undertaken. Figure 4. Agricultural development in the Pioneer River Valley. Despite having large areas of forest, only a small area of the regions catchments are conserved within national parks, with the Whitsunday region having the highest percentage of protected area within national parks at 12%. Eungella and Conway Range National Parks are the two largest parks in the region, covering a total area of 777km 2 (Usher 1997). Mackay is the largest urban centre in the study area with a population of 75,000. Other rural townships are scattered throughout the region and include, Proserpine, Cannonvale, Airlie Beach, Finch Hatton, Garget, Marian, Mirani, Walkerston, Bakers Creek, Eton, Sarina, Flaggy Rock and St Laurence. A wide variety of industrial activities are undertaken in the Mackay Whitsunday region, generally in support of agriculture and mining undertaken in the district and surrounding areas. Sugar mills are located at Proserpine, Ooralea, Pleystowe, Marian, Farleigh and Sarina and produce sugar, ethanol and other sugar by-products from local cane growing districts. The Borthwicks meat works at Bakers Creek processes cattle from the Mackay and surrounding areas for export overseas. Large heavy industry precincts are found in South Mackay and around the Mackay Harbour. These areas have many support facilities for mining operations that occur in the Bowen basin from Collinsville in the north to Middlemount in the south. Sand and gravel extraction occurs in the Pioneer River estuary, with over 2.3 million m 3 removed from this system to date. Some extraction is carried out in the non-tidal reaches of the Pioneer River, however only relatively small quantities are removed (Controlled Quarry Materials Permits of up to 25, 000 m 3 per year) (Arthington et al. 2001). DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

16 Freshwater Fish Communities of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Overview Australia has just over 300 species of freshwater fishes (Allen et al. 2002), of which around 45 are found in freshwater streams in the Mackay Whitsunday region. Almost half (22) of the species found in the regions streams are catadromous, requiring free access to estuarine or marine waters to successfully complete their life cycles, while the remaining species complete their entire life cycle in freshwater. The combination of recent evolution from marine ancestors and the highly variable climatic conditions of the region has meant that many fish species have maintained links to stable estuarine and marine areas for the completion of some part of their life cycle. Migration between marine and freshwater areas is a vitally important aspect of the life cycle of freshwater fishes of the Mackay Whitsunday region. It is also one of the areas that man has had greatest impact on the regions fish. The freshwater fishes of the Mackay Whitsunday region form an important commercial and recreational fishing resource. Commercial fishing is restricted to estuarine and marine waters in Queensland, but many of the species targeted by commercial fishermen spend some portion of their life-cycle in freshwater. Species such as barramundi, mangrove jack and striped mullet all live in freshwater or upper estuaries for portions of their lives, generally entering freshwater as juveniles and leaving as adults to spawn at sea. It is therefore important that these species have free access to freshwater habitats to maintain populations. Recreational anglers also target many freshwater fish species, including jungle perch, barramundi, mangrove jack, sleepy cod, sooty grunter and eeltail catfish. Most freshwater anglers focus their attention on the impoundments of the region, which have been stocked with barramundi, sooty grunter and sleepy cod. However there are still significant riverine fisheries centred around the many small towns of the district, streams such as the Pioneer River, St Helens Creek and the O Connell River provide excellent riverine fisheries. Freshwater fish communities of the Mackay Whitsunday region are protected by state regulated recreational size and bag limits as well as seasonal closures for some species during their breeding seasons. Many of the smaller species found in the Mackay Whitsunday region are also prized by aquarists within Australia and overseas. Species such the eastern rainbowfish and Pacific blue-eye make excellent aquarium species, adapting to captivity readily. Commercial Fisheries In the Mackay Whitsunday Region it is estimated that there are approximately 133 commercial fishers who access the fisheries resources of the region (Dodds 2004), however this will have since been reduced due to a government buy-back of licences in These commercial operators fish using a number of methods, with line fishing being the most important. Other methods used include trawling, netting and crabbing. These different fishing activities are often undertaken in the same area by the same individuals in different seasons, with line fishing occurring in the dry season, trawling occurring in the wet season and netting occurring from January to September (Dodds 2004). The commercial fishing activities of the Mackay Whitsunday Region inject around $15M of business expenditure into the economy, with a large proportion of this being spent locally (Dodds 2004). DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

17 Many commercially harvested fish species are reliant on free access to good quality freshwater habitats. Species such as barramundi, mangrove jack and mullet are reliant on this access for the successful growth of juveniles, who assess predator free food rich freshwater habitats when small and remain in them until they are large enough to compete in larger river systems. These species are identified as important components of the commercial harvest in the Mackay region, being targeted by estuarine netting operators and reef line fishermen (Dodds 2004). High quality freshwater habitats also influence many species that do not directly enter freshwater. It is well recognised that freshwater inflows dramatically affect the productivity in estuarine and marine systems. Protection of freshwater catchments and habitats ensures that high quality water is delivered into marine systems, providing the greatest productivity benefits to these systems. In general, although no commercial fishing actually occurs in freshwater, the quality of freshwater habitats and fish communities is vital to the continuation of commercial fishing activities in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Recreational Fisheries The Mackay Whitsunday region has a highly developed recreational fishing sector that contributes significantly to the local economy. It is well recognised that Mackay has some of the highest boat ownership rates in Queensland, with an estimated $152M of capital investment in recreational angling in the region (Murphy 2002). Fishing is also recognised as a significant attraction for living or holidaying in the region, with 71% of people claiming fishing access as one of the reasons for being in the region (Murphy 2002). Due to prevailing strong southeasterly winds, much of the recreational angling in the region is undertaken in inshore and estuarine waters, with an increasing focus on freshwater angling. Highly prized target species include barramundi, mangrove jack, threadfin salmon, grunter bream and sooty grunter. Freshwater recreational angling is undertaken in stocked impoundments as well as in riverine habitats. Popular destinations include Teemburra and Kinchant Dams and river fishing locations like the Pioneer and O Connell rivers or St Helens, Cattle or Rocky Dam creeks. Most recreational angling in the region is conducted from boats due to the presence of crocodiles in most river systems, however in the upper reaches of many systems where few crocodiles reside, bank angling is popular. Generally anglers utilise bait, but there is a strong sports fishing community in the region who specialise in lure or fly casting for species such as barramundi or sooty grunter. Fishing in the dams is limited to the species stocked, with the local stocking groups only putting barramundi and sooty grunter into their permitted impoundments. Riverine fishermen are able to target a broader range of species, with jungle perch, mangrove jack, catfish, eels, tarpon and sleepy cod being caught in addition to barramundi and sooty grunter. Life Strategies Most fish species of the Mackay Whitsunday Region are generally thought to be marine colonisers, with no true freshwater fish species present. They have strong affinities to tropical indo-pacific marine species, with several families having both freshwater and marine species in the Queensland (Allen et. al. 2002). Prominent families in the Mackay Whitsunday Region that have marine origins include, fork-tailed catfish, eeltail catfish, hardyheads, rainbowfishes, blue-eyes, grunters, gudgeons and gobies (Merrick and Schmida 1984). In fact the region is interesting as it has many families of freshwater fish that are only found in marine waters in other areas of the globe. This strong affinity to marine systems with many of the fish families of the region is reflected in the life strategies of individual species, with many still maintaining ties to the marine environment. Around 24 of the species found in the region are able to live in both freshwater and saltwater, while 19 species are wholly dependant on freshwater (but DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

18 derived from marine families). Several other marine species such as the bull shark are also known to move into freshwater on occasions. Migration of fish between marine and freshwaters and within freshwater is therefore of great importance to many of the regions fish fauna. These migrations are undertaken for a variety of reasons, but generally revolve around the need to breed and feed. These migrations are well recognised and have been divided into a number of categories that were first described by Myers in1949 (Northcote 1984), they include: Diadromous Diadromous fishes are truly migratory species whose distinctive characteristics include that they (i) migrate between freshwaters and the sea; (ii) the movement is usually obligatory; and (iii) migration takes place at fixed seasons or life stages. There are three distinctions within the diadromous category: Catadromous: Catadromy describes diadromous fishes which spend most of their lives in fresh water, and which migrate to sea to breed. Eg. Barramundi. Anadromous: Anadromy describes diadromous fishes which spend most of their lives at sea, and which migrate to freshwater to breed. Eg. Lamprey. Amphidromous: Amphidromy describes diadromous fishes in which migration between freshwater and the sea is not for the purpose of breeding, but occurs at some other stage of the life cycle. Eg. Striped mullet. Potamodromous Potamodromous fish species are those whose migrations occur wholly within freshwater for breeding and other purposes. Eg. Bony bream. These migrations can be triggered by a number of factors, both environmental and biological. Many species migrate at various stages of their life cycle, with juveniles often undertaking dispersal migrations in search of suitable habitat and food. While adults generally undertake migrations to breeding grounds, but may also move in search of new food sources. These movements are also generally timed to co-incide with particular environmental events, such as season or flow. Table 1 outlines the known migration habits of the regions fish species in relation to seasonal changes and flows. Although many species are keyed in to movements during the warmer months and on high flows, it should be recognised that this is not always the case. Therefore it is not advisable to suppose that all fish will be able to move on the very high flows that periodically occur in the region, as this would disadvantage a large number of species that are triggered to move by other environmental factors. Table 1. Migration patterns of the freshwater fish of the Mackay Whitsunday Region, Queensland, adapted from Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen 1989, McDowall 1996, and Stuart SPECIES Seasonal Movements Flows DIADROMOUS Sum. Aut. Win. Spr. Low Mod. High long-finned eel Anguilla reinhardtii south-pacific eel Anguilla obscura?? DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

19 DIADROMOUS bullrout Notesthes robusta Seasonal Movements Flows Sum. Aut. Win. Spr. Low Mod. High barramundi Lates calcarifer bull shark Carcharhinus leucas??????? mangrove jack Lutjanus argentimaculatus fork-tailed catfish Arius graeffei salmon catfish Arius leptaspis???? striped mullet Mugil cephalus oxeye herring Megalops cyprinoids freshwater longtom Strongylura krefftii spotted scat Scatophagus argus????? striped butterfish Selenotoca multifasciata??????? threadfin silverbiddy Gerres filamentosus??????? jungle perch Kuhlia rupestris bengal swamp eel Ophisternon bengalense??????? milkfish Chanos chanos??????? giant herring Elops hawaiensis??????? roman-nosed goby Awaous acritosus??????? bug-eyed goby Redigobius bikolanus??????? flathead goby Glossogobius giurus??????? snub-nosed garfish Arrhamphus sclerolepis??????? DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

20 Seasonal Movements Queensland the Smart State Flows POTAMODROMOUS Sum. Aut. Win. Spr. Low Mod. High spangled perch Leiopotherapon unicolor sooty grunter Hephaestus fuliginosus banded grunter Amniataba percoides? bony herring Nematalosa erebi fly-specked hardyhead Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum Stercusmuscarum olive perchlet Ambassis agassizii rendahl s catfish Porochilus rendahli???? Hyrtl s tandan Neosilurus hyrtlii???? black catfish Neosilurus ater]???? eel-tail catfish Tandanus tandanus??????? mouth almighty Glossamia aprion eastern rainbowfish Melanotaenia splendida splendida firetail gudgeon Hypseleotris galii???? sleepy cod Oxyeleotris lineolata????? western carp gudgeon Hypseleotris klunzingeri??????? Midgley s carp gudgeon ** Hypseleotris sp.??????? snakehead gudgeon Giurus margaritacea??????? empire gudgeon Hypseleotris compressa purple-spotted gudgeon Mogurnda adspersa??????? Pacific blue-eye Pseudomugil signifer??????? archerfish Toxotes chatareus???? DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

21 Seasonal Movements Flows INTRODUCED Sum. Aut. Win. Spr. Low Mod. High guppy Poecilia reticulata??????? mosquito fish Gambusia Holbrooki??????? - Commercial Species, - Recreational Species, - Translocated Species - Large numbers of fish, - Small numbers of fish,?- Limited Information DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

22 Freshwater Fish Habitats of the Mackay Whitsunday Region The Mackay Whitsunday Region has a wide variety of streams that provide fish habitat for numerous fish species. In the coastal ranges there are many steep, clearwater, rainforest streams that provide habitat for specialised species such as jungle perch. In the lowland areas there are large rivers that are fed from these smaller streams that stem from the ranges, as well as small streams that feed directly from the coastal ranges themselves. Many of the streams in this area have been extensively modified, as this is where most agricultural activity takes place. Some of the small streams are still relatively intact and in fair condition, with good riparian and instream habitat, however all of the larger streams show signs of degradation from agricultural activities such as cropping and cattle grazing. The lowland region also contains numerous wetlands, floodplains and lagoon systems that are fertile nursery areas for fish species such as barramundi. These too have suffered considerable degradation with few of these systems in good condition in the region. Large Streams The Mackay Whitsunday Region has a low number of large streams, as the region is bounded to the northwest and southwest by coastal ranges through which no streams penetrate. Behind these ranges and encircling the Mackay Whitsunday Region is the Fitzroy River catchment, which enters the sea to the south of Mackay and the Burdekin River catchment, which enters the sea to the north of Mackay. These catchments are the largest and second largest catchments respectively on the east coast of Australia. With these large systems encircling the region and the Great Dividing Range so close to the coast, there is limited scope for the development of large streams in the region. The Pioneer River is the largest catchment in the region, but in comparison still only comprises 1% of the area of the Fitzroy catchment. However despite having only a small percentage of the catchment size of the Fitzroy River, Mackay Whitsunday streams still contribute considerable flows to the Great Barrier Reef Lagoon, with the Pioneer River delivering the equivalent of 17% of the yearly discharge of the Fitzroy Basin (Arthington et al. 2001). Large streams in the Mackay Whitsunday Region include Plane, Sandy, Bakers, Murray and St Helens creeks and the Pioneer, O Connell, Proserpine and Gregory rivers. The large rivers of the region have a number of distinct zones, which contain differing habitats. The habitats generally become larger and more varied in the lower reaches, with limited habitat variability in the upper reaches. Lowland reaches Wide-open river reaches with broad floodplains and highly variable aquatic habitats typify lowland reaches. They may flow over a bedrock base like the Pioneer River (Figure 5), or have considerable sand and gravel deposits like the O Connell River. These reaches will contain habitats such as rapids, sand/gravel banks, undercut banks, snag complexes and overhanging vegetation. Many species of fish utilise these habitats, but these lowland reaches are dominated by large species such as adult barramundi and mangrove jack. Headwaters Headwater reaches of the large streams of the region vary depending on location of their origin. Streams that have headwaters in the main Clarke/Conners Ranges have high gradient headwaters dominated by bedrock, boulders and gravel (Figure 6). While DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

23 streams that terminate on the slopes of isolated hills on the Pioneer Valley Floodplain have lower gradient headwaters that are dominated by gravel, sand and silt. Figure 5. Habitat features of a lowland river reach (Pioneer River, Dumbleton Rocks). Figure 6. A headwater reach of the Pioneer River (Teemburra Creek, Pinnacle). The variety of habitats within these streams is reduced compared to lowland reaches, however they are still significant and many fish utilise these habitats. These streams are generally in good condition and have extensive overhanging vegetation and undercut banks. Pools and riffle sequences dominate these reaches, with riffle zones increasing in significance to fish, while pools of these reaches tend to be smaller with reduced habitats. This reduction in overall habitat availability is reflected in smaller fish communities and a lack of large predator species such as barramundi. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

24 Small Streams With the narrow coastal plane north and south of the Pioneer River valley, there is little scope for the development of large streams. Instead there are numerous small streams that flow directly to the Pacific Ocean. These small streams often contain a diverse, although smaller, range of habitats than the large rivers, and may have been impacted more by developmental processes than some of the larger streams. However some of these streams are also in excellent condition, with near pristine conditions being found in the small streams of the Conway and Eungella National Parks. Significant small streams in the Mackay Whitsunday Region include Repulse, Lethe Brook, Constant, Reliance, McCreadys, Gooseponds, Cabbage Tree, Rocky Dam, Marion, West Hill, Carmilla, Flaggy Rock and Clarview creeks. As with the large rivers of the region the small streams also have a number of distinct zones, which contain differing habitats. The habitats become larger and more varied in the lower reaches, with limited habitat variability in the upper reaches. Lowland Reaches The lowland reaches of many of the small streams contain large pools interspersed with small riffle zones. The pools often have a dense, but narrow stripe of riparian vegetation on each bank, as the channel is often incised into the floodplain making it difficult to clear (Figure 7). There is a great variability of habitat within the pools, with snag complexes, undercut banks and overhanging vegetation, as well as dense leaf litter on the bed. As the streams are small the riparian vegetation is often able to create a complete canopy over the stream, helping to maintain cooler water conditions than open streams. These small streams are also able to maintain water levels and quality throughout dry periods because of the riparian vegetation condition. Headwaters Where riparian vegetation is in good condition it usually forms a closed canopy over the stream, maintaining good water quality conditions (Figure 8). However, many of these headwater areas have been heavily degraded as their small nature makes them vulnerable to clearing and channelisation. Some of the headwater areas of these small streams have been completely degraded, with the stream no longer containing any habitat of value to fish (Figure 9). Figure 7. Lowland river reach of a small stream (McCreadys Creek, Rural View). DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

25 Figure 8. Headwater section of a small stream (Nielson Creek, Mt Jukes) Figure 9. Degraded headwaters of a small stream (unnamed stream, Farleigh). Wetlands Wetland habitats are important for the juveniles of a number of species as it provides predator free, food rich, nursery habitats. In the Mackay Whitsunday Region there are numerous wetland complexes in various condition. The floodplain between the DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

26 Proserpine and O Connell rivers (Goorganga Plains) contains extensive wetland areas that are in relatively good condition (Figure 10), although some areas have been cleared and drained for agricultural production. Further south wetland areas are not as extensive as the Goorganga Plains, with many having been cleared and drained for agricultural production. Some areas are still in good condition, especially those furthest from agricultural areas. There are also some good habitats close to Mackay in the Vines Creek catchment (Figure 11), however some areas in the region have been cleared, drained and filled for residential development purposes. Figure 10. Lowland wetland complex, Googanga Planes, Proserpine. Lagoons Figure 11. Lowland wetland complex, Vines Creek, Mackay. Associated with many of the wetland complexes are permanent deepwater lagoons that contain significant freshwater fish habitats. These habitats are usually associated with old river channels such as the lagoon at the Mackay Botanic Gardens (Figure 12), which is a cut-off of the old Pioneer River channel. These habitats are similar to pool habitats in lowland river reaches with undercut banks, snag complexes and overhanging vegetation common. Fish are only able to enter these habitats during high flow periods when the lagoons overflow into the main river channel. The maintenance of water quality and water level in these lagoons during the dry season is critical to the survival of fish. Many of the lagoons have been modified to increase their capacity for irrigation purposes. This can lead to excess pumping from the lagoon or runoff of nutrient rich irrigation waters into the lagoon, which can cause small and large-scale fish kills. Lagoons of significance in the Mackay Whitsunday Region include those on DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

27 the Goorganga plains, lower O Connell River floodplain, Sandringham Lagoon, Botanic Gardens Lagoon and Tedlands Lagoon near Koumala. Figure 12. Large offstream lagoon in the lower Pioneer Valley. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

28 Condition of Streams, Fish Habitat and Fish Communities Regional Overview The Mackay Whitsunday Region has seen dramatic catchment changes over the past hundred years, with massive agricultural development and increasing urban development affecting most of the catchments in the region. Prior to development, the region generally consisted of medium height eucalypt forests with a moderately closed canopy, while in mountainous regions rainforest was the dominant forest type. Only small areas in near coastal regions north of Proserpine and south of Carmilla had open low forest type vegetation (Arthington et al. 2001). Since development, large scale clearing has occurred for cropping of sugar cane and grazing of cattle. This has dramatically reduced the abundance of the moderately closed canopy eucalypt forest and replaced it with open grasslands/woodlands and cropped areas. However rainforest areas on the high ridges of the Clarke, Conners and Conway ranges have remained relatively intact, with only small areas cleared compared to lowland areas. The extent of development is reduced away from the centres of Mackay and Proserpine where most of the agricultural development has taken place in association with water supply infrastructure from the Pioneer and Proserpine rivers. The condition of rivers, creeks and wetlands in the region has not been affected as greatly as their catchments, with many streams maintaining good riparian vegetation conditions. River training works, flood protection and agricultural development too close to stream banks have degraded many streams, but many streams are still in good condition. Again the streams that have been most affected are those in the highly developed Pioneer and Proserpine basins. The fish habitats within the streams have been maintained in relatively good condition, except in streams that have undergone extensive modification in the name of river improvement. Streams such as Cattle Creek in the upper reaches of the Pioneer River have been reshaped on a regular basis to protect land adjacent to the stream. This has led to a decrease in the quantity and quality of habitat available for fish in these reaches, leading to a corresponding decline in fish numbers. These changes have affected the fish communities of the Mackay Whitsunday region in various ways. Most fish communities are still in good condition, however they may be very different from the communities that originally inhabited these streams. Barriers to migration have had the greatest affect on the fish communities of the region, affecting access that fish have to the various habitats upstream. In the Pioneer River communities of migratory peak predators (barramundi, tarpon) have been reduced to very low levels by the construction of the 16m high Dumbleton Weir (McGill and Marsden 2000). This has led to a corresponding explosion in the population of small prey species such as bony bream in the now predator free environment upstream of the weir. Generally however, the information on fish communities within the region is poor, with little information collected south of Sarina and only limited project specific sampling conducted in the Pioneer, St Helens and O Connell catchments. Information on each of the catchments was derived from a variety of sources. Where possible actual fish and habitat survey data was used to derive fish community and fish habitat condition. If detailed information was not available local knowledge from the catchment was used to derive information. In some of the more remote catchments no direct information was available and fish community and fish habitat condition was derived from analysis of the satellite and aerial photography. In all catchments the overall condition of the catchment was derived remotely from satellite and aerial photography. Information on the condition of catchments and their fisheries will be DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

29 updated when detailed information is collected as part of future projects such as the Determination of Priority Fish Habitat Use and Baseline Fisheries Condition Assessment projects. Catchments St Lawrence and Clairview The 650km 2 St Lawrence and Clairview Catchment is located just outside the southern boundary of the Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group area and consists of Freshwater, St Lawrence Clairview and Cattle Creeks. They are included in this assessment as these semi-permanent streams are similar to streams to the north and are quite separate from the dryer streams to the south. The predominant land use in the catchment is cattle grazing. This has led to extensive clearing of vegetation within the catchment for pasture, although the upper reaches and ranges are extensively forested. Stream Condition: Low Disturbance - The variation in condition of the streams in the catchment is good to moderately disturbed, with some clearing of the riparian zone especially in the lower reaches. There is extensive grazing within the banks of the stream, but the majority of streams remain in good condition. Fish Habitat Condition: Good - The presence of a good riparian zone probably indicates that the condition of instream habitat is good. Upstream of the weir on St Lawrence Creek there would be a change of habitat that may negatively impact fish communities. Other small barriers in the system may also alter habitat, but they are unlikely to have any great impact. Fish Community Condition: Good - No fish community data is available from this system, however the presence of a large weir on St Lawrence Ck is likely to have reduced the populations of migratory species in that system, leading to a likely drop in predator species and a dominance of prey species such as bony bream. The presence of smaller barriers in the other creeks of the catchment requires further investigation to determine if they impact greatly on fish access. Generally it is likely that creeks in the system will have healthy fish communities. Flaggy Rock The Flaggy Rock catchment consists of a number of small coastal streams from Clairview to Flaggy Rock and covers an area of around 165 km 2. Streams included in this catchment include Flaggy Rock, Oaky and Sand fly creeks. Flaggy Rock Creek Catchments dominant land use is cattle grazing, with some minor cane farming in the northern section of the catchment. There have been low levels of clearing throughout the catchment, with most clearing centred on the lower Flaggy Rock Floodplain. Stream Condition: Good - The variation in condition of the streams in the catchment is good to moderately disturbed condition. There has been some clearing of riparian vegetation in lower Flaggy Rock Creek, however most of the other streams in the catchment have intact riparian zones. Fish Habitat Condition: Good Fish habitat in lower Flaggy Rock creek has been degraded due to the disturbance of this section of stream, most other streams in the catchment are in good condition with little disturbance instream. There are several low level barriers in this catchment which require further investigation to determine the impact (if any) that they may have. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

30 Fish Community Condition: Good Limited sampling in Flaggy rock creek indicates that fish communities are in good condition, however further sampling is required to gain a broader perspective within this catchement. Carmila, West Hill and Marion Carmila, West Hill and Marion Catchment covers an area to the south of the small town of Ilbilbie 60km south of Mackay. The catchment is around 580 km 2 and consists of Carmila, Feather, Oaky, West Hill, Basin and Marion creeks. The catchment is a mixed cattle and cane catchment, with the majority of clearing occurring along the lower reaches of each of the creeks, while the upper reaches of the catchment remain forested. Stream Condition: Moderate Disturbance There has been moderate disturbance of riparian habitat throughout the catchment, with the greatest disturbance being areas of intensive cane farming. Smaller streams in the upper catchment have been completely cleared, however the larger streams lower in the system are still in good condition. Fish Habitat Condition: Moderate Fish habitat condition is likely to have been negatively affected by the development of the catchment for agriculture. Instream habitat in smaller upper reach streams in cane areas is poor. The majority of remaining areas in both upper and lower systems are in good condition. Fish Community Condition: Moderate - No fish community data is available from this system, the presence of potential barriers have been identified in this system and require further investigation to determine if they impact greatly on fish access. Generally it is likely that creeks in the system will have moderately healthy fish communities. Rocky Dam Rocky Dam Catchment is a 500 km 2 catchment that stretches from south of Sarina to Ilbilbie. The catchment consists of Rocky Dam, Cherry Tree and Plumtree Creeks and a number of smaller systems, with the dominant land use being cattle grazing and cane. The majority of the western section of the catchment has been cleared for cane, while the eastern section has been lightly cleared for cattle grazing. The hills in the east and along the main Conners Range have extensive native forests. Stream Condition: Moderate Disturbance There has been moderate disturbance of riparian habitat throughout the catchment, with the greatest disturbance being areas of intensive cane farming. Smaller streams in the upper catchment have been completely cleared, however the larger streams lower in the system are still in good condition. A number of smaller streams in the eastern section are in very good condition. Fish Habitat Condition: Moderate Fish habitat condition is likely to have been negatively affected by the development of the catchment for agriculture. Instream habitat in smaller upper reach streams in cane areas is poor. The majority of remaining areas in both upper and lower systems are in good condition. Fish Community Condition: Moderate - No fish community data is available from this system, the presence of potential barriers have been identified in this system and require further investigation to determine if they impact greatly on fish access. There are reports that Jungle Perch occur in small streams in the vicinity of Cape Palmerston. Generally it is likely that creeks in the system will have moderately healthy fish communities. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

31 Plane Creek Plane Creek Catchment includes Plane Creek and a number of small coastal creeks in the Sarina Shire, south of Alligator Creek. The catchment has a total area of 240 km 2 with cane, grazing and urban areas being the dominant landuses. Stream Condition: Highly Disturbed Plane Creek is heavily impacted through water infrastructure development, cane farming, sugar and ethanol mills. The condition of the stream is very poor in the lower reaches, but improves in the upper reaches. Other streams in the east of the catchment are in better condition than Plane Creek, maintaining reasonable riparian vegetation. Fish Habitat Condition: Poor Fish habitat within Plane Creek is poor, with a reduction in riverine habitat due to large scale water infrastructure development that has ponded the stream for much of it s length. Other streams in the catchment have better fish habitat, generally related to better riparian vegetation condition. Fish Community Condition: Moderate Despite the highly degraded state of many of the streams of the catchment and the high number of large barriers the fish communities are still in relatively good condition. Sandy, Alligator and Bakers Sandy, Alligator and Bakers creek catchments encompasses a 900 km 2 section of the southern pioneer floodplain. The catchment extends east from the upper Pioneer River near Mia Mia to the coast between Mackay and Hay Point. The catchment is dominated by cane farming, with some minor cattle and forest areas. The catchment has undergone extensive development with around 50% of the catchment under intensive agriculture. Point source pollution from Walkerston also impacts Bakers Creek. Stream Condition: Highly Disturbed - The upper reaches of Sandy, Bakers and Alligator Creeks have poor riparian coverage, with some areas extensively cleared for agriculture up to and through the stream. Some areas within all streams have good riparian vegetation. Fish Habitat Condition: Poor In areas of extensive cane farming and low stream relief, streams have been degraded extensively, with some stream losing all fish habitat values, basically becoming drains. Higher relief areas maintain some habitat values, with some areas maintaining good riparian and instream habitat. Fish Community Condition: Poor - In areas of extensive cane farming and low stream relief fish communities have been extensively reduced, with some areas now containing no fish at all. Other areas of stream have good fish communities, especially those areas with permanent waterholes and good riparian vegetation. Pioneer The Pioneer catchment is the largest catchment in the Mackay Whitsunday Region at around 1400 km 2. The catchment originates in the Connors and Clarke Ranges and flows east, entering the sea in Mackay. The headwaters are well forested, with large areas of national park and state forest, while the lowland areas are extensively cleared for intensive agriculture. Sub catchments of the Pioneer Catchment vary in condition, with some in the south west of the catchment in near pristine condition, while others in the lower catchment are in very highly disturbed condition. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

32 Stream Condition: High Disturbance Stream condition throughout the catchment varies, with small streams in cane areas highly degraded, while large stream sections are generally in good condition. Some of the streams in the headwater forest areas are in very good condition. The Lower pioneer has been changed from riverine conditions to mainly weir pool through the construction of water infrastructure. Fish Habitat Condition: Moderate - In forested upper reach streams habitat is in excellent condition, while small streams in cane areas are in very poor condition. The large stream sections in the middle and lower catchment have some good habitat, but areas within weir pools have poor habitat values. Fish Community Condition: Moderate - Fish communities in the Pioneer River have been modified due to the impact of water infrastructure development. This has fragmented the fish community and limited the movement of migratory species. Many top end predators have been restricted to the lower catchment below Marian Weir, leading to communities dominated by prey species, throughout the catchment. The conversion of riverine sections to weir pools has also reduced habitat availability and led to an alteration of fish communities. Although in most reaches communities are in good condition they are very different from the community that should be present. Reliance and Constant The Reliance/Constant Creek Catchment covers an area of around 400 km 2 and incorporates a large number of small streams that run directly to the sea between Mackay and Seaforth. These streams include Reliance, Leila, Martin, Constant, McKinley, Neilson and Seaforth creeks. A mixture of cattle grazing and cane farming are found in these catchments as well as some remnant forests on hilltops. In lower Reliance Creek, a large section of lowland rainforest is preserved within national park, providing one of the few areas to link estuarine communities directly to rainforest communities in the Mackay Region. Stream Condition: Moderate Disturbance - The lower reaches of most streams are in good condition with intact riparian vegetation, although some areas have extensive riparian clearing. On flat cane land north and west of Farleigh, creek systems are highly degraded generally being drains between paddocks with no riparian vegetation. Fish Habitat Condition: Good - In areas with good riparian vegetation habitat is in good condition. Areas that have been cleared and channelised have very poor fish habitat values. The majority of streams have good condition habitat. Fish Community Condition: Good - Fish communities in this catchment are in good condition, however barriers to migration in the catchment need further investigation to determine if they have any impact on fish communities. Barriers in the Constant and Seaforth creeks are a priority for rehabilitation. Murray, St Helens, Blackrock and Alligator This Catchment is made up of Jolimont, Murray, St Helens, Blackrock, Alligator and Zamia Creeks covering an area of 670 km 2 centring on the small town of Calen north of Mackay. The upper reaches of the catchment has good quality forest communities, much of which is within National Parks. The lowland areas have been extensively cleared for cattle grazing and cane farming, especially along the river flats. On the Coastal plain many of the hills have remnant forest communities. Stream Condition: High disturbance Most streams have good quality riparian vegetation throughout their length, however both Murray and St Helens creeks have had significant areas of riparian vegetation removed in their lower reaches. On flat DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

33 cane land in the lowland areas of the catchment, low relief creek systems can be degraded. The upper reaches of some streams such as St Helens Creek are in near pristine condition. Fish Habitat Condition: Moderate In areas with good riparian vegetation, habitat is in good condition. Areas that have riparian vegetation cleared or have been modified for river improvement have poor fish habitat values. The majority of streams in this catchment have good condition fish habitat. Fish Community Condition: Good Fish communities throughout this catchment are in good condition with remnant populations of Jungle Perch being found in St Helens Creek. This species has undergone a range and population reduction throughout South and Central Queensland and is considered to be quite rare now in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Some communities such as those in Murray Creek are in good condition but are very different to historical fish communities due to the change in riparian vegetation. The opening of the canopy has changed the fish community composition to more open water species. In streams such as Alligator and Blackrock creeks fish communities are in good condition and are close to what would naturally be expected to occur there. O Connell The O Connell River Catchment covers an area of approximately 1200 km 2 from North of St Helens Beach to the mouth of the O Connell River. The Eastern half of the catchment has a number of small streams including Hervey and Rebus creeks that flow directly to the sea through cattle grazing country. The O Connell and Andromache Rivers dominate the western and northern section of the catchment with forest and grazing on the high areas and intensive cane farming along the floodplain. Stream Condition: Moderate disturbance Streams throughout the catchment are in good condition with limited clearing of riparian zones throughout. Some streams in intensive cane areas are in a poor condition, while Boundary Creek contains poor riparian cover due to extensive clearing for grazing. Fish Habitat Condition: Moderate Fish habitats throughout the catchment are in good condition except in intensive cane areas where large scale clearing has reduced habitat availability in small streams. Fish Community Condition: Good Fish communities are in good condition throughout the catchment. Sampling in the lower O Connell River has identified over 30 species of freshwater fish, the highest number of species recorded in a single site in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Remnant populations of Jungle Perch are reported from the O Connell River. This species has undergone a range and population reduction throughout South and Central Queensland and is considered to be quite rare now in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Proserpine The Proserpine Catchment covers the streams of the coastal plain north of the O Connell River to the township of Proserpine with a total area of 1200 km 2. This includes the Goorganga Plain creeks such as Thompson, Stoney and Lethe Brook Creeks as well as the Proserpine River and Myrtle Creek. The majority of the lower catchment is dominated by intensive agriculture for cane while the upper catchment is cleared for cattle grazing. Much of the Goorganga Wetland complex is utilised for cattle grazing and has recently become overrun with weeds such as paragrass and hymenachnie. There are some areas of rainforest on the higher ranges in the east and west of the catchment, while the ranges in the far west have more open forests. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

34 Stream Condition: Highly Disturbed - Streams throughout the catchment have been moderately disturbed, with those streams in cane areas being highly disturbed. Flows downstream from Proserpine Dam have been greatly reduced since its construction and have dramatically changed the characteristics to the stream in this reach. Streams across the Goorganga Plains have been heavily impacted by cattle grazing and the invasion of weeds. Fish Habitat Condition: Poor - Habitat condition in intensively cleared areas is very poor, while habitat in streams of the Goorganga Plains varies from poor to moderate condition depending on the impact of weeds in the system. Areas with good riparian vegetation in some of the Gorrganga Plains streams, Myrtle Creek and the lower Proserpine River maintain good fish habitats. Fish Community Condition: Poor - No fish community data is available from this system, the presence of potential barriers have been identified in this system and require further investigation to determine if they impact greatly on fish access. The impact of cane and grazing activities on streams makes it likely that fish communities in most streams are in poor condition, or at least changes from those that should be present in these systems. Whitsunday The Whitsunday Catchment is a small (330 km 2 ) coastal catchment situated on the Whitsunday coastline and totally surrounded by National Park and State Forest. The small urban developments of Airlie Beach and Cannon Vale exist on the north eastern areas of the catchment with Shute Harbour to the east. The dominant vegetation in the catchment is mid dense (mainly Eucalypt) to dense forest with the remainder, made up of rainforest. Repulse creek is the main water course in the catchment and flows through Conway Range National Park. The riparian vegetation in Repulse Creek is in excellent condition consisting of rainforest and dense forest cover with minimal to no anthropogenic disturbances. Repulse Creek is in natural or virtually natural stream condition, with minimal disturbance to the riparian vegetation on either side of the creek and adjacent areas therefore would contain excellent fish habitat. Stream Condition: Low Disturbance - Streams in the catchment are in pristine catchment throughout the National Park and State Forest areas. These streams are generally lowland rainforest streams with thick riparian vegetation and small sandy streams. Some streams in the urban areas around Airlie Beach are in poor condition Fish Habitat Condition: Excellent - Fish habitat is in pristine condition within the National Park and State Forest, being the most natural fish habitat in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Outside the conservation areas the habitat is degraded to some degree, however these stream are very seasonal and only contain habitat during the wet season. Fish Community Condition: Excellent - Fish communities in the catchment are in very good condition. Repulse Creek is likely to have a unique fish community, being the only lowland rainforest stream in the Mackay Whitsunday Region to be in pristine condition. The potential is high that species that have been lost from all other catchments may be found in this system. Gregory The Gregory Catchment covers an area of approximately 700 km 2 to the North of Proserpine, at the Northern extent of the Mackay Whitsunday Region. It includes Eden Lassie, Scruby, Billy and Ten Mile Creeks and the Gregory River. The catchment has a mix of cattle grazing and some intensive cane farming in the South. The riparian DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

35 vegetation throughout Gregory River has been extensively cleared for grazing, with approximately 49% of the riparian zone totally or moderately cleared (Hardy, 2004).The higher areas in the East of the catchment have large areas of rainforest, while the low hills of the South West are covered with open forest. Stream Condition: Moderate Disturbance - Streams throughout the catchment are in moderate condition with limited clearing of riparian zones in streams other than the Gregory River. The Gregory River has lost 50% of riparian vegetation and stream condition is poor in areas of extensive clearing. Streams in intensive cane areas in the south of the catchment are in a poor condition. Fish Habitat Condition: Good - Fish habitats throughout the catchment are in good condition except in intensive cane areas where large scale clearing has reduced habitat availability. Fish Community Condition: Good - No fish community data is available from this system, the presence of potential barriers have been identified in this system and require further investigation to determine if they impact greatly on fish access. The limited impact of cane and grazing activities on streams makes it likely that fish communities in most streams are in good condition. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

36 Key Threatening Processes to Freshwater Fish Habitats There are a number of key threatening processes impeding fish passage and destroying fish habitat throughout the Mackay Whitsunday Region. For the most part these processes are a result of human influence on the environment and alter the natural state of a waterway to the point where it becomes a threat to fish communities. These influences can come in a number of different forms and impact in many different ways. Outlined below are major processes threatening to destroy fish habitat in the waterways of the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Any one process rarely acts alone in it s degradation of fish habitat and often many of the processes can be found within any particular stretch of waterway. Barriers to Migration The flows generated by wet season rains are a major stimulation for fish to migrate however, as they migrate upstream they may encounter one or more barriers across the waterway that prevents further passage. The migratory fish then accumulate downstream of these barriers and may suffer high mortality rates due to disease and predation. There have been over 2,000 barriers to fish migration identified in the Mackay Whitsunday Region, with the majority of these being road crossings. Many of these barriers are located in the lower reaches of the systems, and therefore present a major problem to fish passage. Some of these barriers are subject to drown out each year, allowing some fish passage to occur, while others prevent all movement within the systems they block. What actually constitutes a barrier to fish migration depends on the species involved, it s migratory patterns, life stage and swimming ability. Unlike their American counterparts, Australian native fish don t have the ability to scale large drops in a single leap or handle high flow velocities over anything but short distances. Generally vertical steps greater than 300mm cannot be negotiated by most native fish, with many restricted to even smaller drops than this. Many of the species migrating upstream do so when they are in their juvenile stages. Juvenile fish have neither the swimming ability nor stamina to scale large drops, steep gradients or high velocities for any great distance or length of time. Juvenile barramundi are only able to negotiate flows of around 0.66m/sec, while Australian bass are able to negotiate slightly faster flows of around 1.04m/sec (Mallen-Cooper, 1989). This is still not any where near the ability of adult Atlantic salmon which are able to negotiate flows of at least 2.4m/sec (Mallen-Cooper, 1989). This highlights the differences in the abilities between our native fish and that of overseas counterparts and why research conducted overseas may not always be applicable to our native species. Based on research conducted in Australia, fishways constructed in Queensland have been built with head differences between fishway cells of no more than 100mm and slopes of 1 in 20 or less. With the great success of these structures at passing many different species of various age and size classes, it can be assumed that any structure or obstacle that contains drops of more than 100mm or a slope greater than 1 in 20 could be a considered a potential barrier to fish migration of most species. Throughout the Mackay Whitsunday Region there are thousands of structures which fit this description but are often overlooked as potential barriers. Outlined below is a few of the major types of barriers which would meet these criteria and regularly pose a threat to fish migration in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

37 Weirs and Dams Weirs and dams form obvious barriers to fish migration. They are often put in place to supply water for irrigation or human consumption, provide flood mitigation or even to provide stores of water for recreational use such as swimming or waterskiing. These structures form physical barriers to fish migration (Figure 13). Depending on the size of the structure, weirs and dams may drown out frequently, not affecting passage greatly or they may not drown out at all preventing all upstream passage. The frequency of drown out directly influences the impact that a weir or dam will have on a system, ideally the structure should drown out for at least several weeks per year to provide sufficient passage to sustain upstream populations, although this is dependant on the conditions within individual streams and should be used as a guide only. Passage will also vary for different species and life stages with some better able to negotiate barriers than others, meaning a reduction in certain species that can affect the balance of fish communities upstream. Weirs and dams can also cause a significant danger to fish during downstream migration on certain flows. On large structures, the drop over the wall to the apron below can cause significant damage to fish. These large drops can cause the loss of scales (which in turn can lead to infection), trauma or even death by sheer impact injuries. Some weirs reinforced with rock on the downstream side have also been known to strain out fish as the water passes through the rocks, trapping and killing the fish (NSW Fisheries unpublished report). Ensuring adequate downstream passage is essential to ensuring that fish that have migrated upstream are able to successfully return downstream if required. Figure 13. Dumbleton Weir on the lower Pioneer River is a major obstacle to fish passage that has been fitted with a fishway (Fish Lock, Far Right). Culverts and Pipes The term culverts may cover a number of different types of road crossing structures. Primarily, the term means a set of pipes (Figure 14) or concrete box structures placed underneath a roadway to allow the flow of water under the road. They may be placed within an existing watercourse to allow the continuation of the creek past a road or they may just provide flood relief from overland flow. Whatever the structure, culverts can DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

38 cause problems to fish passage in two main ways, as a physical obstruction or as velocity barriers. Often when a set of culverts have been in place for a number of years, erosion can occur on both the upstream and downstream sides of the structure. Scouring often forms pools on the downstream side of these structures and can form undercut areas which undermine the integrity of the structure and form a barrier to fish migration (Bates 2003, NSW Fisheries 1999). Alternatively, on the upstream side of the structure sedimentation or debris build up and can block the entrance to the culvert structure completely. The concentration of a stream into a relatively small culvert width has the tendency to accumulate debris from flood events on the upstream side of culverts and is able to obstruct the culvert completely. This not only forms a physical barrier for fish but can also reduce the flow through the culvert to a point at which the flow is insufficient for fish to navigate through the culvert. The other main way culverts form a barrier to fish passage is related to flow velocities. The smooth symmetrical shape of both culverts and pipes pose a serious problem to fish, as velocities inhibit fish migration. Most native fish species are only able to swim at high speeds for very short distances. The concentration of the waterway into a reduced cross-sectional area results in a major increase in flow velocities over often long downstream extents. These high velocities over long distances are often greater than what native fish are able to negotiate and thus make even culverts with no head impassable to native fish (NSW Fisheries 1999). Culverts also pose a psychological barrier, in that they often form long dark tunnels which fish hesitate to travel through. Whether this is due to the fear of predation within the tunnel or for some other reason, it poses a real barrier to fish migration for a number of species. Some species such as long finned eel have been observed to have no problem at all with the type of structure, while other species such as bony bream and mullet often balk at the entrance to culvert structures. Figure 14. Pipe culvert on a sub-arterial road. During flows it is likely to have high velocities that prevent passage. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

39 Causeways and Stock Crossings Other road crossings such as causeways (Figure 15) and stock crossings can pose significant barriers to fish migrations. Causeways and stock crossings are usually a problem when they are built up above the bed of the stream, creating a drop much like a small weir. Passage may be provided during flood events when the crossing drowns out, but during lower flows they may create a drop or offer insufficient depth over the structure to allow any significant passage of fish. Another issue is that in an attempt to create a dry crossing, the causeway may have pipes installed to divert low flows under the crossing, these pipes are generally dark and have high velocities, both of which can restrict upstream movement of fish (NSW Fisheries 1999). Figure 15. Low level causeway crossing on the O Connell River showing the step created in low flows. Weeds Weed species such as hymenachne, para grass and water hyacinth can form such dense thickets of growth that they can create either a physical or psychological barrier across a water body. Due to large scale clearing of riparian vegetation, these weed chokes are common in areas of high agricultural activity and can cover extensive areas. Entangling root structures and dense upper plant growth combine to present an all but impenetrable barrier to fish. A secondary problem caused by these weed chokes, especially in the cases of floating weeds, is the barrier created by the lack of light penetration into the water body below the floating mat that some species such as bony bream and mullet are reluctant to enter. Flow Modification Within the Mackay Whitsunday Region native fish species have adapted to natural flow patterns within rivers to survive and reproduce. These species have adapted to the highly variable flows in a number of ways, such as utilising high flows to move upstream, downstream and into isolated habitats. Flow can be modified by urbanisation, catchment development, irrigation and instream storages such as dams and weirs. While altering the natural flow regime may be required for urban or agricultural development, changing the natural flow regime is generally detrimental to native fish species. In many regulated rivers, there has been a reduction in the frequency, magnitude and duration of minor and moderate flood events, while low flow/no flow periods are often extended well beyond their usual extent. All these conditions negatively impact on fish communities through restriction of access to habitats, reduction of suitable spawning conditions or the reduction of instream habitat (Arthington et al. 2001). DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

40 The Water Resource (Pioneer Valley) Plan was released in December 2002 and provides a framework for managing the surface water resources of the Pioneer Valley. In addition the Whitsunday Water Resource Plan process commenced in covering the Proserpine, Andromache and O Connell River catchments as well as all streams that drain to the Goorganga Plains Wetlands. As these plans take into consideration the environmental conditions required in these catchments, it is expected that they will significantly help to maintain aquatic ecosystem conditions in these catchments while fulfilling water resource demands. Waterway Modification Waterways are often modified from their natural state to suit other purposes. Agricultural and urban development in many areas has modified a significant number of waterways of the Mackay Whitsunday Region (Figure 16). Whether it is modification of the riparian vegetation (by clearing), channelisation/diversion of the original stream bed or the complete filling of waterways to provide more viable agricultural land there has been large scale significant modification of waterways in the region that has dramatically affected fish habitats (Arthington et al. 2001). Some water management bodies have, in good faith, altered rivers and creeks to provide increased protection from floods, erosion and hazards along the length of the waterway. While these improvements may benefit the social and economic activities undertaken adjacent to the river, they often neglect to take into consideration fish habitats and passage. Whole sections of rivers which previously provided fish habitat have been degraded in this fashion and are now devoid of any significant structure for native fish. Fish habitat structures such as large woody debris, undercut banks and pool formations are often lost when these improvements take place significantly reducing the available habitat for native fish species. Figure 16. Extensively modified stream in the outer suburbs of Mackay. Most modifications take place to aid runoff of wet season rainfall. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

41 Water Quality Inputs into a waterway from either industrial, agricultural or urban sources can have a major impact on stream water quality. Urban encroachment on natural streams has lead to major changes in water quality along many coastal streams. Litter and garden runoff are contributing factors which have lead to poor water quality in urban environments. Increased nutrient input promotes weed growth and causes great fluctuations in dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand. The breakdown of organic loads can cause the build up of toxic compounds, such as nitrites, which are harmful to many aquatic species at even moderate concentrations (Brody 2004). Agricultural practices have also had a major impact on water quality in most streams of the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Whether it be from cropping or grazing, both farming systems still contribute to inputs into waterways. Loss of ground cover from paddocks can increase top soil loss into creeks, increasing turbidity and associated nutrients, pesticides and herbicides entering the system. The increase in organic load from the introduction of top soil and vegetable matter combine to increase organic load in waterways, and can consequently cause problems with dissolved oxygen content and increased nutrients within the system (Brody 2004). Inorganic chemical input can pose a serious and acute problem with regards to fish health and the ecological condition of a waterway. Pesticides in particular are very dangerous to many animals in the aquatic environment. Invertebrates are especially susceptible to pesticides as they have a very similar external structure to insects, the site of attack of many pesticides. The effects are quickly carried up the food chain, resulting in the accumulation of poisons and residual chemicals in high end predators such as fish (Brody 2004). There are currently many studies being undertaken by many different groups on the regions water qualities. Generally water quality within the region is of a good standard and provides good living conditions for a diverse range of native flora and fauna. However, there are sections of our waterways that yield poor water quality, due mainly to the modification works on the waterway, resulting in shallow pools with high temperatures and extremely low dissolved oxygen contents. Riparian Vegetation Whether through intentional clearing practices or through poor management regimes, the loss of riparian zone vegetation along rivers and creeks has been an ever increasing problem along waterways throughout the Mackay Whitsunday Region (Figure 17). In a grazing environment, poor riparian zone management can allow cattle to graze along banks and into the waterway, further increasing the problem of bank destabilisation through loss of riparian vegetation. Land owners are always under constant pressure to get the most from their land and in the past, riparian zones have been cleared to maximise the land available for agricultural uses. Little was known about the importance of a good riparian zone and the benefits it provides to a waterway. The loss of trees, shrubs and smaller plants and their associated root structures leads to the destabilisation of the bank structure. Under natural conditions, these root structures act to hold the soil structure together and protect the bank from washing away during flow events. In large waterways with large flows, the loss of this structure can lead to high turbidity levels and serious erosion problems, especially on bends. A small waterway devoid of any riparian vegetation often lacks any significant depth, the banks become very gradually sloped and as a result provides very poor habitat for most species of fish (Arthington et al. 2001). DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

42 Another problem caused by the loss of riparian vegetation is the loss of the shade that those trees provide. The increased competition for light when there is a good riparian cover can help to restrict weeds from growing underneath their canopy. The shading provided by the canopy can also provide a visual cover for fish to hide under and can help keep oxygen levels up in water by reducing the temperature of water. This shade will encourage certain species of fish to live in and migrate through the waterway. Species such as snakehead gudgeon have a preference for closed canopies over waterways, most likely providing a sense of security and cover from predators (Arthington et al. 2001). An indirect degradation of fish habitat resulting from poor riparian zones is the loss of potential snags from the system. Often during floods, big trees are washed into the waterway and lodge in the stream bed, providing good habitat for fish and help to break up flows. If larger trees are felled and removed from the riparian zone, the potential for large woody debris to enter the system is removed. Figure 17. Removal of riparian vegetation in this lower section of the Pioneer river has led to several bank slumps that are beginning to affect agricultural land. Sedimentation Sedimentation of waterways generally occurs when there is uncontrolled clearing of catchments that leads to the erosion of soil into waterways. This may occur from either agricultural or urban development, with loss of soil from agricultural land a significant problem throughout Australia. Poor cropping practices or overgrazing leads to the soil being left unprotected and it is easily eroded into the waterway during overland flow events (Arthington et al. 2001). Sedimentation leads to increased turbidity in the water column and can cause problems with dissolved oxygen and photosynthetic activity within the waterway. Further problems are encountered with the smothering of aquatic macrophytes and gravel beds which reduces the available habitats for fish in a waterway (Arthington et al. 2001) (Figure 18). DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

43 Figure 18. Sedimentation in the upper reaches of the Mirani Weir pool. Introduced Flora and Fauna Some of the major threats to our waterways are the introduced species of flora and fauna that take over and destroy natural habitat areas. Many of these were introduced into the environment in good faith as biological control methods, others have been unknowingly introduced from other countries through poor quarantine control methods. In early days the practice of quarantining goods bought from overseas was virtually nonexistent and it was during these times that most of the exotic species were introduced. Flora The majority of weed species generally fall into two categories, water plants and pasture plants that inhabit waterways. Water plants infesting waterways include water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), salvinia (Salvinia spp.) and water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes). Pasture plants of significance include Hymenachne (Hymenachne amplexicaulis), Para grass (Brachiaria mutica) and Guinea grass (Panicum maximum) (Arthington et al. 2001) (Figure 19). These water weeds form dense mats which prevent light penetration through the water, resulting in decreased plankton production, decreased oxygen production during the day and lower water temperatures which can become a problem in winter for tropical species. Reduced light levels also restrict native water plants from growing providing even more nutrients and less competition for the exotic species. Rafts of water plants can also form a physiological barrier to fish movement as the low light levels prevent some species of fish from entering (Broadfoot et. al. 2000). The mats these species form will also pose a physical barrier to fish trying to migrate within the stream. Species such as hymenachne have the ability to form dense growths above and below the water. Nodes spread out beneath the water level while thick wide leaves form walls of vegetation above the water. In shallow streams these type of weeds have the ability to block any chance of fish passage, exclude any other native plant species from growing and cause major problems with dissolved oxygen and biological oxygen demand. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

44 Figure 19. Common water weeds found in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Clockwise from top left: Water hyacinth, Salvinia, Hymenachne and Water Lettuce Fauna The introduction of exotic fish species into Queensland's natural waterways can potentially lead to a reduction in native fish numbers. Exotic fish affect native fish through direct competition for food and space, predation, habitat alteration and the introduction of exotic diseases and parasites. A noxious fish is one that has been declared as harmful by Australian statute law because they are, or may become, a pest to native aquatic communities. Noxious fish have characteristics which are detrimental to other fish, aquatic habitats or humans. Exotic fauna doesn t always have to be non-indigenous to cause problems. A good example of this is the spread of redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) throughout the waterways of Queensland. With the popularity of redclaw in northern Queensland, people have translocated them into their local waterways without any idea of the implications. These crayfish have the potential to exclude species endemic to a region by competing for food and habitat. While still being a native to Australia, a species outside it s natural range can have the same impacts as a non-indigenous species. Species of interest in Mackay Whitsunday Region include tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus), mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki), guppy (Poecilia reticulata), three spot gourami (Trichogaster trichopterus) and redclaw crayfish (Figure 20). All pose a problem to varying degrees but tilapia in particular have a great potential to cause problems for native species. Although the impacts have not been properly identified, tilapias are able to breed in large numbers providing competition for nutrients, habitat and resources. To date only mosquitofish, guppy, swordtails and redclaw have been recorded in the Mackay Whitsunday Region, while the others species mentioned have been found in adjacent regions. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

45 Figure 20. Exotic fish species of concern for the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Clockwise from left tilapia, guppy, three spot gourami. Much more information about exotic pest fish species can be found on the DPI&F s website, FishWeb DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

46 Rehabilitation Techniques to Increase Fish Habitat Availability. Provision of Fish Passage at Barriers Throughout the Mackay Whitsunday region it is estimated that there are over 2000 barriers to fish migration. These barriers have been built for a variety of purposes such as: irrigation supply, flow gauging, on-farm stock and irrigation supply, urban or industrial supply, flow management and flood control, road crossings or simply for urban beautification and recreational facilities. Although many of these barriers may drown-out during high flow events (allowing fish passage), at all other times they block the movement of fish. This means previously interconnected systems within the region are now fragmented and fish passage is severely disrupted. This has a major impact on juveniles that were spawned in marine or estuarine areas and are attempting to migrate upstream, or those freshwater fish that undertake dispersal migrations to ensure survival during the dry season. Whilst building fishways on large barriers is important, the importance of providing fish passage for the more numerous smaller barriers (less than two metres high) also needs to be recognised. Providing passage at these small barriers can be just as critical as at large barriers, especially in lowland wetland/creek systems. In these systems a small barrier can completely block fish passage as the streams are generally very low sloped, have only small rises in water levels and the fish are generally very small. Often, the fishway technology and construction techniques required for low barriers are relatively simple, with limited engineering expertise required. This means that the costs of these structures are well within the reach of community groups backed by NHT funding. There are a number of fishway types that can be built to ameliorate the fish passage issues associated with instream barriers. These include vertical slot fishways, fish locks and fish lifts, built on the larger structures such as dams and weirs or rock ramp, culvert and other nature-based fishways which are used on small weirs and road crossings. These fishways all provide adequate passage for native fish if installed correctly on a barrier, however, the specific variability inherent in environmental rehabilitation makes it impossible to cover every situation with one standard design. This is where expert advice is required to mould general concepts and ideas to each specific site, taking into account the fishes biology, movements and behaviour. Vertical Slot Fishway Vertical slot fishways are used on structures up to 6m high and utilise a sloped channel with equally spaced baffles with vertical slots cut in them to create a series of pools and falls that fish are able negotiate. The vertical slot fishway is a common design in Australia that has been shown to successfully pass a wide range of species and size classes. Currently within the Mackay Whitsunday Region there is only one vertical slot fishway installed, located on Gooseponds Creek upstream of Malcolmson Street in North Mackay (Figure 21). This fishway has successfully passed a wide range of the species found within Gooseponds Creek, with a maximum passage rate of 2000 fish per hour recorded in the rising waters of a flood event. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

47 Figure 21. Vertical Slot Fishway constructed at Gooseponds Creek 2002 as part of the Gooseponds Creek Fishways Project. This fishway is just one of a number of demonstration fishway sites along Gooseponds Creek and is able to pass fish of all sizes. (Photo by Tim Marsden) This design is a modification of the much older pool and weir fishway design in which the vertical baffles do not have a vertical slot and the water falls over the baffle crest into the pool below. This older design has been installed in many locations throughout Australia and has been shown to be ineffectual for providing passage for native fish as they do not tend to leap from pool to pool as the salmonids for which these pool and weir fishways were originally designed for. The addition of a vertical slot into the baffle allows non-jumping species to successfully ascend through the fishway, moving at any level in the water column through the slot. Modern vertical slot fishways have been specifically designed to maximise their effectiveness to the smallest footprint possible. This is achieved by circulating water around the pools in a specific manner (Figure 22) that reduces turbulence in the cell, maximising the resting areas available to fish and enabling them to conserve energy before attempting the ascent to the next cell. In lowland Queensland coastal fishways, fish as small as 10mm are attempting to migrate upstream, vertical slot fishways are required to have turbulence levels below 40W/m 3 if passage of these small fish is to be successful. There are a number of references from Australia and overseas that outline the design construction and monitoring of vertical slot fishways. These include: Rajaratnam et. al. 1986, Mallen-Cooper 1989, 1992, 1994, Keanne 1995, Clay 1995, Stuart and Mallen- Cooper 1999, Broadfoot et. al. 2000, Stuart and Berghuis 2002 and Marsden et. al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

48 Figure 22. Flow lines within one cell of a vertical slot fishway, highlighting the way water flows around the cell, resting areas, deflection baffle and the vertical slot. Fish Locks Fish locks are used on structures 6 20m high and utilise a three chamber design to allow fish to pass a weir in much the same fashion as a boat lock. Fish locks have been installed in many locations in Queensland, always associated with high weirs for which they are most cost effective. They have been shown to successfully pass a wide range of species and size classes when installed in a biologically appropriate manner. Currently within the Mackay Whitsunday Region there is only one fish lock installed, located on Dumbleton Weir (Pioneer River) 10km west of Mackay (Figure 23). This fishway has successfully passed a wide range of the species found within the Pioneer River, with a majority of fish moving through the fishway on the tailend of major flood events. In 1992, Water Resource Commission engineers incorporated Australia s first automated lock-type fishway into the Stage II development of Dumbleton Weir. Based on the Ardnacrusha Dam fishlock design (Shannon River, Ireland), it incorporates three distinct sections, namely (i) the entrance chamber, (ii) the lock chamber, and (iii) the exit channel (Figure 23). The lock operation relies on an automatic cycling system controlled by a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC). The PLC controls the valve and DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

49 gate positions of the lock as well as the duration of entry and exit phases of the operational cycle (Beitz 1992). An automated fishlock operates by firstly attracting fish into a sealable chamber at the base of the weir. The chamber is flooded to a level corresponding or sufficiently close to the storage level of the dam or weir-pool. Fish are then permitted to exit the chamber and enter the storage upstream of the barrier to continue their migration. Fish movements during the various phases (Table 2) of the lock cycle are induced by attraction flows that are maintained by hydraulically controlled valves and gates. EXIT CHANNEL INFLATED RUBBER DAM LOCK CHAMBER ENTRANCE CHAMBER Figure 23. Dumbleton Weir fishlock during a low flow period (winter 2000). Table 2. Automated operational phases of the Dumbleton Weir fishlock. PHASE GATE/VALVE ENTRY FILLING EXIT DRAINING Lock entrance gate Open Closed Closed Closed Lock filling valve Open Open Closed Closed Exit channel gate Closed Closed Open Closed Lock regulating valve Closed Closed Open Open Cycle (minutes) times There are a number of references from Australia and overseas that outline the design construction and monitoring of lock fishways. These include: Beitz 1992, Clay 1995, Thorncraft and Harris 1998, McGill and Marsden 2000, Baumgartner 2003, Berghuis and Broadfoot 2004 and Marsden et. al Fish Lifts Fish lifts are mechanical fishways specifically built to provide passage past high dams. Only one fish lift has been constructed in Australia to date, on the Burnett Dam in Southern Queensland (Figure 24). Currently within the Mackay Whitsunday Region there are no fish lifts and this type of fishway would only be suitable for the large DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

50 impoundments of the region which are low priorities for fish passage. This makes it unlikely that this type of fishway will be required in the region unless a new large dam was built, of which none are currently planned. Figure 24. The Burnett Dam fish lift. Entrance chamber at bottom of picture and lifting hoists at top. The hopper containing fish is nearing the top of the dam. Denil Fishways Denil Fishway are designed for low to moderate height structures and consist of a steeply sloping channel with a series of closely spaced u-shaped baffles (Figure 25). Denil fishways are relatively uncommon in Australia as there are some concerns with their ability to pass surface swimming native fish such as mullet, their robustness during high flow events and their high water requirements for proper operation. Currently there a small number of denil fishways constructed in NSW and Victoria, none have yet been built in Queensland. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

51 Figure 25. Denil fishway layout (Left) and Experimental Denil fishway, Theresa Park Weir (NSW). Named after its inventor, the Denil fishway consists of a sloping rectangular channel with a series of internal upstream-sloping U -shaped baffles without intervening pools. The Denil design allows steeper channels to be used than in vertical-slot designs because they are hydraulically efficient, resulting in shorter fishways. However, large resting pools are required for every 1 m of vertical rise. Denils are not as flexible as vertical-slot fishways because the effectiveness of the vertically asymmetrical baffles decreases with depth. This limits the operational depth range of the channel and reduces the range of headwaters and tailwaters over which it can perform effectively (Rajaratnam & Katopodis 1984). Flow through Denil fishways is highly turbulent, with large momentum exchange and high energy dissipation. The water in the channel flows at a relatively low velocity near the bottom with a faster velocity near the top. The large flow associated with the Denil designs, reduces the deposition of sediment within the fishway and also provides good attraction capability, assisting the fish in finding the fishway. Most denil fishway in Australia have been built on slopes of approximately 1:10. Due to the limitations listed it is unlikely that a denil fishway would be built in North Queensland. Rock Ramp Fishways Rock ramp fishways are used on structures up to 2m high and consists of a series of rock ridges within the waterway channel to create a series of pools and falls that fish are able negotiate. The rock ramp fishway is a common design in Australia that has been shown to successfully pass a wide range of species and size classes. Currently within the Mackay Whitsunday Region there are four rock ramp fishways installed, two located on Gooseponds Creek (Figure 26), one on Reliance Ck and one on an unnamed tributary on Oonooie Station near Sarina. These fishways have successfully passed a wide range of the species found within these systems, with fish as small as 12mm successfully ascending the lower Gooseponds Creek Fishway. Rock ramp fishways are designed to mimic artificial riffle zones but in a more structured way that enables them to maintain position within the stream. The ramp is usually built on a 1:20 slope which has been determined through experimentation to maintain the balance between low cost and passage efficiency. Steeper slopes are cheaper but do not pass fish well, while lower slopes pass slightly more fish but cost more. Rock ramp fishways can be built in a number of forms, either full-width (Figure 26) or partial-width DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

52 (Figure 27) or with high ridge rocks (Figure 28) or low ridge rocks (Figure 29). Most fishways in Australia use the high ridge rock design (where ridge rocks stand more upright) as it allows the rock ramp to cope with a greater range of flows. Partial width and full-width designs are equally built depending on the morphology of the channel, with partial-width designs dominating in wide streams as they are effective and cost less. Rock ramp fishways are relatively cheap to build compared to the more highly engineered vertical slot and lock fishways so are an ideal option for provision of passage at the more numerous low structures in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Figure 26. A full-width rock ramp fishway constructed in 2002 as part of the Gooseponds Creek Fishway Project. Figure 27. A partial width rock ramp fishway built in 2003 on Reliance Creek near Habana. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

53 Figure 28. A high-ridge rock ramp fishway design built to bypass Mount Hunter Weir on the Nepean River, Camden, NSW. Figure 29. A low-ridge rock ramp fishway design, Wyong Weir, Wyong River, NSW. The full-width rock ramp fishway built on Gooseponds creek is a good example of a successful rock ramp fishway project. This fishway project was conducted in conjunction with the local river improvement trust and has successfully passed many species of fish on a wide variety of flows. The design consisted of a 400mm high sheet pile and concrete weir, downstream of which the rock ramp would extend. The rock ramp had four ridges that extended from bank-to-bank and created small 100mm falls through the length of the fishway. The ridges also created a series of pools within the DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

54 fishway that allowed the fish to rest during their ascent. The furthest upstream ridge butts up against the concrete weir and when flow occurs backs up 100mm of water over the weir crest. The rock ramp fishway also extends up the banks to provide a low flow zone adjacent to the bank during high flow periods, when flow velocities are too high in the center of the stream. The construction of the fishway took three days to complete, with an excavator (Figure 30) used for the entire period. Materials used included 80m 3 of 400mm diameter rock and 10m 3 of mm rock. Construction occurred in the following sequence: 1. Site surveyed and engineering plans drawn to PRIT specifications. 2. Diversion channel excavated to allow flow of creek to bypass construction site. 3. Area below weir extensively filled with rock to bring up the bed level of the stream to form the base of the fishway. 4. Excavator compressed fill to stabilise the base of the fishway. 5. The toe of the fishway below water level is stabilised with extra large rocks to a 1:3 slope. 6. Individual rocks of the lowest ridge were set in place at the head of the toe slope 7. Placement of individual rocks for each of the other ridges commenced, with construction starting on the Northern bank to allow the excavator to work its way back across the stream to the access point (Figure 30). 8. The excavator worked on each of the top three ridges as it worked its way back to the access point. 9. The fishway was sealed with black clay as each section was completed and the excavator is forced to move back towards the access point. 10. The excavator finished construction on the high flow section of the fishway on the southern bank. 11. The excavator filled in the diversion channel, allowing flow over the fishway. 12. Work crew watered in the black clay with fire hoses to ensure that the fishway was sealed and that water does not flow under the fishway. 13. The placement of rocks in the top ridge was fine-tuned by hand to ensure that sufficient depth of water flows over the weir crest. 14. Educational signs erected to provide information to the public about the project and the fishway. This fishway had very few difficulties associated with its construction. However costs were increased by the large quantity of fill rock that was required below the weir to form the fishway base. Erosion had scoured out a large hole below the weir that required around 60m 3 of rock rubble to fill. This significantly increased the cost of the fishway to approximately $28,000. This cost was covered by PRIT as part of the weir DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

55 reconstruction costs and it is likely that the cost could have been reduced if the fishway was constructed as part of the regular fishway construction program. Figure 30. Rock Ramp Fishway during the middle stages of construction. The bottom two ridges have been put in place and rocks are being placed on the northern bank of the fishway as the excavator works its way back out of the fishway. Rock ramp fishways have been demonstrated as a cheap, low technology way of providing fish passage past low barriers in the Mackay Whitsunday region, with several new rock ramp fishways currently in the planning phases. There are a number of references from Australia and overseas that outline the design construction and monitoring of rock ramp fishways. These include: Clay 1995, Thorncraft and Harris 1996, Harris et. al. 1996, Thorncraft and Marsden 2000, Thorncraft and Harris 2000, McGill and Marsden 2001, Baumgartner and Lay 2002, Zampatti et. al and Marsden et. al and 2003a. Other Nature-like Fishways In addition to rock ramp fishways there are a number of other nature-like fishways that provide passage past barriers. V-notched log and bypass channel fishways can be used on structures up to 2m high and generally work on the same principles as rock ramps by creating a series of pools and low falls that fish are able negotiate. These fishways can be built as a cheaper and more aesthetically pleasing option to more engineered structures, but usually require more space for construction. These fishways may also be built in areas where there is sufficient suitable land, but the integrity of the barrier is a problem as it allows for the provision of passage without interference to the barriers structural integrity. The V-notched log fishway is in limited use in Australia, although there are many bed control structures using logs that perform a similar function, though not deliberately built as fishways. Currently within the Mackay Whitsunday Region there are two V- notched log fishways installed, both located on Gooseponds Creek (Figure 31). The bypass channel fishway is also not used extensively in Australia, with a small number built in southern states. Currently within the Mackay Whitsunday Region there are two bypass channel fishways, one located on Gooseponds Creek (Figure 32) and one located on Teemburra Creek above Teemburra Dam. Both of these fishway types have successfully passed a wide range of the species found within these systems. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

56 Nature-like fishways attempt to create a natural looking fishway by using natural materials normally found in waterways, such as rocks, gravel and logs. These materials can form the bed, banks or control structures within the fishway channel and are generally arranged to create a series of pools and small falls as other fishways do, but differ from more technical fishway designs such as lock and pool-type fishways as they have no concrete channels or exactly regulated water flows. These soft engineered fishways therefore cannot take the high velocities of concrete channels and are by necessity built on very low slopes of between 1:50 and 1:200. The channel is usually a series of large pools joined by small headloss riffles or falls. A control structure at the upstream exit of the fishway prevents excess drawdown of water from the impoundment and limits water levels down the channel in higher flows. These other forms of nature-like fishways have successfully demonstrated a cheap low technology way of providing fish passage past low barriers in the Mackay Whitsunday region. There are a number of references from Australia and overseas that outline the design construction and monitoring of nature-like fishways. These include: Keeley and Walters 1994, Newbury et. al. 1997, Roni et. al. 2002, FISRWG 2002 and Marsden et. al Figure 31. V-Notched log fishway Downstream of Willets Road constructed as part of the Gooseponds Fishway Project. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

57 Figure 32: Bypass channel fishway at Hicks Road constructed as part of the Gooseponds Fishway Project. (Photo by Jane Eales) Culvert Fishways Culvert fishways are used to provide passage through culvert road crossings which are the most numerous potential barriers to fish movement in the Mackay Whitsunday region. The culvert fishway is only beginning to be used in Australia but has been shown to successfully pass a wide range of species and size classes. Currently within the Mackay Whitsunday Region there two culvert fishways installed, located on Reliance Creek at the Habana Road crossing (Figure 34) and on Lagoons Creek at the Lansdowne Road crossing (Figure 33). These fishways have successfully passed a wide range of the species found within region, with a maximum passage rate of up to 500 fish per hour recorded in the rising waters of a flood event. In the region there are two major types of culvert used in road, highway and railway stream crossing projects, either box culverts or pipes. These structures may impede passage of fish in a number of ways, by either having a physical drop across the structure or having high velocities within the structure. Provision of passage at culverts can be made either during the construction of the structure or retrofitted to existing culverts that are not in need of replacement. New culvert designs can provide adequate passage by taking into account the hydrology of the stream and the fish species present. Culverts should be constructed so that they have no slope across the structure and are their combined size is greater than the low flow channel of the stream. It is also preferred that the base of the culverts is made of natural stream material, or if concrete, buried to sufficient depth to allow natural material to deposit on top to create a natural bed, some design in small streams may have the central culvert at a lower level than the high flow culverts. When retrofitting fish passage to existing culverts, designs should address the problems that are present at the site. If the bed downstream of the culvert has been DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

58 eroded to create a step below the culvert apron, then the fishway should provide access across this drop through, for example, the construction of a rock ramp fishway (Figure 34). If velocities through the culvert barrel are too high then the fishway may be used to pool water up below the culvert and back still water through the culvert. If this is not possible due to culvert capacity, baffles may be inserted into the culvert barrel (Figure 33) to break up the high velocity flow through the culvert, enabling fish to successfully negotiate the structure. There are a number of references from Australia and overseas that outline the design construction and monitoring of culvert fishways. These include: Spotts 2001, Kapitzke and Messer 2002, Kapitzke and Patterson 2002, Bates 2003 and Marsden et. al. 2003a. Figure 33. Culvert baffle fishway at Landsdowne Road in Mackay. The fishway uses concrete railway sleepers in the base of the culvert to provide passage through the culvert. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

59 Figure 34. Rock ramp fishway at Habana Road near Habana. The fishway backs up water through the culvert and spans the drop below the culvert through construction of a partial width rock ramp fishway. Instream Fish Habitat Rehabilitation The modification of instream habitats for riverine protection works or as part of urban or agricultural development usually leads to a loss of fish habitat. This reduces the diversity of habitats within the stream and can negatively impact fish communities. Common problems that impact on fish include: A loss of undercut banks due to slumping of banks after vegetation removal or infilling by sediments from upstream: The removal of large woody debris from the bed and banks of a stream: Channelisation of the stream with a corresponding complete loss of bed and bank habitat. Often streams that have been modified still have healthy fish populations, although they may be different to the community that existed prior to modification. The rehabilitation of instream habitats of various kinds aims to increase the availability of habitats, especially those that are lost during the development process. A number of techniques are available to rehabilitate instream habitats, these techniques have been successful in other locations in Australia and overseas. To date minimal instream habitat rehabilitation has been conducted in the Mackay Whitsunday Region, but the rehabilitation that has been done has been quite successful. Bank Stabilisation The stabilisation of stream banks is an important component in the maintenance of instream habitats for fish. Stream bank instability contributes sediments to the stream bed and reduced the diversity of habitats available to fish. Stabilisation of the stream banks can be undertaken in a number of ways, through revegetation, placement of large woody debris, rock armouring or other engineered protection structures or the construction of specific fish habitat devices such as LUNKERS structures. Revegetation and rock armouring techniques have been developed extensively DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

60 throughout Australia and are outside the scope of this brief document on rehabilitation techniques. Readers should consult references such as A Rehabilitation Manual for Australian Streams or Stream Corridor Restoration for comprehensive details on common rehabilitation techniques for stream bank stabilisation. LUNKERS Structures The LUNKERS (Little Underwater Neighbourhood Keepers Encompassing Rheotaxic Salmonids) structure is a new type of bank stabilisation structure that has been specifically designed to increase the quantity and quality of instream fish habitat available, while also re-enforcing the banks of the stream (Figure 35). LUNKER structures have been constructed in the USA as an alternative undercut bank in waterways with badly eroded and degraded banks as a result of agriculture and grazing (FISRWG 2002). The construction of such structures is relatively straightforward. A large open sided box is constructed from water resistant timber railway sleepers (such as Gympie Messmate). This box is then anchored into the bank of the stream with two long buried anchoring planks and pins through the box into the bed. The box is then covered with rock and soil and the bank re-established over the top of the box and finally revegetated. This creates a large shaded underbank structure that has flow through it and structure within it, ideal for fish such as Jungle perch and sooty grunter. Generally these structures are placed on the outer bend of small streams that have lost undercut bank habitat from stream bank clearing (Figure 36). The structure stabilises the bank, provide erosion protection of the outer bank, increases depth of water in the stream, reduces the temperature of water in the stream and increases the available fish habitat within the stream. The introduction of similar structures to Mackay Whitsunday waterways would further assist in fish species preservation and add vital habitat areas to the degraded waterways once rich in habitat. Once in place these structures will provide fish of various sizes with ideal habitat. The inclusion of these structures into badly degraded creek banks will encourage the return of those fish species that once resided in the area but were lost due to habitat destruction, as well as stabilise the stream bank and prevent further erosion. (FISRWG, 2000) Figure 35. Diagramatic representation of a LUNKER structure with cut-away to reveal detail of the structure. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

61 Figure 36. Partly constructed LUNKER structure on an eroding bank of Elk Creek, Wisconsin, USA. Instream Pool Formation and Wetland Reconstruction In the Mackay Whitsunday Region the channelisation of lowland small streams and infilling of wetland areas has significantly reduced the available habitat for freshwater fish. Although the protection and rehabilitation of slightly modified systems is a preferred technique, the creation of permanent fish habitat in highly degraded systems also can provide great benefit to fisheries. The decision to create new habitat may need to be made in a system where all previously available habitat has been degraded beyond recovery of minor rehabilitation techniques. This often occurs where urban and agricultural development has led to streams being channelised for stormwater runoff control or low areas filled in for land reuse. In this region this type of degradation has generally affected small but significant streams close to urban areas and in major cane farming districts. Previously these low relief streams were a series of interconnected permanent pools or lagoons with riparian vegetation. Their low relief made them easy to modify and over time many have been completely channelised or filled and made into arable land. The formation of pools within these systems can be easily accomplished with heavy machinery, however a number of factors need to be considered when constructing an artificial structure: a) Site Selection Sites should be selected that are going to provide maximum habitat gains through their construction and build on existing habitat if possible. Generally lowland sites that are close to estuarine areas have the greatest fisheries potential, as they can provide valuable nursery habitats to juvenile catadromous species. Sites should have an adequate supply of freshwater to maintain water levels through the dry season and sufficient area to allow appropriate size pools to be formed within local council guidelines. Access to the site should be appropriate for the size of the machinery required to complete the works. b) Design Structures will be limited by site constraints, but should generally try and maintain at least 2.0m of water depth through the centre of the pool to reduce weed coverage of the pond. Sites should also have a variety of habitats DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

62 created within them to maximise fish habitat availability. The addition of rock outcrops and large woody debris increases the variety of substrates for both fish and invertebrates. Riparian zones should also be able to be established as sources of food and shade to the waterhole, as well as filter strips for overland flow into the pools. c) Construction Access, timing of construction and disturbance to the site should be considered carefully with any instream construction project. Sites should have sufficient access for the machinery and vehicles required to undertake the construction to access the site without damaging any habitats, instream or riparian. The timing of construction should also coincide with the dry period to reduce the disturbance to the site and the potential downstream impacts from problems such as sediment disturbance. Work on the site should also minimise the disturbance to potential acid sulphate soils (ASS). If ASS sediments need to be removed for the project to proceed, these should be treated and stored in the correct manner. An example of a successful pool formation project is the Vines Creek Drain Rehabilitation Project (Marsden et. al. 2003b) (Figure 37), which rehabilitated an urban drain in North Mackay, creating habitat that had been totally lost within this system. The project was a success, with several species of fish being recorded in the newly formed habitats shortly after construction. Figure 37. Pool formation in the Vines Creek drain. Before construction, shortly after construction and 4 years after construction (left to right). Several wetland and lagoon reconstruction projects have been conducted in the region, usually in association with housing developments or as overland capture devices on cane farms. The rehabilitation of wetlands and small streams has been extensively cover in Australia and oversees in references such as Lovett and Price (2001), Rutherfurd, et. al. (2000), FISRWG (2002) and Vivash (1999). Protecting Water Quantity and Improving Water Quality A number of activities are being undertaken by various groups to improve fish habitats indirectly. Most of these measures are not targeted at improving fish habitats directly, but rather address other issues such as water quality or quantity to protect the Great Barrier Reef or provide adequate irrigation water to farmers. However, the benefits these projects provide often does have a positive effect on fish and their habitats. The vast majority of this type of work is undertaken by groups with limited interest in fish or fish habitats, but their contribution to the increase in fish habitats should not go unrecognised. It is beyond the scope of this publication to detail the techniques used to address each of these problems and instead a brief overview of work being done and the publications that present the appropriate techniques to address these Key Threatening Process are presented. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

63 Flow Modification Extensive modification of flows has occurred within the Mackay Whitsunday Region, through both urban and agricultural development. The issue of flow modification is administered by the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water. Within the region there are generally two levels of control, areas within a water resource plan (WRP) area and those in other areas. To date the only WRP area in the region is the Pioneer Catchment, although the Proserpine/O Connell catchment is currently under development. NRM&W actively manage all streams to maintain fish habitats, limiting the extraction of water in low flow periods and maintaining flows in high flow periods to ensure biological functions are able to continue. Reports on the management of water resources are available from the NRM&W website, and further information on the WRP process is available at Further information on the management of flows in rivers is also available from federal government departments at or The importance of flow to fish is well recognised and regulated by NRM&W, generally ensuring that development takes regard to aquatic biodiversity when allocating water resources. Water Quality Water Quality issues, including the protection of riparian vegetation, improved land management and reduced sedimentation, nutrient, pesticide and herbicide runoff have been at the forefront of natural resource management issues relating to waterways in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. The rehabilitation of catchments and management of activities that occur within the catchment have been undertaken by a wide range of groups and have focussed on reducing the runoff of poor quality water to the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. This work has included extensive monitoring of water quality, replanting of riparian vegetation and the reduction of sediment, nutrient, pesticide and herbicide runoff from farms. Information on activities and rehabilitation techniques can be found in the publications sections of the websites of a number of the organisations involved in these activities, these include: Mackay Whitsunday NRM group - Land and Water Australia - National Rivers Consortium - Dept Of Environment and Heritage - Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority - These remote resources provide a great deal of information and tools for the identification, management and monitoring of key threatening processes associated with water quality. Onground actions are also undertaken by a number of local groups and these groups should be consulted if land management is to be undertaken to protect waterways. These groups include the local catchment management associations (PICMA, SLCMA and WRICMA), Landcare groups, Conservation Volunteers Australia and Mackay City Council s local environment teams. Most of these groups can be contacted through the Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Group ( DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

64 Introduced Flora and Fauna Introduced fauna and flora have significant economic, environmental and social effects on the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Fauna and flora that impact on waterways are managed by The Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries and the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water. These two departments work in close collaboration with local governments and other key stakeholders to minimise the effect that these pests have on the waterways of the region. Non-indigenous fish should never be released into any natural waterway because of the risk they pose to local fish and the aquatic environment. These fish can establish rapidly, competing with local fish for food and habitat, and introducing diseases and parasites. Some fish pose such a grave danger that they have been declared noxious pests by Australian law. These fish are strictly regulated and cannot be kept, hatched, reared or sold. When caught, all noxious fish should be destroyed; they must not be returned to the water and must never be used as bait, live or dead. Pest fish species are managed by DPI&F and more information on pest fish in Queensland can be found in the fisheries section of the DPI&F website ( Non-fish animal pests and all plant pests are jointly managed by DNRM&W and local councils. More information on the control of animal and plant pests is available on the DNRM&W website ( and from the local councils in the Mackay Whitsunday Region, Mackay City Council ( Whitsunday Shire Council ( Mirani Shire Council ( Sarina Shire Council ( and Broadsound Shire Council ( DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

65 Targets and Actions The Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Plan 2005 document outlines goals for the protection and management of waterways in the region. A number of these goals are important for fish communities, with the goal for the provision of natural hydrological and ecological processes within channels, wetlands and riparian zones being the most relevant. The aim of this document is to detail specific targets and actions for a subset of activities that relate to the goals of the Management Plan. Many of the threatening processes listed in this document are being addressed through the management plan already and although reference will be made to these no further actions than those listed in the plan will be suggested. Threatening processes to fish habitats that have been identified as not being individually addressed in the regional plan will have targets and management actions developed to further prioritisation and action in these activities. These targets will be specific to fish habitat and the conservation and rehabilitation of this habitat. Goals 4. Ensure healthy natural fish communities are maintained in the streams of the Mackay Whitsunday Region. 5. Manage infrastructure development in waterways to ensure that fish habitat quality is maintained and there is free access to habitats. 6. Preserve and enhance the freshwater fish habitats through active management and rehabilitation of habitats and structures. To achieve these goals, resource condition targets, management action targets and actions have been developed to address threatening processes and help guide investment in suitable activities that enhance the fisheries of the Mackay Whitsunday region. Resource Condition Targets, Management Action Targets and Actions Within the Mackay Whitsunday Natural Resource Management Plan 2005 a number of threatening processes to freshwater fish communities and habitats have already been addressed. Processes such as flow modification, water quality, riparian vegetation, sedimentation, and introduced flora and fauna have already been identified and targeted as part of resource condition targets. This document intends to concentrate on areas that have not to date been targeted by the general management plan. Areas that will be addressed in this document include barriers to migration and instream habitat condition. Outlined in Table 3 are Resource Condition Targets, Management Action Targets and management actions for specific fish community and fish habitat related activities. Implementation of these action will significantly improve freshwater fish communities in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

66 Table 3. Resource condition targets, management action target and management actions for freshwater fish habitats in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Management Action Target Management Action Resource Condition Target: Fish passage re-established at 30% of high priority fish passage sites by 2010 Create a strategy for rehabilitation of barriers to fish migration throughout the Mackay Whitsunday Region by Identify all barriers to migration in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. 2. Prioritise the barriers in the region according to the importance of the habitat gains to be made from removal of the barrier. 3. Determine the optimum strategy for removal of the barrier, either through removal of the structure or installation of a fishway. 4. Determine the estimated cost for elimination of the structure as a barrier to fish migration. Negotiate with stakeholders the design and construction of 4 barrier removal projects per year until Establish order of works for high priority barriers based on the priority order, cost estimates and stakeholder participation. 2. Establish contact with owners of the highest priority barriers to determine involvement in project. 3. Determine if the structure can be removed or if a fishway is required. 4. If structure to be removed organise removal and rehabilitation of upstream habitat. 5. If fishway required, design suitable fishway for the structure and organise construction. 6. Monitor response of fish communities to the alteration of the structure. Resource Condition Target: 75% of high priority instream habitats are in good natural condition by Identify critical habitats for priority freshwater fish species in the Mackay Whitsunday Region by 2007 Identify the condition of all instream freshwater fish habitat in the Mackay Whitsunday Region with particular reference to those used by priority fish 1. Sample priority fish species in the region and determine what habitats they use in the streams of the region. 2. Determine the availability of these habitats in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. 1. Pinpoint areas of critical freshwater fish habitat for priority fish species in need of protection in the region. 2. Identify areas in which these habitats have been lost DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

67 species by 2007 in streams of the region. 3. Prioritise areas of critical freshwater fish habitat in need of rehabilitation in the region according to the importance of the habitat gains to be made from rehabilitation. 4. Determine the optimum strategy for remediation of degraded habitat. 5. Determine the estimated cost for rehabilitation of degraded habitat. Negotiate with stakeholders the design and construction of 4 critical freshwater fish habitat rehabilitation projects per year until Establish order of works for high priority critical freshwater fish habitats based on the priority order, cost estimates and stakeholder participation. 2. Establish contact with stakeholders of the highest priority critical freshwater fish habitat to determine involvement in project 3. Design suitable habitat rehabilitation works for the area and organise construction. 4. Monitor response of fish communities to the alteration of the structure DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

68 Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge PICMA and MWNRMG for their valuable contribution to funding for this project, especially the hard work put in by Margaret Lane, Kelly Flower and Jane Eales. Other information was provided by Saskia Von Fahland (SLCMA) and Scott Hardy and Christine Peterson (WRICMA) on the catchments for which they are responsible. Satellite photos used in the report were supplied by Karen Danaher of DPI&F Brisbane. Bibliography Allen, G.R., 1989 Freshwater fishes of Australia. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., Neptune City, New Jersey. Allen, G.R., 1991 Field guide to the freshwater fishes of New Guinea. Christensen Research Institute, Madang, Papua New Guinea. Allen, G. R., Midgley, S. H. and Allen, M. 2002, Freshwater Fishers of Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth, Western Australia. Arthington, Prof. Angela., Choy, Dr Satish., Craigie, Neil., Mackay, Stephen., Poplawski, Dr Wojciech., Pusey, Dr Bradley & Werren, Garry. 2001, Environmental Conditions Report: Pioneer Valley Water Resource Plan. The State of Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Qld. Bagarinao, T., 1999 Chanidae. Milkfishes. p In K.E. Carpenter and V. Niem (eds.) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. The living marine resource of the WCP. Vol. 3. Batoid fishes, chimaeras and bony fishes part 1. (Elopidae to Linophrynidae). FAO, Rome. Bates, K Design of Road Culverts for Fish Passage. Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. Report 110pp. Baumgartner L.J. and Lay C.H., (abstract + oral presentation). The effectiveness of partial-width rock ramp fishways. In: Peterken, C., O'Brien, T. and Keller R. (eds). Proceedings of the Third Australian Technical Workshop on Fishways. Maroochydore, QLD. Baumgartner LJ (2003). The effectiveness of a Deelder lock to restore fish passage on the Murrumbidgee River, Australia. Report to Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Australia, Cronulla. Beitz, E Dumbleton Weir Fishlock. Water Resources Report. Beitz, E Dumbleton Weir Fishlock, Proposed Enhancements. Sunwater Engineering Services Report 12pp. Berghuis, A. P. and C. D. Broadfoot (2004). Upstream passage of Queensland lungfish at Ned Churchward Weir fishlock. Queensland Fisheries Service, Report to Dept. of State Development: 20. Brizga, S.O., Arthington, A.H., Choy, S., Craigie, N.M., Mackay, S., Poplawski, W., Pusey, B. and Werren, G. (2001) Pioneer Valley WRP: current environmental conditions and impacts of existing water resource development. Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Brisbane. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

69 Broadfoot, C. D., Berghuis, A. P.& Heidenreich, M. J Assessment of the Kolan River barrage vertical-slot fishway. DPI Report. Brody Mackay Whitsunday Region, State of the Waters Report MWNRMG Report. 161pp. Bureau Of Meteorology. 2003c, Queensland rainfall anomalies - Current year to date. Departure from annual mean ( base period). Site accessed on the 11 November URL Address: ( Clay, C. H. (1995). Design of Fishways and Other Fish Facilities. Lewis Publishers. Compagno, L.J.V., 1984 FAO species catalogue. Vol. 4. Sharks of the world. An annotated and illustrated catalogue of shark species known to date. Part 2. Carcharhiniformes. FAO Fish. Synop. (125, Vol. 4, Part 2), 655 p. Compagno, L.J.V. and V.H. Niem, 1998 Carcharhinidae. Requiem sharks. p In K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem (eds.) FAO Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes. The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO, Rome. Dodds, K Estuarine and Marine Fisheries resources and habitats: an inventory of the central Queensland coast - Bowen to St Lawrence, MWNRMG, Mackay. Eccles, D.H., 1992 FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Field guide to the freshwater fishes of Tanzania. FAO, Rome. 145 p. Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group. 2002, Stream Corridor Restoration: Principles, Processes, and Practices, 10/98, by the Federal Interagency Stream Restoration Working Group (FISRWG), URL address: Harris, J.R., Thorncraft, G.A. and Wem, P. (1996). Evaluation of a rock-ramp fishway in Australia. In: Fish Migration and Fish Bypasses. (Eds. M. Jungwirth, S. Schmutz and S. Weiss) pp (Blackwell Science: Oxford). Kapitzke, Ross. Messer, Tracey Development of a prototype culvert fishway on university creek, Townsville, North Queensland. Queensland Environmental Conference, Brisbane, May Kapitzke, Ross. & Patterson, John James Cook University School of Engineering, Developing and testing culvert fishways. James Cook University, Townsville, QLD. KEANE, M Report on 1994 Works to Modify the Fitzroy Barrage Fishway into a Trial Vertical Slot Fishway. DPI Report. Keeley, E. R. & Walters, C. J The British Columbia Watershed Restoration Program: Summery of the experimental design, monitoring and restoration techniques workshops. Watershed Restoration Program, British Columbia. Kemp, Jeanette., Brushe, Joy., McDonald, Bill., Bailey, Lynne., Ryan, Tim., Allison, Rosemary., Bahr, Julie., Kelman, Dan., Appleman, Chris., Thompson, Simon., Champion, Irene., Batianoff, George., Fox, Ian., Bean, Tony., Cali, Maree and Anderson, Alex. 2001, Vegetation Units of the Central Queensland Coast Bioregion. Queensland Herbarium, Draft May DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

70 Kuiter, R. H. and Tonozuka, 2001 Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 1. Eels- Snappers, Muraenidae - Lutjanidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 302 p. Lovett, S. and Price, P Managing riparian lands in the sugar industry: a guide to principles and Practices. Sugar research and development corporation/land and Water Australia, Brisbane. Mallen-cooper, M Swimming Ability of Juvenile Barramundi (Lates calcarifer (Bloch)) in an Experimental Vertical-Slot Fishway, NSW Fisheries Internal Report, No. 47. Mallen-cooper, M Swimming Ability of Juvenile Australian Bass, (Maquaria novemaculeata (Steindachner)), and Juvenile Barramundi, (Lates calcarifer (bloch)), in an Experimental Vertical-slot Fishway, A.J.M.F.R. 43, Mallen-cooper, M Swimming Ability of Adult Goldern Perch, (Maquaria ambigua) (Percichthyidae), and Adult Silver Perch, (Bidyanus bidyanus) (Teraponidae), in an Experimental Vertical-slot Fishway, A.J.M.F.R. 45, Marsden, T.J. (2000). Marian Weir Fishway Study, Final Report. Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries. 21 pp. Marsden, T.J. (2001). Clare Weir Fish Passage Study, Pre-Construction Report. Department of Primary Industries, Internal Report. 37pp. Marsden, T.J., Thorncraft, G.A. and McGill, D.A. (2003). Gooseponds Creek Fish Passage Project, NHT Project No , Final Project Report. Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries. 56 pp. Marsden, T.J., Thorncraft, G.A. and Woods, K.L. (2003a). Reconstruction of Culverts and Causeways to Assist Migrations of Adult and Juvenile Fish Project, NHT Project No , Final Project Report. Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries. 30 pp. Marsden, T.J., Thorncraft, G.A. and Woods, K.L. (2003b). Rehabilitation of Freshwater Drains Project, NHT Project No , Final Project Report. Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries. 47 pp. Mackenzie, Rachel. Jackson, Peter. and Cotterell, Elizabeth. 2000, Control of Exotic Pest Fishes, An operational strategy for Queensland freshwaters Department of Primary Industries, Internal Report. 39pp. McDowall, R. (1996) Freshwater Fishes of South-Eastern Australia, South China Printing, Hong Kong. McDowall, R.M. and Beumer, J.P Family Anguillidae: freshwater eels. p In R.M. McDowall (ed.) Freshwater fishes of south-eastern Australia. A.H. & A.W. Reed Pty. Ltd. Sydney. McGill, D. & Marsden, T Dumbleton Weir Fishlock Assessment, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Internal Publication. McGill, D.A. and Marsden, T.J. (2001). Fairmount Weir Rock-Ramp Fishway Assessment. Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries. 19 pp. Merrick, J.R. and Schmida, G.E. (1984). Australian freshwater fishes: biology and management. (Griffin Press: Adelaide). DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

71 Murphy, I Mackay Whitsunday region spending habits of recreational fishers and their contribution to the economy, Sunfish QLD Inc., May edition. Newbury, Dr. R., Gaboury, M. & Watson, Dr. C Field Manual of Urban Stream Restoration, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Springfield. NSW Fisheries Policy and Guidelines for Bridges, Roads, Causeways, Culverts and Similar Structures (eds S Fairfull and S Carter). NSW Fisheries, Sydney. Northcote, T.G. (1984). Migratory strategies and production in freshwater fish. In: Ecology of freshwater fish production. (Ed. S.D. Gerking.) pp (Blackwell Scientific Publications: Oxford). Orr, T.M. and N.E. Milward, 1984 Reproduction and development of Neosilurus ater (Perugia) and Neosilurus hyrtlii Steindachner (Teleostei: Plotosidae) in a tropical Queensland stream. Aust. J. Mar. Freshwat. Res. 35: Pusey, B.J., A.H. Arthington and M.G. Read, 1995 Species richness and spatial variation in fish assemblage structure in two rivers of the wet tropics of northern Queensland, Australia. Environ. Biol. Fish. 42(2): Rajaratnam, N., Katopodis, C Hydraulics of Denil Fishways. J. Hydraulic. Eng. 110(9): Rajaratnam, N., Van Der Vinne, G., Katopodis, C Hydraulics of Vertical Slot Fishways. J. of Hydraulic Eng. 112 (10): Randall, J.E. and K.K.P. Lim, 2000 Elopiformes: Elopidae (tenpounders), Megalopidae (tarpons). p In J.E. Randall and K.K.P. Lim (eds.) A checklist of the fishes of the South China Sea. Raffles Bull. Zool. (8): Roni, Philip., Beechie, Timothy J., Bilby, Robert E., Leonetti, Frank E., Pollock, Michael M. & Pess, George R A Review of the Stream Restoration Techniques and a Hierarchical Strategy for Prioritising Restoration in Pacific Northwest Watersheds. North America Journal of Fisheries Management 22:1-20, Rutherfurd, Ian D., Jerie, Kathryn. & Marsh, Nicholas. A rehabilitation Manual for Australian Streams: Volume 1. Land and Water Resources Research and Development Corporation, Canberra, ACT. Spotts, David E Culvert Designs for Fish Passage in Pennsylvania. A Time for Action, ICOET Proceedings 2001, Fisheries: Stuart, I.G. (1999) Assessment of a vertical-slot fishway for non-salmonid fish at a tidal barrier on the subtropical Fitzroy River, Queensland. Msc. Thesis. Central Queensland University. 208 pp. Stuart, I.G., Mallen-Cooper, M An Assessment of the Effectiveness of a Verticalslot Fishway for Non-salmonid Fish at a Tidal Barrier on a Large Tropical/Subtropical River, Regul. Rivers: Res. Mgmt. 15: Stuart, I. G. and Berghuis, A. P Upstream passage of fish through a vertical-slot fishway in an Australian subtropical river. Fisheries Management and Ecology, 9, p Thorncraft, G.A., and Harris, J.H. (1996). Assessment of rock-ramp fishways. NSW Fisheries Research Institute Internal Report. 39 pp. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

72 Thorncraft, G.A., and Harris, J.H. (1998). Status report on fish passage and fishways in New South Wales. NSW Fisheries. 37 pp. Thorncraft, G. & Harris, J.H. (2000) Fish Passage and Fishways in New South Wales: A Status Report, Office of Conservation, NSW Fisheries, Sydney. Thorncraft, G.A., and Marsden, T.J. (2000). Rock Ramp Fishways, Design Guidelines (Draft). Queensland Department of Primary Industries, Fisheries Internal Report. Usher, Harry., Broadsound and Sarina Coastal and Islands Land Use Study of State Lands. The State of Queensland, Department of Natural Resources, Brisbane, Qld. Vivash, R. (1999) Manual of River Restoration Techniques, Arca Press Ltd, Bedford. Zampatti, B., Koster, W. and Crook, D Assessment of the rock-ramp fishway at Dights Falls, lower Yarra River, Melbourne. State of Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment Report. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

73 Appendix 1 - Native Fish Species Information Whaler sharks Bull shark Carcharinus leucas (Valenciennes, 1839) Maximum size: 3500mm Biology: A coastal and freshwater shark that readily penetrates far up rivers. Young enter rivers and may be found hundreds of km from the sea. Feeds on bony fishes, other sharks, rays, mantis shrimps, crabs, squid, sea snails, sea urchins, mammalian carrion, sea turtles, and occasionally garbage. Probably the most dangerous species of tropical shark, it is repeatedly implicated in attacks on humans. Distribution: This species commonly occurs in seas, estuaries and coastal rivers around most of Australia. Its distribution also extends throughout tropical and temperate waters around the world. The bull shark is also found in landlocked lakes in New Guinea and South America. Favoured Habitats: The bull shark inhabits shallow waters especially in bays, estuaries, rivers, and lakes. Migratory Requirements: Random movement between fresh and brackish water is common, however it is believed that this species does not rely on this movement for survival. Adults often found near estuaries and freshwater inflows to the sea. Females recorded moving upstream to pup in the Brisbane River. Population Status: Little evidence of a reduction in the population is available, however generally though to be in fewer numbers than 20 years ago. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, removal from natural habitat to protect residents in canal estates, destruction of habitat and commercial fishing pressure. Conservation Status: Not listed References: Compagno 1984, Eccles 1992, Compagno and Niem 1998, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

74 Tarpons Oxeye herring Megalops cyprinoids (Broussonet, 1782) Maximum size: 1500mm Biology: A predatory species, the oxeye herrings diet includes small fish, crustaceans and insects. This species is tolerant of poor water quality and is known to breathe air, rising regularly to the surface to do so. Adults breed and remain offshore, while juveniles commonly migrate into freshwater and lower estuarine habitat Distribution: The oxeye herring is commonly found along the eastern and northern coasts of Australia. This species has a very wide distribution in tropical waters from East Africa to Tahiti. Favoured Habitats: Oxeye herring occur in river mouths, inner bays, mangrove forests, rivers, lagoons, lakes, and swampy backwaters. Migratory Requirements: Migration is not considered essential for species survival. Juveniles regularly captured migrating upstream during fishway monitoring. It is considered that juveniles utilise freshwater habitats as nursery areas. Population Status: There is little evidence of change in abundance or distribution of this species, although it is no longer found above several barriers in the region. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat and recreational fishing pressure. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Allen 1991, Kuiter and Tonozuka 2001, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

75 Freshwater eels Pacific short-finned eel Anguilla obscura (Gunther, 1872) Illustration: Jill Ruse Maximum Size: 1100mm Biology: The Pacific short-finned eel has a catadromous life cycle, with the sub-adults spending the majority of their lives in fresh or brackish water. Adults migrate downstream during autumn and breeding is thought to occur in the Coral Sea as with other eel species. Distribution: The Pacific short-finned eel has a patchy distribution along the northeast coast of Queensland, inhabiting coastal waterways from Northern Cape York Peninsula to Mackay. Also found in the Pacific from Western New Guinea and Australia as far east as the Society Islands. Favoured Habitats: The Pacific short-finned eel is found in freshwater streams, lakes, swamps, coastal lagoons and the lower reaches of rivers, being most common in the latter two. Migratory Requirements: Adults require unrestricted downstream access, this can be affected by hydroelectric systems. Elvers require upstream access, especially during the wet season. Population Status: The species is uncommon throughout its range in Australia and there is little evidence for change in the population. However degradation of swamps and small streams along the coast may have had a negative impact on this species. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, may form part of commercial catch. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen 1991, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

76 Long-finned eel Anguilla reinhardtii (Steindachner, 1867) Photograph: Gunther Schmida Maximum Size: 2000mm Biology: The long-finned eel is a catadromous species, with the sub-adults spending the majority of their lives in fresh or brackish water. Breeding occurs in the Coral Sea, with elvers undertaking extensive migrations throughout coastal drainages. A demersal species which occurs in coastal lagoons, rivers, streams, lakes, swamps and farm. Mainly a nocturnal feeder, long-finned eels feed on small water birds, fish, crustaceans, insects, molluscs and some plant material. Distribution: This species is widespread, commonly found along the East Coast of Australia from Northern Cape York Peninsula to Melbourne (Vic), and the northern and eastern coast of Tasmania. Also occurs in New Caledonia, New Guinea and Lord Howe Island. Favoured Habitats: Adults prefer riverine habitats, while juveniles are found abundantly in riffle zones. Migratory Requirements: Adults require unrestricted downstream access, this can be affected by hydroelectric systems. Elvers require upstream access, especially during the wet season. Population Status: Populations have declined in areas where barriers to migration are present and where commercial fishing pressure is high. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, commercial fishing. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: McDowall and Beumer 1980, Merrick and Schmida 1984, Marsden 2001, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

77 Herrings Bony bream Nematalosa erebi (Gunther, 1868) Maximum Size: 400mm Biology: Bony bream are a schooling species that commonly inhabits lowland streams of the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Frequently noted in large shoals feeding on benthic algae, but also feeds on insects and small crustaceans. Spawning may occur repeatedly in the north with a peak during the wet season, while in the south probably occurs on an annual basis in the spring. Distribution: The bony bream is very common throughout coastal streams of northern and eastern Australia and southwestern Papua New Guinea, from Fortesque River near Dampier Archipelago in Western Australia, eastward through the Northern Territory and Queensland. Also occurs in the Murray-Darling and Lake Eyre catchments in central Australia and the Bensbach River and Digoel River in Papua New Guinea. Favoured Habitats: Larger watercourses running through relatively rainforest, dry open eucalyptus forest or desert areas, preferring sluggish or quiet waters. Migratory Requirements: Potadromous species that undertakes extensive dispersal migrations throughout the year with peaks in the summer/wet season. Population Status: The population of bony bream may have increased in recent times due to increased nutrient input to waterways (increasing algae) and reductions in predator species from over fishing and barriers to migration. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen 1989, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

78 Fork-tailed catfish Lesser salmon catfish, blue catfish Arius graeffei (Kner and Steindachner, 1867) Maximum Size: 600mm Biology: The lesser salmon catfish is a mouth-brooding species that breeds in the period from September through to February. The males carry the large eggs for the period of incubation and do not feed during this time. The lesser salmon catfish feeds on small fish, plant matter, crustaceans, molluscs and insects. Distribution: Commonly occurs across the north and east coast of Australia, from the Hunter River (NSW) to the Ashburton River (WA). Favoured Habitats: They are found in a variety of habitats, includes freshwater rivers and lagoons, estuaries and coastal marine waters. Migratory Requirements: The species undertakes amphidromous migrations all year round, generally moving during the night. It is a commonly caught species during trapping of fishways in coastal Queensland streams. Population Status: Populations of lesser salmon catfish may have increased in recent years, with anecdotal angler reports of more common captures. This may have occurred because of a reduction in popular commercial and recreational species such as barramundi, which are known predators of catfish. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Marsden 2001, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

79 Eel-Tailed Catfish Black catfish Neosilurus ater (Perugia, 1894) Maximum Size: 470mm Biology: A typical bottom dwelling catfish, the black catfish has a diet that consists of crustaceans, molluscs, insects and worms. This species migrates upstream to shallow riffle zones in small streams where spawning occurs, before returning to the main river. Juveniles move downstream from the spawning zones shortly after hatching. Distribution: More common in northern Australia this species occurs from the Carson River (WA), to Groote Eylandt (NT), but also in the Palmer, Edward, Wenlock, Jardine, Pascoe, Starcke, McIvor, Normanby, Annan, Ross and Burdekin Rivers in North Queensland. Has also been recorded in freshwater streams of the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Favoured Habitats: Black catfish is commonly found in quickly flowing portions of streams and rivers, but may also be frequent in still or slowly flowing pools of water and adjoining channels. Migratory Requirements: Spawning migrations occur during the flood flows of the wet season. Population Status: Little is known of the population status in the Mackay Whitsunday Region, although anecdotal reports indicate some decline in populations due to habitat degradation. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Orr and Milward 1984, Pusey et al. 1995, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

80 Hyrtl s tandan Neosilurus hyrtlii (Steindachner, 1867) Photo Chris Marshall Maximum Size: 350mm Biology: Because hyrtl s tandan is found in many geographically isolated regions, it is quite possible that this fish may present more than one species. Hyrtl s tandan feed on insects, worms, molluscs and crustaceans. In the dry tropics region, this species has been recorded migrating upstream to shallow riffle zones to spawn, before returning to the main river. Juveniles move downstream from the spawning zones shortly after hatching. Distribution: This species is very common throughout most of Queensland and the northern parts of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. It is also very widespread through central Australia. Favoured Habitats: This species can be found in a diverse array of habitats including, riffles runs and and pools. Migratory Requirements: Spawning migrations occur during the flood flows of the wet season. Population Status: Little is known of the population status in the Mackay Whitsunday Region, although anecdotal reports indicate some decline in populations due to habitat degradation. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Orr and Milward 1984, Pusey et al. 1995, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

81 Freshwater catfish Tandanus tandanus (Mitchell, 1838) Photograph: Gunther Schmida Maximum Size: 900mm Biology: A typical bottom dwelling catfish, the freshwater catfish build gravel nests during the summer months in which spawning occurs. The nest is constructed and guarded by the males in shallow sandy reaches. The freshwater catfish feeds on small fish, molluscs, crustaceans and insects. Distribution: They are found in streams along Australia s East Coast from the Shoalhaven River (NSW) to the Daintree River (Qld). In the Mackay Whitsunday Region the freshwater catfish has a patchy distribution based on availability of suitable spawning habitats. Favoured Habitats: This species can be found swimming close to sand or gravel bottoms in slow moving streams, lakes and ponds with fringing vegetation. Migratory Requirements: This species does not undertake significant migrations, although known to move locally. Population Status: The freshwater catfish used to be common to the Murray-Darling Basin however the presence of the introduced carp within the same catchments is believed to have caused a decline in numbers. They may have undergone a reduction in population in the Mackay Whitsunday Region due to sedimentation associated with agricultural development. Potential Threats: Sedimentation, destruction of habitat, poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

82 Longtoms Freshwater longtom Strongylura krefftii (Gunther, 1866) Maximum Size: 900mm Biology: Freshwater longtom inhabit large bodies of water either still or slow flowing from the tidal reaches to far inland. They shelter amongst submerged roots and overhanging vegetation. Observations suggest that this species spawns in freshwater with juveniles being found well upstream as well as in enclosed impoundments. Freshwater longtom feed on passing fish, crustaceans and insects, capturing prey with their long beak. Distribution: This species has a widespread distribution in coastal streams from the Dawson River (Qld) to the Fitzroy River (WA). Favoured Habitats: Longtom prefer still or slow flowing reaches of streams where aquatic macrophytes or overhanging vegetation are present. Migratory Requirements: Freshwater longtom have been recorded moving through fishways in Queensland although not in any great numbers. Population Status: Not found in great abundance except in freshwater impoundments around Mt Isa. There is no information about population changes for this species. Potential Threats: Recreational fishing pressure. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, McGill and Marsden 2000, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

83 Hardyheads Fly-specked hardyhead Craterocephalus stercusmuscarum (Gunther, 1867) Maximum Size: 70mm Biology: The fly-specked hardyhead is commonly found in small shoals, often mixed with other rainbowfish species. They generally inhabit still or slow-flowing waters of rivers, streams, lakes, ponds and reservoirs around aquatic vegetation, but can also be found in fast-flowing creeks. Fly-specked hardyhead feed on a variety of small insects and macroinvertebrates along with submerged vegetative matter. Breeding occurs in spring and summer, with numbers increasing at this time, before waning into the winter months. Distribution: There are two subspecies C. stercusmuscarum stercusmuscarum and C. stercusmuscarum fulvus with the latter being found in the Murray-Darling system as well as the Mary and Brisbane Rivers. C. s. stercusmuscarum is found in the coastal drainages of eastern Queensland including Fraser Island, around to the Timor Sea drainages of the Northern Territory. Favoured Habitats: Found around the inflowing waters of pools and around aquatic vegetation. Migratory Requirements: Has been recorded migrating in small streams around Mackay in moderate numbers during flow events associated with the wet season. Population Status: This species is common throughout its range, can be locally abundant when conditions are suitable. There is no information about population changes for this species. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al. 2002, Marsden et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

84 Rainbowfishes Eastern rainbowfish Melanotaenia splendida (Peters, 1866) Maximum Size: 140mm Biology: This species forms small shoals near the surface of the water body, commonly near woody debris and aquatic vegetation. Breeding occurs throughout the warmer months, with multiple spawning occurring if conditions are good. Rainbowfish feed on a variety of small insects and macroinvertebrates along with submerged vegetative matter. Distribution: The Eastern rainbowfish is common throughout its range of northeastern and central Australia. Favoured Habitats: The Eastern rainbowfish can be found in a variety of different habitats such as rivers, creeks, swamps, marshy lagoons, lakes and reservoirs. Migratory Requirements: The Eastern rainbowfish is a potadromous species that undertakes extensive dispersal migrations during high flow periods. Population Status: One of the most common species captured during sampling in the Mackay/Whitsunday Region. Still common in most streams, however does not occupy highly degraded streams. There is no information about population changes for this species, however is likely to have undergone reduction due to extensive habitat modification. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not Listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al. 2002, Marsden et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

85 Blue-eyes Pacific blue-eye Pseudomugil signifer (Kner, 1865) Maximum Size: 70mm Biology: Pacific blue-eye s are often found in tidal mangrove creeks, but also occupy the clear, fresh waters of forest streams, where they prefer flowing reaches of stream. The Pacific blue-eye feeds on small insects, quickly darting about collecting food carried by the current. The Pacific blue-eye can be found within the upper reaches of estuarine waters as well as freshwater areas, and it is not known if this fish species truly is amphidromous. Even though there are large geographical barriers isolating and creating many communities, morphological studies show there is only one species. Distribution: This species is found along the east coast of Australia from Ulladulla (NSW) to Cooktown (Qld). Favoured Habitats: They can be found in fast flowing sections of freshwater streams from the headwaters right down to the tidal reaches. They generally penetrate further upstream in the northern extent of their range, being only found in tidal waters in NSW. Migratory Requirements: Not recorded migrating in the region in any great numbers. Found above many barriers, therefore migration may not be critical for this species. Population Status: The species prefers streams with abundant riparian vegetation and may have declined somewhat in the Mackay region due to extensive clearing of habitat. Potential Threats: Destruction of habitat, poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

86 Scorpionfishes Bullrout Notesthes robusta (Gunther, 1860) Maximum Size: 300mm Biology: This species is only encountered in the lower reaches of coastal streams, generally not being found more that 50km from estuarine waters. An ambush predator it spends the majority of its time camouflaged amongst rocks or weed, the bullrout feeds on passing fish, crustacean and insect prey. Both juveniles and adults have venomous dorsal, anal and pelvic spines and should not be handled. Distribution: This species is found along the east coast of Australia from the Clyde River (NSW) to the Daintree River (Qld). Favoured Habitats: Bullrout are found dwelling on the bottom of slow flowing and still freshwater streams over a rock, sand or gravel substrate. Migratory Requirements: Bullrout are a catadromous species that undertakes downstream migration at the onset of winter to spawn in estuaries. Adults and juveniles migrate upstream during spring and summer. Population Status: Not much is known about the distribution and abundance of this species, however due to its migratory life cycle it would have undergone declines in streams that had barriers to migration built on them. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

87 Glassfishes Sailfin glassfish Ambassis agrammus (Gunther, 1876) Maximum Size: 75mm Biology: This species inhabits a wide variety of habitats, including rivers, creeks, ponds, reservoirs, and swamps. Generally found close to aquatic vegetation this species feeds on insects and small crustaceans. It is believed that this fishes breeding habits are stimulated by the onset of monsoonal spring rains, as with their close relative A. agrammus, however it is currently unclear of the species migratory needs. Distribution: This species is distributed from the Murray-Darling system through to the coastal waterways of New South Wales and Queensland. Favoured Habitats: This species inhabits a wide variety of habitats, including rivers, creeks, ponds, reservoirs, and swamps, but always found close to aquatic vegetation. Migratory Requirements: Unknown Population Status: There is no information about population changes for this species, however is likely to have undergone reduction due to extensive habitat modification. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

88 Giant Perches Barramundi Lates calcarifer (Bloch, 1790) Juvenile barramundi captured in the lower reaches of small freshwater stream. Maximum Size: 1800mm Biology: Barramundi are a large (1.8m max) carnivorous species that feed on a wide range of fish and crustaceans. They are unusual as all smaller fish are male and larger fish are generally female. Males undergo a sex change at around 4-5 years of age, forming the female population. Breeding occurs in the warmer months with an early peak for estuary based fish and a later peak for fish from fresh waters, these fish rely on wet season floods to migrate downstream to estuarine spawning grounds. There are several genetic stocks of barramundi in different geographical regions throughout Australia, with specimens found in the Mackay Whitsunday Region being of either the Northern or Southern, East Coast strain. Barramundi are widely distributed through river systems, with juveniles of this species found in the lower reaches of freshwater streams and wetlands, as well as in upper tidal reaches of estuarine systems. Subadult and adult fish are found up to 300km from estuarine areas in large freshwater streams, although a proportion of the population do not leave estuarine waters. Large adults who have spawned remain in estuarine and near shore areas. Distribution: The distribution of this species is widespread along the north coast of Australia, form Shark Bay (WA) to the Mary River (Qld), it is also found throughout tropical areas of the Indo-West Pacific Region from the Persian Gulf to Japan, New Guinea and Australia. Favoured Habitats: Barramundi inhabit a wide range of habitats within rivers, but are generally found around logs, aquatic macropytes, mangrove roots, rocks and overhanging vegetation. Migratory Requirements: Barramundi are a catadromous species whose movements are stimulated by the onset of the wet season. Juveniles migrated upstream from the spawning grounds at the mouth of rivers into small lowland freshwater creeks and wetlands where they remain for 12 months. As sub adults they then undertake extensive upstream migrations in larger creeks and rivers and may penetrate up to 300km inland. They remain in these habitats for a number of years before migrating DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

89 downstream to spawn as adults. After spawning adults generally remain in estuarine areas and do not return to freshwater. A migrating sub-adult barramundi captured below a barrier. Population Status: Recreational fishermen report declines in the abundance of this species, while commercial catches have remained static over the last 20 years. In areas where barriers to migration are present this species has become extinct upstream of the barrier due to the requirement of the species to spawn in saltwater. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality, commercial and recreational fishing. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

90 Grunters Barred grunter Amniataba percoides (Gunther, 1864) Maximum Size: 180mm Biology: Barred grunter are found throughout river systems from the headwaters to estuarine areas, being more common in upper reaches. This species can tolerate both fresh and brackish waters, and is found in both fast flowing and still waters. Barred grunter feed on crustaceans, insects and plant material and are recognised as an aggressive species, despite their small size. Distribution: The Barred grunter is widely distributed in coastal streams across northern Australia from the Ashburton River (WA) to the Burnett River (Qld). It also occurs in inland drainages of the north such as Lake Eyre. Favoured Habitats: Can be found in a wide variety of habitats. Migratory Requirements: Barred grunter are often captured during fishway monitoring in low numbers, moving on a variety of flows. They are a very capable migratory species, passing barriers that most other species are unable to negotiate. They were found to be one of only three species that were able to ascend the pool and weir fishway on Marian Weir in the Pioneer River, this fishway had drops of over 300mm between pools that prevented other species from ascending. Population Status: The species is commonly found within its range and there is no evidence of change in the abundance of this species in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Marsden 2000, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

91 Sooty grunter Hephaestus fuliginosus (Macleay, 1883) Maximum Size: 500mm Biology: An aggressive predator that grows quite large, sooty grunter has become one of the prime stocking species in North Queensland. This species migrates into the upstream reaches of a system to spawn in response to rising water levels during the wet season. They commonly feed on fish, invertebrates, algae and plant matter. Distribution: Sooty grunter have a patchy distribution in coastal waterways from the Daly River (NT) to Pioneer River (Qld). In the Mackay Whitsunday Region, sooty grunter are only recorded naturally occurring in the Pioneer River (although it may be possibility that they were stocked in the seventies). They have also been stocked into Teemburra Dam (Pioneer River), Kinchant Dam (Sandy Creek) and Peter Faust Dam (Proserpine River). Favoured Habitats: This species prefers the upper reaches of freshwater systems consisting of a sandy or rocky substrate densely covered with aquatic plants. Migratory Requirements: This species migrates into the upstream reaches of a system to spawn during the wet season. Juveniles also undertake upstream dispersal migrations after being displaced downstream after spawning. Population Status: The species is commonly found within its range and there is no evidence of change in the abundance of this species in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality and recreational fishing. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Marsden 2000, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

92 Spangled perch Leiopotherapon unicolor (Gunther, 1859) Maximum Size: 300mm Biology: Spangled perch are found throughout rivers systems from the headwaters to estuarine areas, being more common in upper reaches. This species is believed to survive drought situations by aestivating in wet mud or under moist litter on the bottom of ephemeral waterholes. The spangled perch feeds on insects, crustaceans and small fish. Spangled perch undertake extensive dispersal migrations whenever flow is available, they have even been recorded moving across flooded land to reach isolated waterholes. Distribution: This species is the most widespread freshwater native fish of Australia. Occuring in systems north of the Greenough River (WA) through the top end and down to the Hunter River (NSW). Also occurring in the northern section of the Murray-Darling system and inland in the Lake Eyre/Bulloo-Bancannia drainage systems. Favoured Habitats: Spangled perch occupy a variety of habitats including pools and riffles and even isolated bore drains. Migratory Requirements: They are a very capable migratory species, passing barriers that most other species are unable to negotiate. They were found to be one of only three species that were able to ascend the pool and weir fishway on Marian Weir in the Pioneer River, this fishway had drops of over 300mm between pools that prevented other species from ascending. Population Status: The species is commonly found within its range and there is no evidence of change in the abundance of this species in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality and recreational fishing. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Marsden 2000, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

93 Flagtails Jungle perch Kuhlia rupestris (Lacepede, 1802) Maximum Size: 450mm Biology: Jungle perch are a moderately large species that prefer fast flowing streams and rivers. There is limited information about the life cycle of jungle perch, but it is thought that adults migrate to estuarine areas to breed, juveniles and adults captured migrating upstream during wet season flows. Jungle perch feed primarily on fish, crustaceans and insects, but also feed on fruits that fall into their habitat. Distribution: This species can be found along the east coast of Queensland from the Cape York Peninsula to Fraser Island. Favoured Habitats: They are generally found in the upper reaches of systems amongst clear-water rocky pools, often associated with rainforest areas. Migratory Requirements: This species is thought to be catadromous, with both adults and juveniles captured during sampling associated with Dumbleton Weir fishlock monitoring. Population Status: Jungle perch have a patchy distribution in association with its preferred habitat, but may be common where suitable habitat exists. It is widely recognised that this species has undergone a significant decline over the past 30 years and plans for recovery programs are currently under development. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality and recreational fishing. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, McGill and Marsden 2000, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

94 Cardinalfishes Mouth almighty Glossamia aprion (Richardson, 1842) Maximum Size: 200mm Biology: The mouth almighty is a small species found in slow flowing streams, lakes, pools, swamps and reservoirs. It is a nocturnally active carnivore preying on small fish and crustaceans. It is generally found around well-vegetated margins, living amongst aquatic macrophytes where it ambushes its prey. Distribution: Mouth almighty are found across a broad range over the northern coast of Australia. There are two sub-species, the sub-species G. aprion aprion occurs from the Fitzroy River (WA) across Northern Australia to Mackay (Qld) and the sub-species G. aprion gillii from the Clarence River (NSW) to the Fitzroy River (Qld). Favoured Habitats: Around well-vegetated margins, living amongst aquatic macrophytes Migratory Requirements: Mouth almighty are not regarded as a migratory species, although low numbers have been captured during sampling of fishways in Gooseponds Creek. Population Status: The species is commonly found within its range and there is no evidence of change in the abundance of this species in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Potential Threats: Destruction of habitat, poor water quality and recreational fishing. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

95 Mullets Sea mullet Mugil cephalus (Linnaeus, 1758) Maximum Size: 750mm Biology: Sea mullet are primarily a marine species however they commonly penetrate considerable distances into freshwater streams. Sea mullet feed on algae, detritus and benthic invertebrates and are generally found in habitats with suitable substrate for foraging. Distribution: This species is distributed worldwide in temperate and tropical seas and is found in coastal streams all around Australia. They are generally more common in temperate waters. Favoured Habitats: Commonly found over substrates suitable for foraging for their preferred foods (algae). Migratory Requirements: They are considered to be an amphidromous species that penetrates well upstream in many coastal catchments. Sea mullet migrates downstream on mass during autumn in preparation for spawning at sea in the winter months, mainly juveniles then return upstream during the warmer months, with most adults remaining at sea. Population Status: Barriers to migration have led to significant changes to freshwater populations of sea mullet, with even small barriers affecting numbers greatly. In the Pioneer River significant mullet runs were recorded as far upstream as Finch Hatton prior to the construction of three weirs in the system. Mullet are no longer recorded upstream of Dumbleton Weir in the lower reaches of the system. In systems with few barriers numbers remain stable although there is little information from these systems. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat, poor water quality and commercial fishing. Conservation Status: Not listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, McGill and Marsden 2000, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

96 Gudgeons Empire gudgeon Hypseleotris compressa (Krefft, 1864) Maximum Size: 70mm Biology: Empire gudgeons are common in the lower reaches of river systems where they are found in both still and flowing waters. Breeding occurs during the warmer months in freshwater reaches where the male establishes a breeding territory and displays its vibrant colours in order to attract a mate. Juveniles may be swept downstream during high flows, as large numbers of these are recorded moving upstream in the wet season. Empire gudgeons feed on small fish, aquatic invertebrates, insects, and plant material. Distribution: This species is found commonly in the drainages of Pilbara region (WA) and north from the Kimberly region (WA) around the north coast of Australia to the Towamba River (NSW). Favoured Habitats: The empire gudgeon takes refuge around fallen branches and aquatic vegetation. Migratory Requirements: Large migrations of adult fish occur during the wet season, while juvenile and sub-adult fish undertake upstream migrations whenever flow is available, but particularly on large flow events. Population Status: There is no information about population changes for this species, however is likely to have undergone reduction due to extensive habitat modification and barriers to migration. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat and poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not Listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al. 2002, Marsden et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

97 Western carp gudgeon Hypseleotris klunzingeri (Ogilby, 1898) Maximum size: 45mm. Biology: A small gudgeon species that is common around aquatic vegetation, the western carp gudgeon feeds on insects, microcrustaceans and plant material. Breeding occurs during the warmer months when water temperature rises above 22 o C. Eggs are deposited close to the surface in aquatic vegetation, with the males guarding the eggs until hatching. Due to the location of egg deposition close to the water surface, eggs are vulnerable to rapid drops in water levels. River regulation may therefore impact on the survival rates of eggs. Distribution: Commonly found in the Murray-Darling basin, western carp gudgeon can also be found along the eastern coastal drainages around Rockhampton (Qld). Favoured Habitats: This species prefers the shelter of aquatic vegetation, fallen branches, overhanging rocks and tree roots in slow flowing sections of streams. Migratory Requirements: None known, does undertake localised movements, recorded infrequently in fishway trapping in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Population Status: There is no information about population changes for this species, however may have undergone reduction due to extensive habitat modification and river regulation. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat and poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not Listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al. 2002, Marsden et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

98 Midgley s carp udgeon Hypseleotris species 1 Photograph: Gunther Schmida Maximum Size: 40mm Biology: A small gudgeon species that is common around aquatic vegetation, Midgely s carp gudgeon feeds on insects, microcrustaceans and plants material. Breeding occurs during the warmer months when water temperature rises above 22 o C. Eggs are deposited close to the surface in aquatic vegetation, with the males guarding the eggs until hatching. Due to the location of egg deposition close to the water surface, eggs are vulnerable to rapid drops in water levels. River regulation may therefore impact on the survival rates of eggs. Distribution: Commonly found in the northern Murray-Darling basin, Midgley s carp gudgeon can also be found along the eastern coastal drainages of the Tully and Brisbane Rivers (Qld). Favoured Habitats: This species shelters around aquatic vegetation, fallen branches and overhanging rocks and tree roots in streams and ponds. Migratory Requirements: None known, does undertake localised movements, recorded infrequently in fishway trapping in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Population Status: There is no information about population changes for this species, however may have undergone reduction due to extensive habitat modification and river regulation. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat and poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not Listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al. 2002, Marsden et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

99 Purple-spotted gudgeon Mogurnda adspersa (Castelnau, 1878) Maximum Size: 120mm Biology: A medium size gudgeon, the purple spotted gudgeon is common in rocky, fast slowing, reaches of most Mackay Whitsunday streams. Breeding occurs throughout the warmer months, with the eggs deposited on either aquatic vegetation or on rocks. Males attend to the eggs until hatching, fanning the eggs to maintain water movement. The purple spotted gudgeon feeds on small fish, aquatic invertebrates, worms and insects. Distribution: Found throughout the Murray-Darling system (NSW, northern Vic and southern Qld), and occurs along the coast from the Clarence River (NSW) to the central Cape York Peninsula (Qld). Favoured Habitats: Found in the slower flowing reaches of rivers, creeks and billabongs and among vegetation on the rocky bottoms of riffle zones. Migratory Requirements: None known, does undertake localised movements, recorded infrequently in fishway trapping in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Population Status: There is no information about population changes for this species, however may have undergone reduction due to extensive habitat modification and river regulation. This species has also been recorded declining in numbers where large numbers of mosquito fish are present. Potential Threats: Introduced species, destruction of habitat and poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not Listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

100 Sleepy cod Oxyeleotris lineolata (Steindachner, 1867) Maximum Size: 500mm Biology: This large gudgeon species is a slow moving ambush predator that feeds predominantly on fishes, insects and crustaceans. They are commonly found along the edges of aquatic vegetation from where they launch their ambush of passing prey. This species breeds throughout the warmer months, with the eggs deposited on the underside of rocks. Males attend to the eggs until hatching, fanning the eggs to maintain water movement. Distribution: This common species can be found widespread throughout northern Australia between the Ord River (WA) and Noosa (Qld). Favoured Habitats: The sleepy cod is generally found in the still or very slow flowing waters of rivers, creeks and billabongs and prefers the shelter of undercut banks, aquatic vegetation and woody debris. Migratory Requirements: None known, has be found accumulating in numbers below Clare Weir (Burdekin River) on high flows. Population Status: The species is commonly found within its range and there is no evidence of change in the abundance of this species in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat and poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not Listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Marsden 2001, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

101 Snakehead gudgeon Giurus margaritacea Maximum Size: 400mm Biology: This large gudgeon species feeds predominantly on fishes, insects and crustaceans. It lives amongst dense aquatic vegetation or roots from where it launches ambushes on passing prey. Snakehead gudgeons breed in the wet season, possibly responding to flood pulses. They have been observed spawning in shallow water over flooded grasses just upstream of tidal influence. The larvae appear to be transported downstream into estuarine waters. When juveniles move back upstream into freshwater is not known as this species has not previously been recorded in fishway sampling Distribution: Found along the northern eastern coast of Australia from Kimbolton Spring (WA) to Maryborough (Qld). Also found in a wide area of the Indo-West Pacific from Madagascar to New Guinea. Favoured Habitats: Found in lower reaches of small streams usually captured adjacent to submerged roots or other emergent vegetation. Migratory Requirements: Migratory habits not known, has been recorded moving upstream into the lagoon at Mackay Botanical gardens in a spawning condition on high flows. Larvae also thought to need saltwater for survival, so may require free passage upstream and downstream for displaced juveniles, more study required to determine life cycle of this species Population Status: The species is commonly found within its range and there is no evidence of change in the abundance of this species in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat and poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not Listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al. 2002, Marsden et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

102 Archerfishes Seven-spot archerfish Toxotes chatareus (Hamilton, 1822) Maximum Size: 400mm Biology: The seven-spot archerfish is a surface dwelling species the hunts for prey above and below the waterline. It feeds predominantly on insects, fishes and crustaceans and is known to spit droplets of water into the air to knock prey off overhanging vegetation. Breeding occurs during the wet season, with the female releasing buoyant eggs. Juveniles often gather in small shoals in backwater areas amongst emergent vegetation. Distribution: Found along the northern and eastern coast of Australia from Derby (WA) to Proserpine (Qld). Also found throughout Southeast Asia. Favoured Habitats: Found around overhanging vegetation and snag complexes, this species is also commonly found in estuarine waters. Migratory Requirements: Migratory habits not known. Population Status: The species is commonly found within its range and there is no evidence of change in the abundance of this species in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Potential Threats: Removal of riparian vegetation, destruction of habitat and poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not Listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

103 Snappers Mangrove jack Lutjanus argentimaculatis (Forsskål, 1775) Maximum Size: 1000mm, Generally only up to 300mm in freshwater. Biology: Mangrove jack are a large (1.0m max) carnivorous species that feed on a wide range of fish and crustaceans. Breeding occurs in the warmer months in offshore coral reef areas, with larvae drifting inshore and juveniles moving up into the lower reaches of freshwater streams later in the wet season. Distribution: This species is wide spread around northern and eastern Australia from Ningaloo Reef (WA) to Sydney (NSW). Also widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific. Favoured Habitats: Only the sub-adults and juveniles are encountered within freshwater reaches. The young adults and juveniles inhabit freshwater, tidal zones, and estuaries; however once they reach maturity the mangrove jack migrates out to sea to reef areas. Migratory Requirements: Mangrove jack are a catadromous species whose movements are stimulated by the onset of the wet season. Juveniles migrate upstream from the spawning grounds on the Great Barrier Reef into small lowland freshwater creeks and wetlands where they remain for 1-5 years. As sub adults they then undertake downstream migrations to marine waters, before moving into deepwater reef habitats. Population Status: Recreational fishermen report declines in the abundance of this species. In areas where barriers to migration are present this species has become extinct upstream of the barrier due to the requirement of the species to spawn in saltwater. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat and poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not Listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

104 Scats Spotted scat Scatophagus argus (Linnaeus, 1766) Maximum Size: 400mm Biology: A predominantly marine species, juveniles of this species often penetrate the lower reaches of freshwater streams. They are often seen below barriers in small schools of 10 to 20 individuals, often mixed with the banded scat. The spotted scat feeds predominantly on small insects, crustaceans and other bottom detritus. Distribution: Found abundantly in northern and eastern Australia from Port Headland (WA) to Sydney (NSW). Also common throughout the Indo-Pacific Region. Favoured Habitats: This species is abundant in mangrove lined estuaries but juveniles often frequent the lower reaches of freshwater streams where they are found around aquatic vegetation and snags. Migratory Requirements: Juveniles of this species move into freshwater during the wet season, probably move downstream to estuary the following wet season. Population Status: The species is commonly found within its range and there is no evidence of change in the abundance of this species in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat and poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not Listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

105 Banded scat Scatophagus multifasciata (Richardson, 1846) Maximum Size: 400mm Biology: A predominantly marine species, juveniles of this species often penetrate the lower reaches of freshwater streams. They are often seen below barriers in small schools of 10 to 20 individuals, often mixed with the spotted scat. The banded scat feeds predominantly on small insects, crustaceans and other bottom detritus. Distribution: Found abundantly in northern and eastern Australia from Port Headland (WA) to Sydney (NSW), also common throughout the Indo-Pacific Region. Favoured Habitats: This species is abundant in mangrove lined estuaries but juveniles often frequent the lower reaches of freshwater streams where they are found around aquatic vegetation and snags. Migratory Requirements: Juveniles of this species move into freshwater during the wet season, probably move downstream to estuaries the following wet season. Population Status: The species is commonly found within its range and there is no evidence of change in the abundance of this species in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat and poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not Listed. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

106 Tenpounders Giant herring Elops hawaiensis (Regan, 1909) Maximum Size: 1200mm Biology: A marine species that commonly enters lagoons, bays, estuaries and freshwater streams, although they do not penetrate very far inland. Giant herring are a fast swimming species that commonly travel in schools in open water. They feed on various fishes and crustaceans, foraging from both the surface and the bottom. Breeding takes place in offshore waters, with young larvae being found in the open sea. Larvae are known to move close to shore as they develop. Juveniles commonly found in estuarine areas, but also regularly recorded in the lowest reaches of freshwater streams. Distribution: Found throughout the central and western Pacific and around the northern Australian coastline from Esperance (WA) to Ulladulla (NSW). Favoured Habitats: Prefer the shelter on mangroves in estuarine waters and is also found in coastal waters. Juveniles of this species are often found in the lower reaches of freshwater. Migratory Requirements: Unknown. Population Status: Unknown. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat and poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not Listed. References: Randall and Lim 2000, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

107 Milkfish Milkfish Chanos chanos (Forsskål, 1775) Photograph: John E. Randall Maximum Size: 1800mm Biology: A marine species that occur in small to large schools near the coast. Milkfish are a fast swimming species that commonly travel in schools in shallow coastal seas and estuaries. They feed on various fishes, crustaceans, worms and algae, foraging from both the surface and the bottom. Breeding takes place in offshore waters, however older larvae migrate inshore and settle in coastal wetlands (freshwater lakes, mangroves and estuaries) during the juvenile stage. Juveniles and sub-adults return to sea where they mature sexually. Distribution: Found throughout the central and western Pacific and around the northern Australian coastline from Shark Bay (WA) to Jervis Bay (NSW). Favoured Habitats: Prefer the shelter on mangroves in estuarine waters and is also found in coastal waters. Juveniles of this species are often found in the lower reaches of freshwater. Migratory Requirements: Unknown. Population Status: Unknown. Potential Threats: Barriers to migration, destruction of habitat and poor water quality. Conservation Status: Not Listed. References: Bagarinao 1999, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

108 Introduced Fish Species Information Livebearers Gambusia, mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki (Girard, 1859) Photograph: Chris Appleby Maximum Size: 60mm Biology: Introduced into Australia during the 1920s, the gambusia was released into Australian waters as a biological control agent for mosquitoes. However it is believed to have done more harm than good as the gambusia preferred to prey on aquatic invertebrates the natural predators of the mosquito larvae. Has also been implicated in the decline of small native freshwater fish in many areas of introduction. Distribution: G. holbrooki is native to Northern and Central America. This fish is found abundantly throughout Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, coastal drainages of Queensland, parts of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. Favoured Habitats: Gambusia prefer still waters and take refuge around the shallow edges of the waterways. Migratory Requirements: Not required, has been recorded in low numbers during fishway sampling. Population Status: Populations expand and contract rapidly according to conditions. Unlikely to be eradicated from Australian waters. The species is a declared noxious species under the Fisheries Act in Queensland. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

109 Guppy Poecilia reticulata (Peters, 1859) Photograph: Robert M. McDowall Maximum Size: 60mm Biology: This species was introduced into natural waterways sometime before the 1970s as a result of aquarists discarding unwanted pets. Not as prolific as the gambusia this species is still thought to have a negative impact on native fish species. Feeds on small aquatic invertebrates and algae. Distribution: This species commonly found along the east coast of Queensland in coastal drainages. They are more commonly found around towns and cities such as Brisbane, Rockhampton, Mackay and Cairns. Favoured Habitats: The Guppy prefers warmer waters and is found to inhabit still or slow flowing waters near the margins of pools amongst aquatic vegetation. Migratory Requirements: Not required, has been recorded in low numbers during fishway sampling. Population Status: Populations expand and contract rapidly according to conditions. Unlikely to be eradicated from Australian waters. References: Merrick and Schmida 1984, Allen et al DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

110 Appendix 2 - Barrier Prioritisation in the Mackay Whitsunday Region Prioritisation Criteria In the Mackay Whitsunday Region a number of threatening processes have been identified that affect fish habitats. Of these threatening processes, further work needs to be conducted on barriers to migration and rehabilitation of instream habitats as other processes are already being addressed by the regional group. Currently comprehensive information has only been collected relating to barriers to migration in the region and this is the only threatening process that will be addressed in this document. Site prioritisation is essential to ensure that funds are expended in the most cost effective way. With a large number of sites for projects and limited funds, the need for a prioritisation process to assess which sites will give the most benefit for the funds available is needed. Assessing potential sites for fish passage rehabilitation work involves considering a number of factors, some of which may merit more emphasis than others depending on your desired outcomes. The following set of criteria has been used by DPI&F to assess the priority of barriers within the region. The criteria takes into account various factors of biological and physical importance which combine to determine the overall significance of the structure. For this process to work effectively it is important to have all the available information collated about each site before entering into the prioritisation process. By assigning values to selections, a short list can be created to help rank potential sites and compare them against others within the catchment. The following is a short description of some of the criteria used for prioritising barriers to migration for rehabilitation and why they are important with regards to the prioritisation process. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

111 Prioritisation Criteria and Rankings Criteria 1. Barrier Type a. Tidal barrage 5 b. Dam or weir > 3 m high 4 c. Dam or weir m high or Culvert <60% of stream width 3 d. Dam or weir <1.5 m high or Culvert >60% of stream width 2 2. Stream Order a. Main stream or river or tidal inlet or large lowland lagoon (>100m) 5 b. Major tributary of main stream or river or major creek direct to sea or small 4 lowland lagoon (<100m) c. Minor tributary of main stream or river, or large lower-order tributary or minor 2 creek direct to sea d. Minor, low-order tributary 1 3. What proportion of the total stream catchment is effectively cut off by the proposed barrier: a. >60% 5 b % 4 c % 3 d. <20% 2 4. Other Existing Barriers, Extra Habitat made available if passage rehabilitated a. >80% of total catchment 5 b % of total catchment 4 c % of total catchment 3 d % of total catchment 2 e. <20% of total catchment 1 5. Catchment condition: a. Pristine, undisturbed (100% natural forest) 5 b. Minor Catchment Disturbance (<25% of catchment area: >75% natural forest) 4 c. Moderate Catchment Disturbance (25-50% of catchment area: 50-75% natural 3 forest) d. Major Catchment Disturbance (51-75% of catchment area: 25-49% natural 2 forest) e. Highly modified; Catchment Disturbance (<25% natural forest reamaining) 1 6. Stream condition: a. Pristine, undisturbed (no apparent clearing of riparian vegetation, bank 5 degradation, etc b. Low disturbance (<25% of upstream areas degraded as above) 4 c. Moderate disturbance (25-50% of upstream areas degraded as above) 3 d. High disturbance (51-75% of upstream areas degraded as above) 2 e. Very high disturbance (>75% of upstream areas degraded as above) 1 7. Water supply/quality: a. Natural, permanent, non-polluted 5 b. Natural, permanent via supplemented flow and/or minimal pollution 4 c. Stream occasionally dries up with refuge pools, or permanent with some 3 pollution d. Stream dries seasonally with refuge pools, or permanent with moderate pollution 2 e. Stream dries seasonally with no refuge pools, or permanent with heavy pollution 1 8. Habitat for migratory fish species upstream of barrier site a. Excellent. Diverse and abundant fish habitat 5 b. Good. Reasonable amount of suitable habitat. 4 c. Moderate amount of suitable fish habitat. 3 d. Poor. Little suitable fish habitat. 2 e. Very poor. Little or no suitable fish habitat 1 DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

112 Barrier size and type The height and type of barrier present has a great effect on fish passage. Small barriers may only pose a threat in the lowest of flows and may drown out under most other conditions. Barriers are ordered in priority of height, with the highest barriers given the highest values. Tidal barrages are of particular importance as these are the lowest barriers in the waterway which can prevent access to the whole system for diadromous fish species. Stream order & percent of catchment cut off by barrier The location of a barrier in reference to where it is situated along a stream system will dictate it s importance to the rest of the catchment. Barriers low down in the system will have the potential to cut off a much larger proportion of upstream habitat. The further upstream the barriers are, the amount of potential habitat blocked off by the barrier is reduced and is therefore given lower values. The use of mapping techniques such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) is highly recommended during this process to correctly identify the location of barriers and potential sites. Other existing barriers Following on from the previous criteria, the importance of a barrier can be altered by it s spatial relationship to other barriers. The rehabilitation of a particular barrier when there is another barrier close by, will minimise the benefit of the rehabilitation works as it will only open up a small percentage of the catchment. Care must also be taken to check natural structures such as rock bars or falls which may also effectively block any migration. Catchment and stream condition The existing catchment condition will govern its biological worth to fish communities. Pristine, undisturbed catchments with good natural riparian vegetation will score the highest. Urban encroachment and rural development inevitably has an impact on the condition of the waterways. The removal of riparian vegetation, bank destabilisation and pollution all contribute to the degradation of the catchment condition and receive a lower score than natural systems. Water supply/quality Water supply can be a critical factor in preventing or allowing fish passage across a structure. A small structure may only allow passage during moderate to high flows but become a barrier under low flow situations. Its significance will therefore change according to the magnitude and duration of these lower flows. When a waterway does cease flowing, the presence of waterholes can act as a refuge for fish communities. These waterholes are particularly important in ephemeral waterways and will increase the value of this type of waterway in this prioritisation process. Water quality also determines the overall environmental and biological value of the site. Pollutants from agricultural or urban inputs will degrade the water quality, lowering its value in this criterion. The type and extent of pollution within the system will determine its effect on the fish communities and should be graded accordingly. The highest rated sites include those that are non-polluted, permanent flowing waterways that provide the best environment for healthy fish populations. Migratory Fish habitat The quantity and quality of existing habitat present in the system will contribute to the overall value of the site location. Areas with good instream habitat and pristine riparian DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

113 zones will rate highly in these criteria. Diversity of habitat types is also important as it will more likely provide for a wider variety of fish species, promoting overall biodiversity. Summary Initially, potential sites should be submitted to the barrier assessment criteria and assigned a basic rank value. This way a prioritised list can be generated relatively quickly to focus effort. Once barriers have been prioritised other external factors such as driver groups, funding, site access and approvals can be taken into consideration to determine how they align with the management action targets. Barrier Prioritisation Due to the large number of barriers in the region (approximately 2500) and the likelihood of funding levels to rehabilitate only a few of these barriers a year, 109 potential barriers were chosen from a desktop study to be ground-truthed. This groundtruthing would determine their barrier status and rehabilitation potential. The 109 barriers were chosen from satellite and aerial photographs due to their location within catchments and the known habitats that their removal would allow access to. Once this subjective assessment was completed, the potential barriers were visited and detailed information about their physical structure recorded. This information determined that 83 of the 109 barriers were actual barriers to fish migration, with the other potential barriers not affecting fish passage as they were structures such as bridges. The 83 structures identified as barriers were given scores according to the assessment criteria and ranked to provide a priority list of barriers in need of rehabilitation (Table 4). The information of these ranking was then plotted on satellite photos (Figures 38-45) of each of the catchments to clearly show the distribution of these and the many other potential barriers throughout the region. From this information a further refinement to the top 25 barriers in need of rehabilitation was undertaken. These barriers were analysed to provide information on the best fishway types to be installed at the site and the estimated costs for the installation of a fishway based on costing of previous fishway works. The cost estimates are very general and do not take into account any specific site characteristics that are not immediately apparent from a short site visit, such as the presence of Telstra cabling or water licenses upstream. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

114 Table 4. Site selection criteria for all 109 sites that were to be ground-truthed, with total score for the site. Criteria Barrier Barrier Type a. Tidal barrage b. Dam or weir > 3 m high c. Dam or weir m high or Culvert <60% of stream width d. Dam or weir <1.5 m high or Culvert >60% of stream width Stream Order a. Main stream or river or tidal inlet or large lowland lagoon (>100m) b. Major tributary of main stream or river or major creek direct to sea or small lowland lagoon (<100m) c. Minor tributary of main stream or river, or large lower-order tributary or minor creek direct to sea d. Minor, low-order tributary 1 3. What proportion of the total stream catchment is effectively cut off by the proposed barrier: a. >60% b % c % d. <20% Other Existing Barriers, Extra Habitat made available if passage rehabilitated a. >80% of total catchment b % of total catchment c % of total catchment d % of total catchment e. <20% of total catchment Catchment condition: a. Pristine, undisturbed (100% natural forest) 5 b. Minor Catchment Disturbance (<25% of catchment area: >75% natural forest) 4 c. Moderate Catchment Disturbance (25-50% of catchment area: 50-75% natural forest) d. Major Catchment Disturbance (51-75% of catchment area: 25-49% natural forest) e. Highly modified; Catchment Disturbance (<25% natural forest reamaining) Stream condition: a. Pristine, undisturbed (no apparent clearing of riparian vegetation, bank degradation, etc 5 b. Low disturbance (<25% of upstream areas degraded as above) 4 4 c. Moderate disturbance (25-50% of upstream areas degraded as above) d. High disturbance (51-75% of upstream areas degraded as above) e. Very high disturbance (>75% of upstream areas degraded as above) Water supply/quality: a. Natural, permanent, non-polluted b. Natural, permanent via supplemented flow and/or minimal pollution c. Stream occasionally dries up with refuge pools, or permanent with some pollution d. Stream dries seasonally with refuge pools, or permanent with moderate pollution e. Stream dries seasonally with no refuge pools, or permanent with heavy pollution Habitat for migratory fish species upstream of barrier site a. Excellent. Diverse and abundant fish habitat 5 b. Good. Reasonable amount of suitable habitat c. Moderate amount of suitable fish habitat d. Poor. Little suitable fish habitat e. Very poor. Little or no suitable fish habitat Number of Barriers Downstream a. Nil b c d. 3 or more total score for the barrier Criteria Barrier Barrier Type a. Tidal barrage b. Dam or weir > 3 m high 4 c. Dam or weir m high or Culvert <60% of stream width d. Dam or weir <1.5 m high or Culvert >60% of stream width Stream Order a. Main stream or river or tidal inlet or large lowland lagoon (>100m) b. Major tributary of main stream or river or major creek direct to sea or small lowland lagoon (<100m) c. Minor tributary of main stream or river, or large lower-order tributary or minor creek direct to sea d. Minor, low-order tributary What proportion of the total stream catchment is effectively cut off by the proposed barrier: a. >60% b % c % d. <20% Other Existing Barriers, Extra Habitat made available if passage rehabilitated a. >80% of total catchment b % of total catchment c % of total catchment d % of total catchment e. <20% of total catchment Catchment condition: a. Pristine, undisturbed (100% natural forest) 5 b. Minor Catchment Disturbance (<25% of catchment area: >75% natural forest) c. Moderate Catchment Disturbance (25-50% of catchment area: 50-75% natural forest) d. Major Catchment Disturbance (51-75% of catchment area: 25-49% natural forest) e. Highly modified; Catchment Disturbance (<25% natural forest reamaining) Stream condition: a. Pristine, undisturbed (no apparent clearing of riparian vegetation, bank degradation, etc b. Low disturbance (<25% of upstream areas degraded as above) c. Moderate disturbance (25-50% of upstream areas degraded as above) d. High disturbance (51-75% of upstream areas degraded as above) e. Very high disturbance (>75% of upstream areas degraded as above) Water supply/quality: a. Natural, permanent, non-polluted b. Natural, permanent via supplemented flow and/or minimal pollution c. Stream occasionally dries up with refuge pools, or permanent with some pollution d. Stream dries seasonally with refuge pools, or permanent with moderate pollution e. Stream dries seasonally with no refuge pools, or permanent with heavy pollution Habitat for migratory fish species upstream of barrier site a. Excellent. Diverse and abundant fish habitat b. Good. Reasonable amount of suitable habitat c. Moderate amount of suitable fish habitat d. Poor. Little suitable fish habitat. 2 e. Very poor. Little or no suitable fish habitat Number of Barriers Downstream a. Nil b c d. 3 or more total score for the barrier DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

115 Figure 38. Location of prioritised and potential barriers to migration, as well as potential areas that require instream fish habitat rehabilitation DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

116 Figure 39. Location of prioritised and potential barriers to migration, as well as potential areas that require instream fish habitat rehabilitation DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

117 Figure 40. Location of prioritised and potential barriers to migration, as well as potential areas that require instream fish habitat rehabilitation DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

118 Figure 41. Location of prioritised and potential barriers to migration, as well as potential areas that require instream fish habitat rehabilitation DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

119 Figure 42. Location of prioritised and potential barriers to migration, as well as potential areas that require instream fish habitat rehabilitation DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

120 Figure 43. Location of prioritised and potential barriers to migration, as well as potential areas that require instream fish habitat rehabilitation DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

121 Figure 44. Location of prioritised and potential barriers to migration, as well as potential areas that require instream fish habitat rehabilitation DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

122 Figure 45. Location of prioritised and potential barriers to migration, as well as potential areas that require instream fish habitat rehabilitation DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

123 Top 25 Barriers to migration in the Mackay Whitsunday Region Analysis of data collected from the field inspection of 109 potential priority sites within the region identified 25 sites of high priority for fish passage rehabilitation. These sites were further analysed to specify particular information about the structure to enable immediate planning for new fish passage projects in the region. Information was collected on the type of barrier, exact location, height, fishway type required and approximate cost of the fishway. This information can form the basis of a decision matrix for further prioritisation of projects, using the existing prioritisation and further information such as stakeholders, funding sources and project drivers. The MWNRMG can use this process to determine the actual order of works to address the matters for targets in the Resource Condition Targets of the NRM plan. Below is a list of the top 25 barriers to migration in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Photos of the structures are provided below the listing where they were available. Priority 1 Barrier Reference No 61 Stream Name Seaforth Creek Location -20,55.603,148, Barrier Type Culvert Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Approx. Cost of Fishway Rock Ramp $15000 to be completed in next few months DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

124 Priority 2 Barrier Reference No 6 Stream Name Bassett Basin Creek Location -21, 6.666,149, Barrier Type Culvert Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Approx. Cost of Fishway Removal >$ Port Authority plans to complete works shortly Priority 3 Barrier Reference No 63 Stream Name Victor Creek Location -20,55.276,148, Barrier Type Bridge Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Removal of Netting Approx. Cost of Fishway <$1000 DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

125 Priority 4 Barrier Reference No 71 Stream Name St Helens Creek Location -20,53.150,148, Barrier Type Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Causeway 2 m Rock Ramp Approx. Cost of Fishway $10000 DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

126 Priority 5 Barrier Reference No 73 Stream Name Blackrock Creek Location -20,51.294,148, Barrier Type Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Causeway 1m Enlarge Culverts and Rock Ramp Approx. Cost of Fishway $15000 Priority 6 Barrier Reference No 95 Stream Name Freshwater Creek Location -22,18.109,149, Barrier Type - Barrier Height - Fishway Type Needed - Approx. Cost of Fishway - DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

127 Priority 7 Barrier Reference No 49 Stream Name Reliance Creek Location -21, 2.776,149, Barrier Type Culverts Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Culvert Baffles Approx. Cost of Fishway $2000 Priority 8 Barrier Reference No 76 Stream Name Zamia Creek Location -20,50.150,148, Barrier Type Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Causeway 1m New Culverts Approx. Cost of Fishway $10000 DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

128 Priority 9 Barrier Reference No 80 Stream Name O Connell River Location -20,34.519,148, Barrier Type Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Sand Dam 3m Partial width Rock Ramp Approx. Cost of Fishway $15000 Priority 10 Barrier Reference No 84 Stream Name Proserpine River Location -20,22.849,148, Barrier Type Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Culvert/Bridge/Weir 3m Rock Ramp Approx. Cost of Fishway $15000 DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

129 Priority 11 Barrier Reference No 93 Stream Name Cattle Creek Location -22,10.474,149, Barrier Type - Barrier Height - Fishway Type Needed - Approx. Cost of Fishway - Priority 12 Barrier Reference No 96 Stream Name St Lawrence Creek Location -22,18.814,149, Barrier Type Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Weir 3m Vertical Slot/Rock Ramp Approx. Cost of Fishway $ DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

130 Priority 13 Barrier Reference No 105 Stream Name Tedlands Creek Location -21,33.529,149, Barrier Type Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Block Dam/Causeway 3m Rock Ramp Approx. Cost of Fishway $20000 Priority 14 Barrier Reference No 1 Stream Name Unnamed Creek Location -21, 5.328,149, Barrier Type Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Culvert 3m New Culverts/Rock Ramp Approx. Cost of Fishway $20000 DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

131 Priority 15 Barrier Reference No 83 Stream Name Lethebrook Creek Location -20,26.689,148, Barrier Type Rock Weir Barrier Height 1.5m Fishway Type Needed Rock Ramp Approx. Cost of Fishway $15000 Priority 16 Barrier Reference No 90 Stream Name Clairview Creek Location -22,11.179,149, Barrier Type Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Causeway 1m New Culverts or Rock ramp Approx. Cost of Fishway $15000 Priority 17 Barrier Reference No 104 Stream Name Tedlands Creek Location -21,33.349,149, Barrier Type Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Causeway 1m Rock Ramp Approx. Cost of Fishway $15000 DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

132 Priority 18 Barrier Reference No 24 Barrier Name Stream Name Marian Weir Pioneer River Location -21, 8.450,148, Barrier Type Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Weir 6m Vertical Slot or Lock Approx. Cost of Fishway $ Priority 19 Barrier Reference No 29 Stream Name Sandy Creek Location -21,16.840,149, Barrier Type Barrier Height Fishway Type Needed Weir/Causeway 1m Rock Ramp and Culverts Approx. Cost of Fishway $20000 DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

133 Priority 20 Barrier Reference No 48 Stream Name Leila Creek Location -21, 1.739,149, Barrier Type Causeway and Pipes Barrier Height - Fishway Type Needed Pipe Baffles Approx. Cost of Fishway $5000 Priority 21 Barrier Reference No 72 Stream Name Murray Creek Location -20,54.423,148, Barrier Type Ford Barrier Height <1m Fishway Type Needed Rock Ramp Approx. Cost of Fishway $2000 DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES

134 Priority 22 Barrier Reference No 85 Stream Name West Hill Creek North Location -21,48.559,149, Barrier Type - Barrier Height - Fishway Type Needed - Approx. Cost of Fishway - Priority 23 Barrier Reference No 92 Stream Name Cattle Creek Location -22,10.369,149, Barrier Type - Barrier Height - Fishway Type Needed - Approx. Cost of Fishway - DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES