News
River Restoration Works
CAS has been supporting works carried out by a consortium of NSW Government agencies in the Abercombie River Catchment to help restore fish habitat.
New fish habitat snags for native species have just been rolled into the water at the junction of the Tuena Creek and the Abercrombie River west of Crookwell.
The twenty snags, recycled from large trees removed from the Junction Point road works have been installed in the Abercrombie River by Central Tablelands Local Land Services.
The Roads & Maritime Services, the Upper Lachlan Shire Council, NSW Fisheries, the Central Acclimatisation Society, and local fishing clubs have all collaborated in the ‘Teaming up to target Tuena’s Threatened Species’ project.
“This is a great news story for fish, for people who enjoy fishing, and for anyone with an interest in cooperative, collaborative efforts to improve the natural environment,” said Project Manager, Casey Proctor from Central Tablelands Local Land Services.
“We have created a partnership between a State agency, Local Government, and fishing groups to deliver long term outcomes and ownership of the project site and on-ground works.”
“The trees we have used for this project could have ended up as wasted wood chip, but instead they will now become valuable habitat for native fish, including endangered species such as Macquarie perch, silver perch, pigmy perch, catfish and Murray cod,” said Casey.
The site is a critical drought refuge and biodiversity hotspot in the headwaters of the Lachlan River system. Woody debris or ‘snags’ are part of the natural in-channel habitat of several large-bodied native fish species including Murray cod, and golden perch. However a survey of in stream habitat by NSW Fisheries in 2009 and a more recent sonar survey in February 2016 have confirmed a low density of large woody debris or snags in this area.
Willow, blackberry, and other significant weeds will be removed from the project site and replaced with new plantings of native species, predominantly casuarinas and red gums, to improve bank stability and sediment and erosion control.
CAS is pleased to have been part of the project and will continue to support fish stocking and habitat works in the area. Anyone interested in assisting with fish stocking, habitat or other river restoration projects on the Central Tablelands should contact us (see our membership page) to find out how they can get involved.
Information about the Abercrombie River re-snagging project can also be obtained from contact Casey Proctor (of Central Tablelands LLS) on phone: 02 6341 9318 or email: casey.proctor@lls.nsw.gov.au
Uploaded 16/6/2020
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Macquarie River Pipeline
CAS Members have raised serious concerned about the impact on fish heath and water quality as a result of a pipeline extracting water from the Macquarie River during the current drought. A report has shown that on multiple occasions the pipeline was used to extract water in a way that exceeded the allowable 12ML in a 24 hour period and pumps exceeded the allowable per day run time.
Several sick cod have been observed in the river along with dead and decaying fish.
Fish did not die or suffer disease because of impacts from operation of the Macquarie River to Orange pipeline. Low flows, deteriorating water quality, diminishing dissolved oxygen levels, increased algal growth, low water temperatures, high numbers of invasive species mainly European carp & redfin perch competing for food & space in decreasing refuge pool habitats with inability to migrate up or downstream because of reduced flows have a cumulative impact increasing stress levels on high value native fish species in the river above Burrendong Dam.
However some CAS members are concerned that taking more water from low flows would accelerate impacts resulting in decreasing native fish populations. The pipeline was approved based on water extraction during high flow conditions and anglers are concerned that water is not being extracted in line with the conditions of project approval.
You can read more about this matter in these letters by Col Gordon.
Uploaded Oct 2019
Older News
2018: NSW DPI has started publishing fish stocking data on their website. Many of the locations stocked were stocked by CAS volunteers. The map is available online at https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/fishing/recreational/resources/stocking
Call for new members. CAS is run by volunteers. If you would like to join CAS so you can assist with fish stocking activities across the Central Tablelands you can do so by contacting your local branch or by emailing centralacclimatisation@gmail.com and by posted to the Society c/- PO Box 913 Katoomba 2780.
Being a member is a great way to meet other enthusiastic anglers and you may even be able to take part in fish stocking activities.
2018: Oberon Branch Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/CASOberonDam
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