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Border Rivers Demonstration Reach
Demonstration reaches are large scale river reaches, or wetlands, where a number of management interventions are applied to showcase the cumulative benefits of river rehabilitation on native fish populations.
When carried out in isolation, the effects of rehabilitation activities may only be small in scale and limited to a few species. Demonstration reaches are designed to showcase the benefits when all river-rehabilitation works are integrated and focused in one place. Read more about Demonstration reaches...
The Border Rivers Demonstration Reach whole of life plan
The native fish populations in a large stretch of Border Rivers’ waterways will be improved as a newly finalised management plan is put into action during the next 10 years.
This plan is part of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority’s Native Fish Strategy which aims to increase native fish populations to 60% of pre-European levels within 50 years. The plan, a “living document”, provides a framework for the actions that will “cultivate the Cod and cull the Carp”.
The plan is to invigorate all native fish populations through local actions which also engage the community.
Click here to read the plan (1.6MB pdf). If you require a printed copy of this plan, please contact QMDC on (07) 4637 6200.
The Native Fish Strategy
Demonstration reaches are a component of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission’s Native Fish Strategy, which is a response to the decline of native fish in the Basin from key threats, such as flow regulation, habitat degradation, barriers to the movement of fish, and introduction of alien fish species.
As a result of these threats, current populations of native fish communities across the whole Basin are estimated to be at about 10% of pre-European settlement levels. The goal of the Native Fish Strategy is to rehabilitate native fish communities in the Basin back to 60% of their estimated pre-European settlement levels within the next 50 years.
For more information on the Murray-Darling Basin Commission's Native Fish Strategy, visit the website, or download a summary of the strategy.
Border Rivers Demonstration Reach
QMDC has taken a lead role in implementing the Native Fish Strategy and establishing a demonstration reach in the Border Rivers catchment. The Border Rivers Demonstration Reach includes:
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the Dumaresq River downstream of Glenlyon dam (on Pike Creek);
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the Macintyre Brook downstream of Coolmunda dam;
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the Macintyre River downstream of Pindari Reservoir (on the Severn River); and
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waters extending to Boomi.
However, as this reach is quite long, a priority area has been chosen, which will be the initial area for activities. This area will become a demonstration tool for the wider community, showcasing how multiple interventions can be implemented. A map of the priority area, which includes the Macintyre River between Bogabilla Weir and Talwood, will be uploaded to this page shortly.
The role of the community
The community plays a major role in the development and maintenance of demonstration reaches. There are many opportunities for hands-on participation, and may include involvement in:
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The planning phase of the project, including site selection and management;
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Undertaking management interventions, such as rehabilitation of riparian zones; and
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Monitoring of fish number before and after management interventions take place.
Typical management interventions
Typical management interventions that are undertaken within demonstration reaches may include:
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Rehabilitating riparian vegetation: involves both the protection and enhancement of vegetation within riparian areas, or areas of land that adjoins or directly influences a body of water.
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Re-snagging: involves replacing snags, such as branches and fallen logs, which have been removed from many of Queensland's rivers.
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Controlling alien species: activities undertaken aim to reduce the impact of alien fish, such as European Carp, Goldfish and Mosquito fish. -
Improving water quality: healthy fish populations rely on good water quality, so activities can be undertaken, such as improved agricultural management practices, to encourage improvements in water quality.
Improving fish passage: structures, such as dams, weirs, floodgates, culverts and roads can prevent the movement of fish up and down a river system, impacting on breeding, feeding and other movements necessary to their survival.
More information
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Read the Executive Summary of the "Characteristics of fish fauna of the Macintyre and Dumaresq Rivers and Macintyre Brook" report, completed by the Department of Natural Resources and Water.
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Find out more about the Intergrated Pest Management for Carp project.
- Read executive summary of the fish characterisation report prepared for QMDC in 2007 as it prepared to determine the geographic range of the Demonstration Reach. The full report is available here but please note this is a 5mb pdf.
Contacts
Demonstration Reach Project Officer
Queensland Murray-Darling Committee
07 4671 7900
Native Fish Strategy Coordinator, Queensland
Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries
07 3224 2164
Water Projects Officer
Border Rivers Gwydir Catchment Management Authority
02 6721 9810
This project is being delivered in partnership with the Queensland Murray-Darling Committee, Border Rivers Gwydir Catchment Management Authority and the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, and is supported by the Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre, The University of New England and Landcare.
Information on this page has been adapted from the Murray-Darling Basin Commission's Native Fish Strategy.
