Lagoons Creek Rehabilitation Project

(not documented)

Reef Catchments Pty Ltd

Department of Transport and Main Roads

Conservation Volunteers Australia – The Australian Green Army Team (in kind support)

Council

On-ground work, Education extension

(none)

Local and State government funding streams

Reef Programme Urban Systems Repair

$200,000

$200,000

2014

June 2016

Lagoons Creek is a highly modified tributary of the lower Pioneer River and is situated immediately upstream from the freshwater/estuarine interface of lower Lagoons Creek. The greater Lagoons Creek Catchment encompasses nearly 600ha, of which 20% is urban land use. Increased urban development and agricultural farming practices have impacted the watercourse through vegetation clearing, channelisation and straightening. These impacts have resulted in sediment deposition, exotic weed proliferation and subsequently, fragmented the creek into sections of discontinuous waterway. Loss of instream connectivity impacts aquatic species migration. Stage 1 (2014-15) created a rock lined open channel drain, three rock-ridge fishways and a riparian corridor linking fresh and marine waters. Stage 2 (2015-16) has built upon these works, permanently linking existing freshwater lagoons to Pioneer River through the re-creation of a paleochannel and the installation of two wetlands, three fishways and the extension of the vegetative corridor. Installation of multiple fishways at the freshwater/marine water interface is of vital importance to the life cycles of many native migratory fish species (e.g. tarpon) opening 545ha of suitable breeding ground for native migratory species is of significant environmental, recreational and commercial value to the region. In addition, works will not only improve stormwater quality, however will provide appropriate the instream environment for fish migration and improve the environmental and aesthetic values of lower Lagoons Creek.

Post works fishway assessments undertaken by Catchment Solutions revealed significant migration rates with up to 5764 fish successfully ascending the Lagoons Creek full width rock ramp and culvert baffle fishway. Important recreational and commercial fish included: tarpon (Megalops cyprinoides) and fork-tail catfish (Arius graffei), other native species included: empire gudgeon (Hypseleotris compressa), bony bream (Nematalosa erebi), eastern rainbowfish (Melanotaenia splendida), fly-specked hardyhead (Craterocephalus stercus), Rendahl's catfish (Porochilus rendahli), Agassiz's glassfish (Ambassis agassizii) and Hyrtl's tandan (Neosilurus hyrtlii).

Council adopted the structures and associated maintenance requirements at a site handover on the 18th June 2016.

This project will:

• restore habitat
• improve water quality and shading
• reduce weeds
• reduce long term maintenance costs.

(not documented)

(none)