The Goulburn River Large Scale River Restoration Project

The aim of the Goulburn River Large Scale River Restoration project was to protect the values of the Goulburn River and its floodplain and riparian zones.

The Project has focused on on-ground works along the length of the Goulburn River. On-ground works that have been undertaken through the project include:

• Controlling stock access through fencing to protect water quality, riparianvegetationandwetlands;

• Enhancingriparianzonesthroughweedcontrol,nativerevegetationandnaturalregeneration;

• Workingwithpartnerorganisationstoimplementriparianandaquaticweedcontrolprograms;

• ProtectingurbanwaterqualitybyinstallinggrosspollutanttrapsinSheppartonandabioremediationwetlandinMooroopna;

• InstallingarockrampfishwayattheSheppartontownweirtoopenup122kmofrivertofishpassage;

• StabilisingthebedandbanksoftheRiver;

• Replacing 2 vehicle crossings at Tahbilk Lagoon on the Goulburn RiverfloodplaintoprovidenativefishpassagebetweenthelagoonandtheGoulburnRiver;and

• Reintroducing604snags(orlargewoodydebris)toimprovenativefishhabitatalong2.5kilometresoftheGoulburnRiverandTahbilkLagoon,whichsupportsapopulationofthethreatenedFreshwatercatfish.

On-grounds works carried out through the Goulburn River Large Scale RiverRestorationProjecthaveresultedinasignificantimprovementtotheGoulburnRiveranditsfloodplain.

The Goulburn RiverThe Goulburn River catchment is Victoria’s largest, covering over 1.6 million hectares or 7.1% of the state’s total area. The Goulburn River is 570km long, flowing from upstream of Woods Point to the Murray River at Echuca.

The river has a mean annual discharge of 3.04 GL (1.8 ML/ha), which represents 13.7% of the total state discharge.

The Goulburn River offers the community a comprehensive range of values. The 430km section of the river between Eildon Reservoir and the confluence with the Murray River has been declared a Heritage River, in recognition of its multiple values.

The Heritage status of the river is in recognition of the range of social,

environmental and economic values, particularly:

• Intact understorey in River Red Gum open forest/woodland, and yellow box and grey box woodland/open forest communities;

• Wetlands of State significance; • Significant habitat for vulnerable or

threatened wildlife; • Recreational Fishing opportunity; • A wide range of recreational

activities, including canoeing, camping and fishing;

• Cultural heritage sites; and • Scenic landscapes.

The Goulburn River is a priority river within the ministerially endorsed Regional River Health Strategy, which was developed by the Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority in consultation with communities within the Goulburn and Broken basins. Community support is present to protect this river for both current and future generations.

A range of strategies and action plans have recognised its importance and have established a raft of works and actions to protect and enhance its health and the values it provides.

Since the commencement of the Large Scale River Restoration Project in 2008/2009, significant on-ground works have been carried out to improve the condition of the Goulburn River.

Morethan131hectaresofriparianrevegetationhasbeencompletedinriparian areas on the Goulburn River, which exceeds the output target for the projectof110hectares.Morethan36kilometresofriverfrontagehasbeenrevegetatedusingtubestockplantingandmechanicaldirectseeding.

Almost200hectaresofremnantriparianvegetationhasbeenprotectedby17.98kilometresoffencing,comparedtoaplanned70hectares.

Thenumberofoffstreamwateringpoints installed (11) is well down on originaltargetsfortheproject(70),asthemajorityoffencingand/orrevegetationsitesdidnotrequireoffstreamwater.Thisleadtomajorcostsavings for the project.

Exoticweedcontroloutputtargetshavealsobeenexceededintheupper,midandlowersectionsoftheGoulburn

River.Morethan110kilometresofexoticvegetationcontrolhasbeencarried out in the Upper Goulburn River (52kilometresplannedatthestartoftheproject),57.58kilometresinthemidGoulburnRiver(10kilometresplanned),and37kilometresinthelowerGoulburnRiver(20kilometresplanned).Atotalof966.37hectaresoflandwastreatedforregionally prohibited weeds along the length of the Goulburn River as a result oftheLargeScaleRiverRestorationproject.

There-introductionofcriticalhabitatfornativefish(or“re-snagging”)hasbeencarriedoutinanumberofkeylocationsintheGoulburnRiverbetweenMurchisonandShepparton,and in Tahbilk Lagoon, which is connectedtothemidGoulburnRiverandisasignificanthabitatsiteforthethreatenedFreshwatercatfish.Atotalof604snags(ormorethan1200cubicmetresofhardwoodstumpsandlogs)havebeenplacedalongalmost2.5kilometresofriverinkeyareasidentifiedashavingalowdensityofnativefishhabitatbyhabitatmappingcarriedoutbyfreshwaterfishecologistsfromtheArthurRhylahInstitute.

Vehiclecrossingsthatwereidentifiedby ARI ecologists as being barriers to themovementofnativefishattheinlet

and outlet of Tahbilk Lagoon have been removedandreplacedwithstructuresthatallowunimpededpassagetoandfromtheGoulburnRiverforFreshwaterCatfishandothernativefishspecies.

The Shepparton Town Weir was also removedandreplacedwitharockrampfishway,whichopensup122kilometresof the Goulburn River between the Shepparton Town Weir the Goulburn Weir(downstreamofNagambie)fornativefishmigration,evenduringperiodsoflowflows.

In partnership with the Greater Shepparton City Council, 2 Gross Pollutant Traps have been installed at prioritystormwateroutfallswithintheShepparton area. These Gross Pollutant trapswillcatchlitteranddebrisfromstormwateroutfallsbeforeitreachesthe Goulburn River.

SignsdetailingthesignificanceoftheGoulburn River has been produced andinstalledat15locationsalongtheRiver. The signs have been erected inprominentlocationsintownsincludingJamieson,Alexandra,Eildon,Nagambie,Shepparton,MooroopnaandMurchison.Interpretivesignagewasalso developed for the Shepparton Town Weirfishway.

Project Summary

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Before After

CaSe STudy

Large Scale Improvements in Habitat for Native FishRe snagging the Lower Goulburn River

Snags are the branches, trunks and whole trees found lodged in waterways. They formstructuresintheriverandcreatescour pools (deep holes) in the river bed.

Snagsusuallyresultnaturallyfromtreeson the river bank either falling in or dropping their branches. This can occur becauseofflooding,bankerosion,windorlimbshedding.

Snags are the inland equivalent of coastal reefs,andprovidehabitatfornativefishandotheranimalssuchastortoisesandnativewaterrats.Nativefishusethemtoshelterfromfastcurrentsandsunlightandtakerefugefrompredation.Nativefishalsousesnagsasfeedingandspawning sites, and as nursery areas for juvenilefish.

Snagshavebeenremovedfromourriversinthepastforboatingsafetyandnavigationreasonsandinthebeliefthat

flowswouldimproveasaresult.

Theinappropriatemanagementandclearingofnativevegetationalongourriversandstreamshasalsoleadtoadecreaseintheamountoflargewoodymaterialbeingintroducednaturallytoour waterways.

Theremovalandreductioninthenumberofsnagshasbeenidentifiedasamajorreasonforthelossofin-streamhabitatinwaterways,resultinginthedeclineofnativefishpopulations.

Re-snaggingisasoundmanagementinterventionwecanusetorestorenativefishhabitattoourrivers,andresultssofarsuggestthatnativefishpopulationsrespond strongly as a result.

InstreamhabitatmappingwascarriedoutinthemidGoulburnandLowerGoulburnRiverbyscientistsfromtheArthurRylahInstitute(ARI)toidentifyareas that have a low density of snags. ThismappingprovidedtheGBCMAwithanexcellentpictureofthein-stream

habitat in the River and allowed us to select areas where we believe re-snaggingwillhavethegreatestbenefitfornativefishpopulations.

The snags that were used in our re-snaggingprojectweresourcedfromanumberoflocationsacrossthecatchment.RiverRedGum,GreyBoxandYellowBoxTreesthathadfalleninlocalgovernmentmanagedparks,reservesandroadsidesduetostormsandfloodingweretransportedtotheresnaggingsitesandplacedinpositioninthe river with an excavator.

ResnaggingwascarriedoutinanumberofkeylocationsintheLowerGoulburnRiver(seeattachedbeforeandafterimages),andinTahbilkLagoon.Atotalof604snags(ormorethan1200cubicmetresofhardwoodstumpsandlogs)havebeenplacedalongalmost2.5kilometresofriverandalongtheedgeofthelagoon,andwillmakeasignificantimprovementtonativefishhabitatinthese areas.

output description Qualifier unit achieved

CommunityGroupsSupported Other No.groups 4

Revegetatewithindigenousvegetation Within riparian zones Area (ha) 131

Revegetatewithindigenousvegetation Other terrestrial zones (next to or withinremnantvegetation)

Area (ha) 16

Revegetatewithindigenousvegetation Within Riparian zones (next to or withinremnantvegetation)

Lengthofriver(km) 36.03

FenceRemnantVegetation Within riparian zones Lengthoffencing(km) 17.981

FenceRemnantVegetation Within riparian zones Area fenced (ha) 199.703

FenceRemnantVegetation Other terrestrial zones Area fenced (ha) 32

Grazingregimechange GrazedasrequiredforNRMoutcomes

Area established (ha) 7.2

Fencewetland Other Area fenced (ha) 1.5

Off-streamwateringpointsestablished Noqualifier Numberestablished 11

Pesttreatment Regionally prohibited weeds Area treated (ha) 966.37

Pesttreatment Regionally prohibited weeds Lengthofriver(km) 207.26

Sites treated for soil erosion through engineeringworks/fencing

Other Area treated (ha) 7.1

Urbanstormwatercontrolsystemsinstalled Other No.installed 3

Streambankstabilised Noqualifier Lengthstabilised(km) 4.285

Streamorareaopenedtofishpassage FishwayInstalled No.fishbarriersaddressed 3

Streamorareaopenedtofishpassage Fishwayinstalled Lengthorriver(km) 135

Streamorareaopenedtofishpassage Other Lengthofinstreamhabitat(km) 2.466

UrbanStormwatersystem Gross Pollutant trap installed No.installed 3

Pesttreatment Aquaticweeds Length of waterway controlled or eradicated(km)

146

Overall Goulburn River Large Scale River Restoration project achievements

bell’s crossing, Tahbilk

Before After

Two examples of before and after mapping in areas that were resnagged as part of the Large Scale River Restoration Project. Red areas show a high density of snags, while blue areas show a low density of snags.

Snag density Estimates before and after Resnagging on the Goulburn River

(Rea) (Belstack)

LSRR Project Output Summary by Management Unit

Management Unit U7: upper Goulburn catchment

CoverstheGoulburnRiverandmajortributariesupstreamofEildonReservoir,atotallengthofstreamof200km. Priority Status: HighCommunityValueKey Resource Focus:StreamsideZone,PhysicalFormandHydrology

Activity has concentrated on:• Improvingexistingcorridorlinksthroughwillowcontrolandotherinvasive

floraspeciescontrol.• Identifyingkeyerosionsiteswithplannedconstructionatkeysitesto

remediateerosion.• Identifyingprioritycatchmentinitiativesandworksatkeysites.

output Targets from funding bid actual output

Riparianrevegetation@>750trees/ha 20 ha 0 ha*

Exoticvegetationcontrol(injectionand physical) 52km 112.68km(across144.5ha)

Partnershipinitiativestoimprovethemanagementofexoticvegetationinthecatchment.

6 projects 4 projects

Control bed and bank erosion in priority areas

Notinoriginal bid 2.1km

Awarenessraising-Interpretativesigns installed

Notinoriginal bid 1location

*Revegetation was not carried out in the Upper Goulburn as existing intact areas of native vegetation in areas where weed control has been carried out will result in the natural regeneration of native vegetation.

Management Unit U1: Mid Goulburn River

Covers the length of the Goulburn River between Eildon Reservoir and GoulburnWeir,atotallengthofstreamof145km.Priority Status: HighCommunityValueKey Resource Focus:StreamsideZone,PhysicalFormandHydrology

Activity has concentrated on:• Improvingexistingcorridorlinksthroughrevegetation,fencing,willowcontrol

andotherinvasivefloraspeciescontrol.• Identifyingkeyerosionsiteswithplannedconstructionatkeysitestoremedi-

ate erosion. • Identifyingprioritycatchmentinitiativesandworksatkeysites• Identifyingsitesfortheplacementoflargewoodydebris(snags)througha

studytoassessin-streamhabitat.• Assessingpriorityurbanstormwateroutfalls.• Identifyingkeypubliclandparcelsforprotection

output Targets from funding bid actual output

Riparianrevegetation@>750trees/ha 30ha 100.733ha(along26.178kmriver)Riparian fencing 30kms 13.688km(143.71hafenced)MyFOL/ManagementAgreements 30 53AlternativeWateringPoints 30 9Exoticvegetationcontrol(injectionand physical) 10km 57.58km(across161ha)

Publiclandprotection 30km 93.45kmofriverPlacementoflargewoodstructures(SEAR)@5/km 20 sites Placementof493snagsalong

2.216kmRiver(averagesize2m3)Control bed and bank erosion in priority areas 2km 1.635km

ProvidefishPassagethroughremovalormodificationofexistingstructure

Notinoriginal bid

13kmriveropeneduptofishpassage

Investigation/Research Notinoriginal bid

1project-MidGoulburnWetlandsassessmentproject

Investigation/Research Notinoriginal bid

1project–FreshwatercatfishinTahbilklagoonelectrofishing/monitoring

Investigation/Research Notinoriginal bid

1project–NativeFishHabitatMapping.MidGoulburnRiver.

Awareness raising Notinoriginal bid

Interpretativesignsat7locations

Management Unit L1: lower Goulburn River and floodplain

CoverstheGoulburnRiverdownstreamofGoulburnWeir,atotallengthofstreamof195km.Priority Status: HighCommunityValueKey Resource Focus:StreamsideZone,PhysicalFormandHydrology

Activity has concentrated on:• Improvingexistingcorridorlinksthroughrevegetation,fencing,willowand

woodyweedcontrolandthecontrolofotherinvasivefloraspecies.• Identifyingkeyerosionsiteswithplannedconstructionatkeysitesto

remediateerosion.• Identifyingprioritycatchmentinitiativesandworksatkeysites.• Identifyingsitesfortheplacementoflargewoodydebris(snags)througha

studytoassessin-streamhabitat.• Assessingpriorityurbanstormwateroutfalls.• AssessingfishpassagerequirementsatSheppartonandGoulburnWeirand

modifyingSheppartonTownWeirtoimprovefishpassage.

output Targets from funding bid actual output

Riparianrevegetation@>750trees/ha 60 ha 26ha(along6.25km)

Riparian fencing 40km 4.29km(55.99hafenced)MyFOL/ManagementAgreements 40 16 AlternativeWateringPoints 40 2 Exoticvegetationcontrol(injectionand physical) 20km 37km(across659.67ha)

Publiclandprotection 10km 10.543kmofriver

Placementoflargewoodstructures(SEAR)@5/km 10 sites

Placementof111snagsalong0.250kmRiver(averagesize2m3)

Control bed and bank erosion in priority areas 5km 0.55km

Urbanstormwater/agricultureCRPprojects 4 3

Keyflowregimesreinstated 1 0 Keyoutfallsstabilised 2 2 Investigatefishpassage 1 site 1 siteProvidefishPassagethroughremovalormodificationofexistingstructure

Notinoriginalbid

122kmriveropeneduptofishpassage

ExoticVegetationcontrol Notinoriginalbid

WeedmappingbetweenToolambaBridgeandShepparton-Mooroopna.

ExoticVegetationcontrol Notinoriginalbid 146kmaquaticweedcontrol

Investigation/Research Notinoriginalbid

1 project - Lower Goulburn Wetlandsassessment

Investigation/Research Notinoriginalbid

1 project - Lower Goulburn Floodplainwetlandfishinvestigation

Investigation/Research Notinoriginalbid

1project-LowerGoulburnNativeFishCommunitiesmonitoring

Awarenessraising-Interpretativesigns installed

Notinoriginalbid Interpretivesignsat9locations

Goulburn River large Scale River Restoration Project on-ground works

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Funding for the Goulburn River Large Scale River Restoration Project was provided by the Victorian State Government.

Research ProjectsAnumberresearchprojects,monitoringprojects,assessmentsandotherinvestigationshavebeencarriedoutthroughtheGoulburnRiverLargeScaleRiverRestorationproject.Theseinclude:

• LowerGoulburnWetlandassessments

• MidGoulburnWetlandassessments

• LowerGoulburnRiverFloodplainWetlandFishInvestigation

• StatusoffishpopulationsinthelowerGoulburnRiver(2003-2012)

• FreshwaterCatfishinTahbilkLagoon–electrofishing,taggingandmonitoringproject

• MappingofhabitatandassociatedfishsurveyintheGoulburnRiver,Seymour

ContacttheGoulburnBrokenCatchmentManagementAuthorityorvisitwww.gbcma.vic.gov.autoobtainacopyofthereportsthathavebeenprepared as part of these projects.

Supporting River HealthThecommunitycanassistintheprotectionofthesenaturalassetsthroughanumberofways:

• Findoutaboutyourlocalriversandstreams(andthevaluestheycontain/provide);

• Protectandmanagestreamsidebufferareasbyfencingandre-establishingnativevegetation

• Getinvolvedwithandencourageparticipationinnativefishandriverhealtheducationprograms

• Getinvolvedwithlocalgroupsworkingonriverprojects(Waterwatch,Landcare,Indigenousandrecreationalanglinggroups).

FormoreinformationpleasecontacttheGoulburnBrokenCatchmentManagementAuthority.

GoulburnBrokenCatchmentManagementAuthority

Telephone:58201100POBox175Shepparton3632

www.gbcma.vic.gov.au