Mapping the Future for Fish Habitat Rehabilitation

Issues affecting native fish habitat are often well-documented and understood, but the magnitude and cumulative impacts are rarely recorded and reported. To achieve a strategic approach to aquatic habitat rehabilitation, it is essential to benchmark condition of habitat and riparian assets prior to embarking on a works program. 

An approach to aquatic habitat mapping methodology and investment prioritisation was initially developed for the Macquarie River, located in the heart of Australia's Murray Darling Basin. A 400 kilometre geomorphically diverse section of river was surveyed and in-stream and riparian habitat features such as refuge pools, snags, aquatic macrophytes and weed incursions recorded and digitised. Management issues such as erosion, livestock damage and riverine infrastructure including weirs, dams and pump sites were recorded. The Decision Support System (DSS) was then developed to determine rehabilitation priorities at a reach scale using a thematic approach.

The mapping methodology & DSS has since been adopted to successfully map hundreds of kilometres of rivers and guide investment in aquatic protection and repair projects to the value of >$AUD 5 million to date.

This project was funded by the Central West Catchment Management Authority, Riversmart Australia and the Murray Darling Basin Authority's Native Fish Strategy.