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North central Victoria features strongly in waterway report

Man holding big fish
17 Feb 2020

The North Central Catchment Management Authority (CMA) region features strongly in a progress snapshot three years into the delivery of Victoria’s $222 million investment in healthy waterways and catchments.

The Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning (DELWP) prepared the snapshot in December 2019 highlighting the progress across Victoria in strengthening partnerships with Traditional Owner groups and Aboriginal Victorians, partnering with recreational groups such as anglers, collecting data with thousands of citizen scientists, and working with community groups on projects to restore waterway and catchment health.

Case studies from the North Central CMA region featured in the report emphasise the local progress being made to improve waterway health. These include:

  • Dja Dja Wurrung leading the Wanyarram Dhelk project to improve the health of Bendigo Creek and its tributaries and improve community connection to the waterway. Partners have also carried out weed control, revegetation along creek banks and set up frog ponds.
  • At Gunbower Forest – an internationally significant wetland - water for the environment is improving the health of River Red Gums. Research data shows a higher proportion of River Red Gum saplings, richer native understorey vegetation and more cover.
  • At-risk native fish species are being seen for the first time in decades, and in some cases, more than a century.
    • The critically endangered Murray Hardy-head has been found in record numbers at Lake Elizabeth, near Kerang, after being manually re-introduced in 2015. The North Central CMA used water for the environment and revegetation to improve water quality and reduce salinity levels, creating better conditions for this little fish. In 2019 populations of Murray Hardy-head were found at three other northern Victorian wetlands that receive water for the environment.
    • Silver Perch and Murray Cod have returned to the Campaspe River for the first time in 10 years.
  • The Waterwatch education programs is strengthening community participation in waterway and catchment management through citizen science.    
  • Read the full report here http://www.nccma.vic.gov.au/resources/library

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