The Mid Thomson River Flagship Waterway Project includes the Thomson River, downstream of Cowwarr Weir, to the Macalister River confluence, including the Rainbow Creek anabranch - a total waterway length of approximately 80km. It comprises priority waterways from the West Gippsland Waterway Strategy and is a vital link in the long-term vision to provide habitat connectivity along the Thomson River from the Victorian Alps to the Gippsland Lakes.
West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority (WGCMA) are leading the project, in partnership with the local community.
The main objectives of the project are to engage and inform communities that participate in and contribute to waterway management decisions; maintain or increase native fish species populations and diversity; provide and protect a continuous native vegetation corridor along the river with no willows; and create a river channel that is able to withstand moderate flooding with only minor erosion.
Left: An Australian Grayling with an acoustic transmitter. The Australian Grayling is a nationally vulnerable species listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Releases of water for the environment have focused on providing autumn and spring freshes for spawning and recruitment opportunities for native fish species including Australian grayling, tupong and Australian bass. Flows have also been provided to enable fish to move between habitats along the river.
Photo courtesy of WGCMA and the Arthur Rylah Institute.
Page last updated: 05/02/20