Upper
Talking fish Making connections with the rivers of the Murray-Darling Basin Authors ZaferSarac,HamishSewell,GregRingwood,LizBakerandScottNichols The rivers of the Murray-Darling River Basin Citation:Sarac,Z.,Sewell,H.,Ringwood,G.Baker,E.andNichols,S.(2012)Upper TheriversandcreeksoftheMurrayͲDarlingBasinflowthroughQueensland,NewSouth Condamine:TalkingfishͲmakingconnectionswiththeriversoftheMurrayͲ Wales,theAustralianCapitalTerritory,VictoriaandSouthAustralia.The77000kmof DarlingBasin,MurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthority,Canberra. waterwaysthatmakeuptheBasinlink23catchmentsoveranareaof1millionkm2. Projectsteeringcommittee TerryKorodaj(MDBA),CameronLay(NSWDPI),ZaferSarac(QldDEEDI),Adrian Eachriverhasitsowncharacteryetthesewaters,thefish,theplants,andthepeoplethat Wells(MDBACommunityStakeholderTaskforce),PeterJackson(MDBANative relyonthemarealldifferent. FishStrategyadvisor),FernHames(VicDSE)andJonathanMcPhail(PIRSA). Thebookletsinthisseriestellthestoriesofhowtherivers,fishandfishinghavechanged. ProjectTeam ScottNichols,CameronLay,CraigCopeland,LizBaker(NSWDPI);JodiFrawley, Themainstoriesinthesebookletsarewrittenfromoralhistoryinterviewsconductedwith HeatherGoodall(UTS);ZaferSarac,GregRingwood(QldDEEDI);HamishSewell localfishersin2010Ͳ11,andrelateindividuals’memoriesofhowtheirlocalplaceshave (TheStoryProject);PhilDuncan(NgnuluConsulting);TerryKorodaj(MDBA); changed.ThesebookletsshowcasethreewaysofknowingtheCondamineRiver:personal FernHames,PamClunie,SteveSaddlier(VicDSE);JonathanMcPhail, VirginiaSimpson(PIRSA);WillTrueman(researcher). experience,scientificresearchandhistoricalresearch.Justasindividualfishersdonot alwaysagreewithoneanother,sotheirunderstandingmightnotnecessarilyagreewith ISBN978Ͳ1Ͳ921914Ͳ45Ͳ4 currentscientificinformationorhistoricalrecords.Similarly,specificitemsandeventsmight ©MurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthority,2012 beremembereddifferentlybydifferentpeople.Thesevariedperspectivesshowtherangein PublishedbytheMurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthority(MDBA),Canberra. viewsaboutfishingandtherivers,eachimportantinitsownway.Therearemanyother Graphicalandtextualinformationinthework(withtheexceptionof great stories out there about fishing in the Murray Darling Basin. These booklets are just the photographsandtheMDBAlogo)maybestored,retrievedandreproducedin Ͳ wholeorinpart,providedtheinformationisnotsoldorusedforcommercial beginning. benefitanditssource(MurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthority,TalkingFishProject)is acknowledged.Reproductionforotherpurposesisprohibitedwithoutprior permissionoftheMurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthorityorthecopyrightholdersinthe Acknowledgements–UpperCondamine caseofphotographs.Totheextentpermittedbylaw,thecopyrightholders (includingitsemployeesandconsultants)excludeallliabilitytoanypersonfor AveryspecialthankyoutoSamBonner(GithabulElder),NoalKuhl,BrianKuhn,DessieObst, anyconsequences,includingbutnotlimitedtoalllosses,damages,costs, Geoff Reilly and Olive and Ray Shooter, who generously shared their stories and expensesandanyothercompensation,arisingdirectlyorindirectlyfromusing thisreport(inpartorinwhole)andanyinformationormaterialcontainedinit. photographsinthisbooklet. Thecontentsofthispublicationdonotpurporttorepresentthepositionofthe MurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthority.Theyarepresentedtoinformdiscussionfor improvedmanagementoftheBasin'snaturalresources. Adviceandfieldsupport–UpperCondamine ResearchandeditingbytheNSWDepartmentofPrimaryIndustries(NSWDPI) HamishSewell(TheStoryProject)andGregRingwood(NFSCoordinator,FisheriesQueensland). andtheUniversityofTechnology,Sydney(UTS).Theviewsexpressedinthis bookletarenotnecessarilythoseoftheNSWDPI,UTSorotherprojectpartners. Frontphotographs–LͲR Source:DessieObst. TheMDBAacknowledgestheintellectualpropertyrightsofthepeoplewhose Source:GeoffReilly. storiesarefeaturedinthispublication. Source:GregRingwood. Aboriginalreadersarewarnedthatthispublicationmaycontainthenamesand Source:GregRingwood. imagesofAboriginalpeoplewhohavesincepassedaway. Backpageimages GoldfishandHyrtl’scatfish:GuntherSchmida.Allotherfishimages:NSWDPI. TheCondamineRiverrisesintheBorderRangesthen makesitswayalongtheeasternpartoftheDarlingDowns TheCondamineͲariversystem regioninSouthernQueensland,becomingtheBalonne RivernearGlenmorgan.The13000km2catchmentisone notjustachannel,muchofits ofthemajortributariesoftheDarlingRiverSystem. Twentythousandyearsago,theBarunggam,Bigambul, Giabal,Kambuwal,GithabulandJarowairpeopleknewa waterisundergroundyouonly verydifferentCondamineRiver:acoolerclimate,different plantsandanimalsand,mostimportantly,ariverthat see its power after a sudden flowedyearround.Withmuchofthewaterinthe CondamineRiverflowingunderground,springfedcreeks ³ andwaterholeswerepermanentwatersourcesutilisedby downpourreinvigoratesit. fishandtraditionalownersalike. Nowadays the river waters one of the richest agricultural areasinQueensland.Theaverageannualrainfallisin excessof600mm,mainlyfallingduringthesummer months.Alluvialflatsadjacenttoandeastofthe Condaminearefertileandparticularlysuitedtocropping. Intensivelanduseanddevelopmenthasresultedinavery differentrivertothatofyearsago.Theextensive floodplainsareeasilyerodedandwiththearrivalof hoofedstocktheCondamineRiverchangedandnowthe catchmentisdegradedsignificantly.Over60%ofthe aquatichabitatisnowconsideredinpoorcondition. Thesearethestoriesofthosewholovetheriverandwho lovetofishintheriver.Theirstoriesarepartofabigger storyaboutchangestotheCondamineRiveranditsfish. PeoplerememberthegloryoftheCondaminepastand wanttotalkaboutafuturefortheCondamineandtheir visionsforahealthyriverthatis,onceagain,fullofnative fish. Introducing the river and its people TherichnessoftheUpperCondamine Once upon a time allowedlocalclanstotradewiththeclans PriortotheEuropeansettlementtherewere fromothercatchments. atleasteightAboriginalclansintheUpper Althoughtherehavebeensomechanges Condaminecatchment.Thesecommunities overtheyears,traditionsassociatedwiththe wouldgathereverythreeyearsintheBunya riverareasvividnowastheywerebefore Mountains,northofDalby,fromMayto thearrivaloftheEuropeans.AsSamBonner, November,forthebunyanutharvest. GithabulElder,pointsout: EuropeanrecordsofmultiͲclanAboriginal gatheringgoesbackto1866when400–500 Inpasttimesaboriginalswererequiredto individualsfromBarunggam,Bigambul,Dalla, removerubbishfromtheriverleavingitclean and tidy as they found it. Giabal,JagaraandtheJarowairpeople gatheredalongLakeBroadwaternearDalby. Asinthepast,therivercontinuestoplaya significantroleinthelivesofAboriginal TheseAboriginalclanshaveastrongspiritual peopletoday. connectionwiththeCondamineRiver.The TheUpperCondaminewasrichinfish, BarunggampeoplebelievethattheGreat freshwaterturtles,shellfishandwaterfowlas RainbowSerpentcalledGaiwarcarvedout wellasatriennialbumpercropofbunya therivers,creeksandlakesduringitsjourney nuts.Thisledtotheareabeingaregular acrosstheearth.TheGithabulpeoplecalled gatheringsiteforthesurroundingclans². theRainbowSerpentMochelMocheland Nardoo,aplantwhichgrowsintheshallow believethatitlivedinthewaterholesaround marginsofbillabongsalongtheCondamine, Warwick.FortheGithabulpeopleswimming wasgroundtomakeatypeofpancake.The intheriverwasassociatedwithstrictrules. bulbsofthenativeleekandwaterlilieswere Thegendersweresegregatedandallocated usedasvegetables³.Thebanksofthe separatetimes.Somewaterholeswerealso CondamineRiveranditstributariesalso usedforinitiationceremoniesthatwereout provided the Aboriginal peoples with the AcreekintheUpperCondamineRivercatchment of bound to the opposite sex³. fruitsofrubysaltbush,nativelime,winter withintactriparianvegetation.Photo:CondamineAlliance. appleandsandalwood.
The arrival of the Europeans ThefirstEuropeanexplorerinthearea,Alan Cunningham,travelledthroughthe catchmentin1827,namingtheDarling DownsafterthegovernorofNSW,SirRalph Darling.Duringthe1840s,theearlysettlers establishedseveralgrazingenterprises.More settlementswereencouragedafter Queenslandbecameastatein1859,and legislationwaspassedtosubdividelarge pastoralestablishmentsintosmallerblocks toincreasepopulation². BrianKuhnhasbeenaresident,fisherman,fish SamBonner,GithabulElder,ispassionateaboutthe Theareawitnessedasignificantincreasein stockingclubmemberandFishcarevolunteer.More Condamine.Samiskeentopassonhistraditionaland theregion’sagriculturaleconomyasthe recentlyBrianhasbeeninvolvedinriverrestoration environmentalknowledgeontothechildren,toshow croppinganddairyindustriesexpanded. projects.Photo:GregRingwood. themwhattherivermeanstohimandhispeople. Photo:GregRingwood. TheLeslieDam,southwestofWarwick,was constructedin1964withawaterstorage capacityof47000ML.Itwaslatermodified toincreaseitswaterholdingcapacityto supporttheirrigationindustry. Waterextractionsandweirshaveresultedin reducedhighflows,minorchangesto seasonalityandvariabilityandareductionin annualwatervolumeswithinthe Condamine.Reducedflowsandnutrient runoffhavealsoincreasedtheincidenceof blueͲgreenalgalbloomsinthesystem. NoalKuhlisakeenfishermanandfishingjournalist. OliveandRayShooterhavelivedonDalrympleCreek Heisinvolvedinthelocalfishstockingclubandhas for48andover77yearsrespectively.Intheiryounger undertakenlocalhistoricalresearchtoguidemany yearstheirlivesrevolvedaroundthecreek. riverrestorationprojectsinhisarea.Photo:Greg Photo:GregRingwood. Ringwood.
Brian Kuhn – The passion of a farmer BrianKuhnhasbeen bobupanddownyouknewyouhadabite. So it was an easy way to learn to fish workingasafarmer anyway. S sincehewas17years pan gled old.Helivesona Brianrememberscatchingmanyfish,but (Leiopotheraponunicolourperch Ͳ propertythatborders mostlycatfish. bobby,spangledgrunter,nicky) KingsCreek,amajor Wellthemajorityoffishwecaughtwere tributaryofthe whatwecalledtheoldeeltailedcatfish.He CondamineRiver.Brian wasthemostpredominantfishwecaught. hasfishedtheKings Wecaughttheoddyellowbellyorgolden sincehewasold perch,evenrarer,wastheoddMurraycod. enoughtofish. Butsincewehavestartedstockinggolden perchandMurraycodinthesesystemsthey havebecomemoreprevalent. Catfish and more Photo:GuntherSchmida. FishingisafamilypastͲ The silver lining Average length 15cm, maximum length 25cm timeinthispartofthe x worldandthefishing Everyonehasasecretaboutfishing–Brian’s x Extremelyhardy:recordedtravellingupto16km in2hoursalongwheelrutsduringthunderstorms skillshavebeenpassed fatherwasnoexception. Upstream spawning migrations triggered by downfromgeneration IrememberbacktowhenDadtaughtme x summerfloodsandtemperaturesexceeding to generation fishinginthecreekyearsago.Wehadalittle 26ºC unchanged. Brian fishcalledthebobbyperch.Nowtheyonly Highly predatory fish that will eat anything it can evergrowtoabout15cm.That’sprobablyas x learnedhowtofish swallow fromhisfatherwho bigastheygrowandonceyougotthemon thebitetherewasalittlefeedingfrenzy,Dad x Mostwidespreadnativefreshwaterfishin hadaneasywaytoteachthekidswhen Australia usedtoputalittlepieceofsilverpaperoutof they’dcaughtafish. histobaccopouchandthey'dtakethat.SoI x Riverregulation,coldwaterpollutionand Hehadafloatontheendofhislineandthe meanifyourunoutofwormsjustputabitof reducedfloodsarethreatstospangledperch linewassuspendedaboutprobably3or4 silverpaperontheendandputitinthe x RemainsabundantacrossthenorthernBasin feetunderthewaterand,you'dsittherein waterandflick.Probablyworkslikeanearly theafternoonandwhenthecorkstartedto versionofalure.
Doing what young people do Losing the banks ToBrian,theriverprovidedalotmorethan Oneofthemajorissuesinrelationtothe Th justthefish. habitatlossintheUpperCondamineisthe e Ri removal of snags from the river channel. ver Livingonthecreek,ourhousewaslessthan Imp Brianremembers: rov 100metresfromthewater.We'djustpop emen downintheafternoonandcatchafish.But t T Inthe1960s,therewasaschemegoing.It rust asIgrewolderandstartedhavingfriends wasrunbytheCondamineRiverTrustand we'dcomeouthere,15kmoutofClifton, theirjobwasfundedbytheGovernmentto campthenight,haveafishand,youknow, removeallthetreesandsnagsoutofthe dowhatyoungpeopledo. streams.Itwastoletthewatergetaway faster,toallegedlystopfloodingdownthe The secret of preparing a fish streams.Well,Ithinkitmadeitworse, TheRiverImprovementTrustisastatutoryauthority becauseIthinkitmadethewaterflowalot Itseemsregularfishingcreatessome constitutedundertheRiverImprovementTrustAct fasterandtherewasalotmoredamageand 1940toprotectandimproverivers,repairandprevent practical ways of preparing and cooking fish, erosiondonetothebanks. damagetoriversandpreventormitigatefloodingof especiallywhenthetasteofthefishfilletsis landbyriverineflood. taintedwithasomewhatmuddytaste. Righting the wrongs TheprimaryroleoftheTrustistoplan,design,finance, Gone are the old days of just throwing a fish Briannoteshowattitudeshavechanged undertakeandmaintainstreamimprovementworks ontheBBQ,scalesandallbecauseyoudo overtheyears.Hehasworkedwithlocal forthebenefitofthecommunitywithinitsriver getaverymuddytasteoutoftheflesh. improvement area. authorities to improve this section of the Therearevariousrecipessoakingthemin milkorsoakingtheminsaltywaterafter CondamineRiver. TheTrusthasthepowerstoundertakethesefunctions you've filleted them. The best is to leave it includingtheabilitytoraisefunds,enterland,occupy Inthelastthreeyears,moneywasallocated 4 land,enterintocontractsandcarryoutworks . overnightinthefridgeandthennext heresowecouldstartputtingsnagsbackin morningyouwillseeallthefatareasonthe the water. In this general area of 500 metres IntheupperCondamineRivertheTrustremoved fleshhavesolidified.Allyoudoiscutthat 12big,bigtreeswereplonkedbackinthe habitat,vegetationandsnags,formingachannelwith away and give that to the cat and the nice water. increasedwatervelocities,leadingtoelevatederosion clearfleshittastesfine.TheMurraycod issues and increased down stream flooding in many doesn'tseemtohavethatproblemassuch. cases.Thisimpactedheavilyonnativefishpopulations.
Sam Bonner – Traditional river connections Theycomeupfromunderneathhere,because SamBonnerisaGithabulElderwholivesclose it’sdeep,sodeepitwasbottomless,itgoes toEmuCreek,oneoftributariesofthe intothebigundergroundstream.It’slikeabig CondamineRiver.Hehasacloseconnection seaofwater,allthiscountry,underneath withtheriver. there.Therearepassageways,andthese Sampointstoariverredgumwhosetrunkstill thingsmightcomeupdownTweedHeadsor bearsthedeepscarfrombarkremovedto somewhere,ortheymightcomeupoutat constructacanoeover160yearsago. Cunnamulla.Sothisisasacredwaterhole,this place. We’re never allowed to swim here on AccordingtoSam,canoesweremadebythe account of they said there’s some prehistoric localAboriginalsnotfortheirownusebutto animal or something that’s in here. No one tradewithotherAboriginaltribesforlocally knows what it is, you know. But it has been unavailableproductssuchasochrefor sighted back in them days. Some describe it as painting. likeabigovergrownwombat. Hereweare,infrontofascarredtree.See howtheycutaroundthatsappypart,and tookallthatout.Theyusedtodothatwith wedges.Theyhadspecialmaterialtomake wedgesoutof,youknow,likespecialstone. Andtheycutthemandmarkthemallthe wayaroundandthentheywedgeit.They wedgeallthatout.Thatiswhattheyusedto makethecanoeoutof.
An underground sea SamBonnerandthecanoetree. TheGithabulpeoplemaintainedaclose Photo:GregRingwood. relationshipwiththeriver,usingstoriesto Sincewayback–Iwastoldaboutit,backin conveytheconnectivityofwatersaboveand the 1950s, they said 70 years before the belowground. animalthingwassightedhere.Mumandthe AnUpperCondamineRiverwaterhole. otherelderstoldmeevery70or80years Photo:GregRingwood. thosethingscomebackandshowthemselves.
Only take what you need Weworkedinsawmillsandthings.Wenever hadthatmuchsparetime.Weekendswere Samlearnedhowtofishfromhisaunties. S theonlytimewehad,andthenifwewere ilver Theyoftenwentfishingtobringhomea luckywe’dgettotown.Ifnotwe’dcome (BidyanusbidyanusͲgrunter,perchblackbream, feedforthefamily,alwayscatchingwhat fishingtotheseplaces.We’vefishedallalong silverbream,bidyan) theyneededandonlywhattheyneeded. here.Weusedtocatchafairbitoffishbackin themdays,18or19jew[catfish]and Theywouldcatchaboutfiveorsixeach,and yellowbelly.You’dgetagoodfeedeverytime. thenstartpackingupandputthefishinthe bags,andIcouldn’tunderstandmyself.I Samandhisfamilyusedavarietyofbaits usedtosay‘Aunty,whatarewegoinghome whentheyfished,attachingacorktotheline for?We’llgetsomemore.’Andshewould andusing‘bobbing’techniquestoattractthe reply‘No,you’reonlyallowedtocatchso fish. many.’That’swhattheytaughtme.Youonly catch what fed the family, see. You’re not to Weusedtouseanythingforbait.Maybe Photo:BarryPorter. getanymore. crayfishandfrogsarenumberone, grasshoppers,crickets,andblackcrickets. x Mediumtolargefishgrowingto50cmand Sam,hisfamilyandfriendsalwayskeptthe We’djustliftupalogorcowmanuretosee 8kg,butusually35cmand2kg rivercleanandtidy.Forothers,suchcarefor andyou’dseeplentyofcrickets.Usethem, x FoundinsimilarhabitstoMurraycodand theriverwasnotalwaysundertaken, anything.Getthecorkbobbingsteadysoit goldenperch(lowlandturgid,slowflowing especiallywhenitcametocatchingfish. makesabignoisegoing‘pop’whenitcomes rivers) up.Thebiggerandwiderthecorkthebetterit x Spawningcanoccurwithoutaflood,but Peoplethesedaystheyfilltheirfridgeright makesthatnoise.Thefishhearitandthey thesefishseemtobenefitfromariseinwater uptothetopwithfish.That’sstupid.That’s comeandtheyseethebaitmoving,andthey level greedy.They’restilldoingit.Theytakebig justgoandgrabit. x Willmovethroughfishways eskiesoutthereandtheybringhomeas Eat aquatic plants, snails, shrimp, and aquatic muchastheycancatch–unbelievableͲwhat x insectlarvae dotheydowithitall?Theycan’teatallthat. Protecting the perch Potential threats include river regulation, EmuCreekflowsstraightintotheCondamine x Timber mills and bobbing barrierstomigration,alteredflowregimes, River.IthasMurraycod,yellowbellyand coldwaterpollutionandinteractionswith Sam’sfatherwasatreeͲcutter,somost catfishthatallbreedinthecreek’s carpandredfin familymembersworkedinthelocaltimber waterholes.Occasionallyyoucangetsilver mill.Theyusedsomeoftheirfreetime perch,buttheyareverysmallinthecreek. catchingfishinEmuCreek.
Perchlikealotofprotection,lotsoftrees, Thewaterholesaregettingsmallerand R n becausethey’refishthatbirdscangeteasily, shallowerallthetimebecausetheyhaven’t iver v especiallyKingfishersandstufflikethat, beenallowedtorevegetatethemselves,now Waterplantsareimportantegebecauseta theyprovide becauseperchareonlysmall.Yougetsilver we’vegottohelpthemtorevegetate.Thisis habitat,food,refuge,spawningtandio nurserysitesfor perchherenomorethanaboutsix,seven allpartofthemaincatchmentofthe fishandinvertebrates.Theyalsostabiliseandfilter inches.Birdsgetanythingthattheycansee. Condamineanddefinitelyhastobelooked sedimentsandinfluencewaterquality. Theycanseeoutintheopen,butaround after. shadetheycan’tseefish.
Riparianvegetationprovidesshadeandisasourceof AsilverperchinOakeyCreek.Photo:NoalKuhl. snags,bothofwhichareimportantaspectsofhealthy Ribbonweedgrowingnexttoasnag.Photo:ScottNichols. fishhabitat.Photo:CondamineAlliance. The importance of plants Theplantsontheriverbank(‘riparianvegetation’)are akeysourceoforganicmatterfortheaquaticsystem. SambelievestheriveralongEmuCreekhas Manyaquaticinvertebratesfeedondecayingmaterial changedovertheyears.Itispartlydueto andthese,inturn,provideafoodsourceforother theclearingofvegetationinandaroundthe invertebratesandfish.Woodymaterialwhichfalls into rivers and streams provide fish with shelter and a river. substrateforfood,suchasalgae,andbreedingsites. It’schanged–there’snotenoughvegetation Riparianvegetationprovidesshade,whichreduces herenow–timberandstuff.Andyoucansee dailyandseasonalextremesinwatertemperature, whereit’sgraduallygettingwasheddown stabilisesriverbanks,slowssurfacerunoffandcanact asafiltertopollutantsandnutrients.Italsoleadsto andthebanksonthecreeksaregetting morediversefishhabitatsthroughprovidingsnags, narrower.That’sbecausenovegetationis The revegetation of Myall Creek, a tributary of the undercutbanksandvariationinthechannelbed. theretohalttheerosion. CondamineRiver,wasseverelyaffectedbythe2010– 2011floods.Photo:CondamineAlliance.
Olive and Ray Shooter – A lifetime on the creek OliveandRay Fishing is a family pastime Shooterhavebeen marriedsince1963. Raydidnotfishmuchwhenhewasyoung, Rayhaslivedalong buthisfatherandbrotherwerekeenfishers. DalrympleCreekfor Theycaughtyellowbelly,jewfish(catfish) over77years.Olive andcod. grewupafew TheyusedtofishinDalrympleandthe kilometresfrom Condamine.Inmyboyhooddaysthecod wheretheylive weren’there,butIheardstoriesfrommy today,movingto father,whenhewasaboy,thatthereplenty theircurrenthome48yearsago. ofcodinthecreek.Theydisappearedforsome reasonorother,andtheycomebackin30 WhenhewasaboyRaycouldnotkeepaway Mayfliesareimportant yearsago,Isuppose.Andthey–wellthey parts of the aquatic fromthecreek. lastedupuntilthedry,Ithink,thatthatwould ecosystem–and Oh,itwasverycarefreeandweusedtoswim havefinishedthemoff.Butoursonhascaught particularlylovedby andplayinthecreek.Therewerewillowsin asmallcodrecently;wehadtothrowhim fishasfood. Photo:LukePearce. thecreekatthattime,andtheywerelovely backofcourse,sotheyarestillabout. shadytree.Itwasgood. Although Ray does not fish, Olive is a keen Learning to fish Rayandhisfamilyalsooftenhadpicnics fisher.Sheseesfishingasarelaxingactivity. Olive’sfatherwasafisherman,andtaught alongtheriver. Ijustlovefishing.It’slikelookingfor Oliveandhersistershowtofish.Theyused We used to – even when we were young, mushrooms,really.Youneverknowwhen severaldifferentmethodsoffishing haveafewpicnicsonthebank.Weusedto you’regoingtogetone,doyou?Iusedto betweenthem. taketheafternoontea.Itwaslovely,ithad alwayssay,’Itdoesn’tmatterwhetheryou theCondaminecouchunderthetrees.Itwas sitatthebankalldayandyoucatchnothing, Dadusedtosetusalinewithacorkonitand afairlynicelittlearea.Mainlyjustusand it’slovely.’Thedragonflies,andeverything we’dsitwiththatwhenwe’dgofishing. othernephewsandniecesthatmightcome thatflitsaroundthecreekarethere.Little Mumneverfished.Shewouldalwaystake andstay.We’djustplayaroundandmaybe wrensandkingfishersandalltheotherlittle theNewIdeaandhaveadayoutattheriver. paddlealittlebit,becauseyoucouldget birdlifeflitteringaround.It’sbeautiful. Itwasagoodfamilyday. downintothecreekveryeasily.
Whenwewerekidsandwe’dgodownto Best thing you could ever get OliveisnowteachinghergrandsonHarryto KingsCreek,myeldestsisterhadanideathat fishthesamewayasshedidherson. ifyoubobbedyou’dcatchmore.Shecaught WhenteachinghersontofishOliveloved Harry is 11 and a real fisherman. He can talk 48spangledperchonedaybyjustbobbing thespangledperch. of nothing else but fishing when he’s fishing. thecorkallthetime.Wecouldn’teverrepeat Spangledpercharethemostbeautifullittle He comes up to me wanting to go fishing that. fishyou’veeverseen.They’readearlittle becausehe’snotallowedtogotothecreek Ineverevenuseacorknow,andIdon’tlike fish.Formothersintroducingtheirsonsto onhisown.Hetakesaloungechairformeto rodseither.Youcan’tfeelwhatthefishis fishing,theywerethebestthingyoucould sitonwhilehefishes. doingwitharod.Ifyoujustholdontothe everget,becauseassoonasthebaithitsthe line,youknowwhatthefishisdoing. watertheygrabbedit.Youcouldcatchthem A drier creek withapinonastring.Youcouldjustthrowit in,andwhateveryouhadasbait,theywould BothOliveandRayhavenoticedchangesin biteonit.Ithinktheywerethebestfunfor thecreekovertheyears.Inthe1950sand mothersandsmallboys. ‘60s,Olivenoticedthatthelocalwaterhole driedoutlessoften. Driven to distraction Justdownhere,whereIalwaysfished,the Whenthefishareonthebite,notevena bighole.Wellit’sbeendryonquiteafew fearofthebaitwouldstopOlivefrom occasionslatelyanditneverwasdryinpast catchingafish. years.Wealwayshadwaterinthecreek.But thosetimesaregone. OnetimewhenIcouldn’tfindanyworms,my sonsaidhe’dgetsomewillowgrubs, Someoftheaquaticcreatureshavewaysof somethingIdon’tliketohandle.Anyway,I copingwiththesechanges,asOliveexplains: tookthetoiletpaperwithme,andIusedto There’syabbiesinthelittleholedownhere. getapieceoftoiletpaper,andpickupthe They’reamazingreally,‘causethewaterhole willowgrubwiththat,andputitonthehook goescompletelydryandthere’snothing andbaitup.Iwasgoingallrightuntilthey thereatall.Thenassoonasitgetswaterin startedbiting,andthenallofasuddenI itthere’syabbiesandthelittleperch, didn’tcareifIpickedupawillowgrubornot. spangledperch,init. IpickedupawillowgrubandIputitonthe hook,notrouble.Ididn’tneedtoiletpaper afterthat. Olivewithoneofhercatches.Photo:RayShooter.
Rayalsosaystheriverdriesoutmore Inanattempttoaddresssomeofthese Ya regularlythanithasinthepast. problems,theRiverTrustcarriedoutwork bb onerosioneffectedareas,somemore (Cheraxdestructor)y I’velivedonthecreekallmylife.I’venoticed abigchangeinthecreek.WhenIwasakid, successfulthanothers,asRayexplains: weusedtoswimandplayinthecreekandit Theytriedthreedifferentthingstoaid veryrarelystoppedrunninginthosedays.It’s erosioncontrolthatIcanremember.They changeddramaticallynow.PartlyI’dsay batteredthebanksdownandplantedgrass becauseofthe16,18yeardroughtthat onthem.Thatwasmoderatelysuccessful. we’vehad,andtheoverͲallocationofthe Theyputawalloftyresdownthebankthere; irrigationwater. toholdthecreekfromwashingbacktothe road.Thetyresweresuccessful.Andthen A changed creek theyputpostsinandtiedlogsandbrown saplingstothemandtheybackfilledthat Removalofvegetationalongtheriverhas then,butthatwasn’tasuccessbecausethe affectedtheflowandcreekbanks.Ray saplingsthattheyputinverysoonrotted Photo:GregRingwood. recalls: awayanditwashedaway. x Seldomover250g Intheirwisdom,theRiver[Improvement] x WidelydistributedinSEAustralia Trustdecidedtogetridofthewillowtrees, x Foundinponds,billabongsandslowflowing theywereslowingdownthestreamtoo streams much.Andtheytookthemout,andasa resultthen,thestreamranmuchfaster,and x Moreactiveinthewarmermonths,lessactive whenwatertemperaturesarebelow14°C itscouredthebanksanditmadeitintoa differentcreekaltogether.Insteadofthenice x BreedfromSeptembertoMarch slopedgrassybanks,wefinishedupwitha x Fastgrowing:canreach50ginfirstyear greatscouredoutsteepbank.Itusedtotake x Livefor6Ͳ7years 24hoursforthewatertocomefromthetop x Reductionofbackwaters,floodplainsand downtohere,andafterthatitcamefor12 billabongsbiggestthreat,overfishingleadingto hours.Beforetheflowwouldgettothe localisedlosses Condamine,itdepositedallthesilt. DenudedanderodingbanksontheCondamine. Photo:BrianKuhn.
Noal Kuhl – Angler, historian and fish habitat restorer waterqualitywasreduced.Nowthe Noalbecameinterestedinthehealthofthe seweragewaterisnolongerbeingreleased waterways so future generations could NoalKuhlhaslivedin intothecreek,allthefishhavetorelyonis Oakeyareaallhislife. respectandknowthatwaterwaysare therainwaterthatfallsinthecatchment Restoringthelocal importantecosystemstohaveinthe zone.Thecreekisnotaspermanentaswhat waterwaystotheir communityandnotawatersourcetobe itusedtobe. formernaturalglory abused.In1994hejoinedtheOakey hasalwaysbeenan FreshwaterFishStockingAssociation. ambition. Throughhisinvolvementwiththefishing associationNoalbeganinterviewingthelong termresidentsforhistoricalrecordsand startedpiecingtogethersomeofthe changesthathadoccurredtothewaterholes All you saw was sewage andheadwatersoftheCondamineRiver, AsayoungstergrowingupNoalsawhow includingGowrie,WestbrookandOakey poorlytheriverwastreated. Creek. Noalwithoneofthewaterqualitysamplesfrom WhenIgrewupinthe1970s,allyoucould Thefirstsettlersonlyneededthewaterfor OakeyCreek,downstreamfromGowrieCreek.The seewassewageflowingdownthecreekand theirdomesticuse,wherethey’dbewashing waterinOakeyCreekcontainstreatedwastewater itwasfoamy,brown,andthatcertainly clothes,orfeedinglivestock.Therewasno fromtheWetellatreatmentplantinToowoomba wasn’teyeͲpleasing.Itcertainlywasn’t largescaleirrigationlikewehavenow.So Cityaswellasstormwatercomesfromthecity appealingaskidstocomedowntothelocal nowduringdrytimes,youwillprobablysee streetsandsurroundingfarmland. Photo:www.nma.gov.au. creeksforafish.Soitbecameachallengeto thecreekrundry.Backinthe1960s change all of that. With the Environmental Toowoomba City was expanding and housing Carp country ProtectionAgencyinplace,thelocalcouncil estatesstartedcoveringoverthe wereforcedtocleanupthecreeks.The surroundingnaturalsprings,sothere’sless It’snotonlythewaterflowsthathave improvementintreatedwaterflowing waterseepingoutandfilteringintothe changedinthispartoftheCondamine– downstreambecamenoticeable.Thecreek creeksnow.Notalotofpeoplenoticed manypartsoftheriveranditscreekshave landowners tell us they noticed better quality because sewerage treatment water was hadtheirvegetationclearedtothecreek waterinthecreeksaround1997asitgota replacingthegoodspringwater,sothe edgeandremovedfromthecreekchannel. lotcleanerandalotclearer. waterlevelbasicallystayedthesamebutthe
Thishasledtoareassodisturbedthatthey theyarenotoftenfoundinthenaturalriver cannolongersupportadiverserangeof system.Noalputsthisdowntohabitatloss aquaticlifeincludingthenativefishthat frompasthumanactivities. once thrived here. Despite carp only arriving Muchofsilverperch’shabitathasbeen intheUpperCondamineinthelate1990s, destroyedandwildpopulationsofthemare Noaldescribestheseareasas‘carpcountry’: veryrare.Therewasalotofdiscussioninour Basically,thisisEuropeancarpcountry:if stockinggroupaboutreleasingthesefish. youfishhereyouwillcatchalotofcarp. Fishermentoldus‘itsverydifficulttocatch Thereisbasicallynohabitatherefornative legalsizedfishfortheesky’.Ourstocking fishtolive.Therearenotreesfornativefish groupcommittee’sresponsewas‘It’sour liveunder.It’sjusta‘glorifiedgully’.There’s group’sresponsibilitytomakesurethis speciesiskeptaliveandhealthyinour hardlyanystructureinthewater,nologsin Groundworkedoverforbloodworms.Photo:NoalKuhl. thewater,oranythingtoholdnativefish.It’s waterways’. alsoshallow,aboutfourtosixfootdeepright Somefriendlyruleshavebeendevelopedto throughandthat’swhatcarplike. A wriggly problem lessentheimpactontheriparianzones. Therearemanydifferenttypesofbaitused Localfishermenhavetheirownlittlebeds tocatchfishintheUpperCondaminebut,as madeupandtheycontinuallydigthemover Noalrecounts,bloodwormsareconsidered forwormsandlookafterthem.That’swhat is needed: to limit the diggings and reduce thebest,especiallythespeciesthatlivein theneedtogointonewareasandstuffup theblacksoilcountryoftheDarlingDowns. theriparianzones. Thelocalfishermencometothewaterways collectingbloodwormsforbait.TheDarling Ringtanks and catfish Downsproducesthebestfishingbaitonthe Despite the numerous negative impacts that EasternSeaboardforcatchingnativefishand OakeyCreek–habitatforcarp.Photo:NoalKuhl. thisisbecauseofthebloodworms. humanactivitieshaveplacedonthe waterways,NoalbelievessometimesmanͲ Becauseofthepopularityofbloodworms, The disappearing silver perch madestructureshavehadapositiveeffect manyfishermenregularlyvisittodigfor byprovidinghabitattosomenativefish. AlongtheUpperCondamine,thesilver them.Thisishavingagreatimpactonthe Oneexampleistheroleringtanks(farm perchisconsideredtobethemost riparianvegetationwherethebloodworms dams)playinthesurvivalofeeltailedor vulnerableofallnativefish.Althoughthey are easily located. Tandanus catfish. areinabundanceinstockedimpoundments,
Backin1991,therewereonlythreering tanksonOakeyCreek.Whathappenedis C P thatfishgetpumpedthroughwiththewater. atf ump (Tandanustandanus–eeltailedish catfish,jewie) ing Whenthedamsarenearingemptyyoucan Irrigationpumpsanddrains waareteaproblemforfish.Upto200 seealltheroundhollowsatthebottomof fishcanpotentiallybeextracteddailyr, nfromtheriverthrough high volume irrigation pumps. These fishotare removed from thedamsindicatingeeltailedcatfishnests. fish Eeltailscollectlittlepebblerocksandplace thenaturalsystemwithlittlechancetoreturntotheriver, theminthemiddlewhichhelptheeggsto effectivelybeing‘lost’fromthemainriverchannel.This situationhasamajorimpactonthehealthofnativefish stick.Theeeltailedcatfishareahardynative 4 communitiesintheMurrayͲDarlingBasin. speciesthatthriveinfarmdams,asdosilver perch.Otherpredatoryfishareless adaptabletoringtankssowithoutthe competition,catfishthrive. Photo:GuntherSchmida. x Mediumsizedfish,usually50cmorless Noalandhismatesusedtohavegreat x Bottomdwellersthatpreferslowmoving successfishingintheringtanks. watersofriversorcreeks x Eataquaticinsects,yabbies,molluscsandsmall Allyou’dcatchwaseeltailedcatfish.Butthey fish weretheplumpest,healthiest,fattest x Eggslaidinacirculargravelnestwhichthe lookingeeltailsyou’reeverlikelytosee. maleguardsuntiltheeggshatch Somewereover900mmlongandyou’d x Listedas‘Endangered’inVictoria,‘Endangered Someofthemoreresilientnativefishspecies,suchas catch14or15inasessionandtakesome population’inNSWandprotectedinSA spangledperchandbonybream,areabletoliveinstorages, home.Sometimesyou’dputthemina buttheirabilitytoreturntotheriversandcontributeto their natural community is lost. hessianbag(especiallyifyouknewtheywere femalewithalotofeggs)andtakethem Theissueisnotnew–backasearlyas1928theInland 5 backdowntothecreekandletthemgo.Ring FisheriesOfficerofNSWrecommended: Screensshouldbe tanksareprolificsitesforeeltailedcatfish installedatallirrigationandotherpumpingplantshaving breedingontheDowns.OakeyCreekhasa notmorethanhalfaninchperforationtominimisethe destruction of fish life. largepopulationincomparisontotherestof theMurrayͲDarlingBasinwheretheyare prettyscarce.I’dsaytheringtanksareone areatonurtureeeltailedcatfishtoreturn Researchiscontinuingintothe theminbignumberselsewhere. effectiveuseofscreens. Photos:NSWDPI. Photo:NSWDPI.
Making connections
Being involved with native fish Moving toward zero till Peoplecomefromallovertogetawayfrom itall.Theysetuptheircamp,theirlittledog Duringtheearlysettlement,fishingwasa TillingofthefieldsaroundDalrympleCreek andafire,it'smarvelloustobeouthere necessity as it provided a vital food source. hascontributedtotheturbidityofthecreek awayfromtheratrace;justtheriverand Thoseinterestedinfishingonlyhadthetime waterassoilwaserodedoffpaddocksand naturetoenjoy. tocatchafeedoffish.Thesedaysfishinghas intothecreek.Recentlyfarmershavemade becameapassionformanywhonotonly changestolandmanagementpracticesand spendtimefishingbutalsoobservethe Sta zerotillisgraduallybecomingmore te of healthoftheriverandthenativefish prevalent.RayShooterobservedthatthis TheSustainable RiversriveAudit(SRA)isanongoing populations. Brian Kuhn explains: andsystematicassessmentr: ofriverhealthfor23 hasledtoclearingofthecreekwaters: ‘mod majorrivervalleysintheMDB.Environmentalerat WestartedthefishingclubatNobbyin1988. Ithinkthatalotofthefarmersnowhave indicatorsincludehydrology,fishand e ‘ Itwasafamilyorientatedfishingclub gonetozerotill.Wellthatcertainlyhascut macroinvertebrates,whicharemonitoredandwill focusedonputtingfishbackintotheriver.It downthesiltenteringthecreek.Whenwe highlighttrendsovertime. becameevidenttherewasaneedforan usedtoplough,thewaterthatranoffthe TheCondamineValleywassurveyedin2005.The educationalprogramtoaidnativefishinthis paddockafterastormwasquitedirty.Since CondamineValleyfishcommunityandEcosystem area.Thefishcarevolunteerprogram,which weknockedoffcultivating,thewaterrunsoff HealthwereconsideredtobeinModerate wasorientatedtowardssustainablefishing, mostlyclear.Isupposeitwouldbe80%zero Condition.56%ofpredictednativespecieswere waskickedoffbytheQldDepartmentof tillinthisareanow. caughtfromthe“SlopesZone”.Alienfishwere PrimaryIndustries(QldDPI).Theyprovided widespread,andcomprisedjustoverhalffish biomass(55%). uswithbrochuresandgeneralmaterialto Escape the rat race educatethefishingpubliconthecorrectway Bonyherringwerenumerousandcarpgudgeons, ofcaringfornativefish.Theprogramwas Theriverisenjoyedbymanypeoplefor Australiansmelt,goldenperch,MurrayͲDarling proactiveͲnotjustsayingtheycouldnot activitiesincludingfishingandasaplaceto rainbowfishandspangledperchalsowere common. Three alien species, Eastern gambusia, takeafish.Furtherextensionwasprovided spendqualitytimewithfriendsandfamily. goldfishandcarp,werecapturedfrequently bytheQldDPIinBrisbane,trainingusabout BrianKuhnrecallsitismostlyaplaceto duringthesurvey¹. fishandfishhabitat.Now,fromtimetotime relax: Icomeouthereandjustchecktheriverin generalandmakesurethateverythinglooks Atbusytimes,typicallyatEastertimeyou reasonablyhealthy.Thatispartofbeing comeouthereandtherearelotsoffamilies involvedwithnativefish. thatcampherefortheEasterweekend. Visions for the Condamine Thefishingpeoplewhocontributedtothis A combined approach projecthavealltalkedabouttheirhopesfor thefutureoftheCondamine.Manyfeltthey WiththehelptheCondamineAllianceand hadseensomeimprovementsbutmost FisheriesQueensland,thesetwofishing don'tfeeltheriverisashealthyyetasthey groupsapproachtheissueofsustainingfish wouldliketoseeit.Eachofthesefishers populationsintheUpperCondaminemore suggestedwaystohelptheriverandinturn systematicallythanjuststockingfingerlings helpprovidehealthyhabitatsforfish. intothewater.Bothclubshavealsobeen closelyinvolvedinhabitatrestorationworks Helping fish in tough times ontheUpperCondamine.AsNoalKuhl explains: FishingclubsincludingNobbyandDistrict Weaskedthequestion:whenweput FishingClubandOakeyFreshwaterFish Members of the fishing and stocking groups are fingerlingsinthewaterways,isitworththe StockingAssociationareveryactiveͲgiving involvedinrevegetatingnumerouscreeksalongwith effort?Toanswerthisquestionweneededto nativefishahandwhenneeded.Between thelocalcouncilsintheCondamine(above)aswell understandwhatthecreekswerelikebefore 2001and2009theUpperCondaminewas asfishmonitoring(below).Photos:NoalKuhl. andwhatweseetoday.Oncethechanges grippedbyoneoftheworstdroughtsin wereidentifiedwelookedatifwecould history,resultinginasignificantnumberof rectifythebadaspects.Wefoundthatalot waterholesdryingout.Thenativefish ofthevegetationhadgone.Most requiredhumaninterventiontosurvive,as importantlyploughingthebankshad BrianKuhnrecalls: reducedtheriparianzone.Thatrequired fixingsothenativefishwouldwantto Forthepast20yearstheCondamineRiver return.Oncewestartedputtingfingerlings hasbeeninaprettysadstatewithonly intothecreekinthe‘80s,wenoticedan occasionalflow.Moreoftenthannotithas increaseofnativeanimalsaswell.The beendryholes.Eighteenmonthsago,we farmersstartedtellingusthatkoalas, walkedsomeoftheriver,rescuingMurray goannasandbirds,wereappearingonthe codandputthemintomorepermanent creekquitenoticeably.Oncerevegetation waterholes.We’vegotafewverydedicated began,there’sbeenmajorimprovements peoplewholovefish. from1995andwhatyouseeheretoday. You have to take the time SamBonnerbelievesit’simportanttoteach hisyoungrelativestorespecttheriverand theirhistory.Samexplains: Theyusedtocomeheretoswim.Ittookme twoorthreeseasonstostopthem.Because thisismyareawhereIwasbroughtup,I knowallaboutit.Ihadtodomyjob,domy duty.You’vegottokeepthemlegendsalive, see. In our days, we had to listen. These days it’sdifferentͲthey’rebroughtupdifferent culturenow.You’vegottogetthrough– you’vegottotakethetimetogetthrough themnow.
NoalKuhlreleasingaMurrayCodcaughtamongst Oneoftheinterpretivesignsexplainingtheworkthatisbeingdonetoimprovethehealthofthecreeksandrivers reintroducedsnags.Photosource:CondamineAlliance. oftheCondaminecatchment.Photo:GregRingwood. Bringing back the fish a)TheDewfishDemonstrationReach TheCondamineAllianceNaturalResource ManagementGroupisundertakingthe CondamineRiverRescueProgramto rehabilitateandprotecttheCondamine Rivercatchment.Nativefishareusedasan indicatortogaugethehealthoftheriver system. TheMurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthorityfunded NativeFishStrategy‘DewfishDemonstration ResnaggingatBowenvilleReserve.Photo:NoalKuhl. TheconstructionofReillysWeir.Therecent Reach’islocatedwithintheCondamine installationofafishwayonthisstructureisgiving b)Restoringfishmigration fishaccesstohabitatthathavenothadsince1936. catchment.Thisrehabilitationsiteisover Photosource:GeoffandSueReilly. 100kmlong. TwoweirsalongtheCondamineRiverwere identified as major barriers to fish passage: c)CondamineHeadwatersLandcare TheRiverRescueProgramandtheNative Loudoun Weir and Reilly’s Weir, a historical GroupInc FishStrategyareworkinginpartnershipwith private weir. Both weirs have prevented fish CondamineHeadwatersLandcareGroup’s landholders,localgovernmentsand passage since their construction. In 2009 initiative‘LoveMyRiver’aimstoengagethe stakeholderstodeliverimprovedriver both weirs had fishways retrofitted to communitytobetterunderstandthe healththroughimprovedlandusepractices improve fish passage. The improvements to catchmentandtheriverenvironment.It likeriparianfencing,offstreamwatering, Reilly’s Weir allow fish movement along the includesstorytelling,acatchmentcrawl, erosionandweedcontrol.Instreamworks Condamine River during flows for the first waterͲbugtesting,waterwaymonitoring includereͲsnagging,fishwaysandcarp time since the weir was constructed in 1936. andmore.TheinitiativecoverstheUpper control. CondamineAreaaroundKillarney,Dalveen, FormoreinformationcontacttheMDBA Youcangetinvolvedwiththisprogramby Leyburn,MaryvaleandAllora.Formore NativeFishStrategyCoordinatoron volunteeringorprovidingfinancialsupport. informationcontactElspethCooperon (07)32390727. FormoreinformationcontactKevinGraham (07)46852096. orCondamineAllianceon0418411351. River resources - About the Talking Fish project x NativeFishStrategyCoordinator,SouthernQueensland, TheTalkingFishprojectarosefromanincreasingrealisationthatmanydifferentgroupsof GregRingwood:(07)32390727/0423829028 people,includingfishers,Indigenouscommunities,touristsandlandholdershavedeveloped x CondamineAlliance,KevinGraham:0418411351, uniquerelationshipswiththeriversoftheMurrayͲDarlingBasin.Thereisalsothegrowing http://condaminealliance.com.au recognitionthatthehealthoftheMurrayͲDarlingBasinisatrisk.Byaccessingandrecording different people’s stories about their experiences of a river, its fish and how both have changed x CondamineCatchmentManagementAssociation, will contribute to our collective knowledge and help shape future management decisions. These MaryͲLouGittins:(07)46666290 storiesalsohavethepotentialtogivepeopleasenseofjustwhatthesemagnificentriversand Condamine Headwaters Landcare Group Inc.: (07) 4661 9909, x theirfishwereoncelikeͲandcouldbeagainwithongoingrehabilitationefforts. [email protected] TheTalkingFishprojectfocussedon12reacheswithinthefollowingrivers:Namoi(NSW),Upper x ChinchillaandDistrictAmateurFishingClubInc.: CondamineRiver(Qld),KatarapkoCreek(SA),UpperMurrumbidgeeRiver(NSW/ACT),CulgoaͲ POBox342ChinchillaQ4413. BalonneRivers(Qld/NSW),ParooRiver(Qld),GoulburnRiver(Vic),LowerDarlingandGreat x ChinchillaandDistrictLandcareGroupInc: Anabranch(NSW),OvensRiver(Vic),MainstemMurrayRiver(NSW/Victoria),DarlingRiver [email protected] (NSW)andTheCoorongandLowerLakes(SA). x CrowsNestHistoricalSociety:(07)46981776, TheTalkingFishprojectisastartingpointtosharelocalknowledgeandlearnedexperiencewith [email protected] otherstoimprovethehealthoftheMurray–DarlingBasin.Projectinformationisavailableat: x OakeyFreshwaterFishStockingAssociation www.mdba.gov.au. PO Box 262, Oakey Qld 4401 Note:ThetermTalkingFishisalsobeingusedbytheAustralianRiverRestorationCentreasawayofsharing x NobbyandDistrictFishingClubInc.: knowledgeaboutpeople’sconnectiontofishandwaterways. [email protected]. References x NortheastDownsLandcareGroupsInc.:0427024921, 1.Davies,P.E.,Harris,J.H.,Hillman,T.J.andWalker,KF2008SRAReport1:AReportontheEcologicalHealthofRivers [email protected] intheMurray–DarlingBasin,2004–2007,Canberra:Murray–DarlingBasinMinisterialCouncil. x ToowoombaHistoricalSociety:(07)46387362, 2.Biggs,A.andCarey,B.,2006.TheCondamineCatchment.QueenslandNaturalResourcesandWaterCatchment [email protected] SeriesFactSheet.QNRM05066,2pages. x NationalLibraryAustralia:www.nla.gov.au 3.Potter,C.;Moles,S.;Connors.L,andPostle,Pam,2002.ConversationsontheCondamine–Anoralhistoryfromthe Queensland Murray Darling Basin. Envirobook, Australia, 128 pages. x WarwickDistrictRecreationalFishStockingAssociation: Ͳ [email protected] 4.http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/water/regulation/river_improve_trust.html 5.http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/wetlandinfo/resources/static/pdf/conceptualͲmodelͲcaseͲstudies/Dewfish.pdf Abbreviations DEEDI DepartmentofEmploymentEconomicDevelopment Allfishfactboxes:Lintermans,M.2007FishesoftheMurrayͲDarlingBasin:Anintroductoryguide,Canberra:MurrayͲ andInnovation(Qld) DarlingBasinCommission. DPI DepartmentofPrimaryIndustries MDBA MurrayͲDarlingBasinAuthority Some fish of the Upper Condamine region
Goldenperch/Yellowbelly/Callop Hyrtl’scatfish/Moonfish/YellowͲfinned catfish
Spangledperch/Bobbycod Catfish/Eeltailcatfish/Jewfish Yabby/Craybob scale) to Native
(Not Silverperch/Murraybream/Grunter Murraycod/Cod
EuropeanCarp/Commoncarp Goldfish scale) to Introduced (Not