Freshwater Fish Habitat Rehabilitation in the Mackay Whitsunday Region
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Queensland the Smart State Freshwater Fish Habitat Rehabilitation in the Mackay Whitsunday Region TIM MARSDEN, RICHARD STEWART, KRISTEN WOODS, DARREN JENNINGS, SHANTELE IANNA AND GARRY THORNCRAFT Queensland the Smart State Information Series QO 003012 Freshwater Fish Habitat Rehabilitation in the Mackay Whitsunday Region December 2006 Tim Marsden Richard Stewart Kristen Woods Darren Jennings Shantele Ianna Gary Thorncraft DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES 2006 i Queensland the Smart State QO 03012 ISSN 0727-6281 Agdex 470/60 Information contained in this publication is provided as general advice only. For application to specific circumstances, professional advice should be sought. The Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries has taken all reasonable steps to ensure the information contained in this publication is accurate at the time of publication. Readers should ensure that they make appropriate enquires to determine whether new information is available on the particular subject matter. For further information contact: Tim Marsden Fisheries Biologist Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries Ph: (07) 49670 724 © The State of Queensland, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries 2006 Copyright protects this publication. Except for purposes permitted by the Copyright Act, reproduction by whatever means is prohibited without the prior written permission of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland. Enquires should be addressed to: Deputy Director General (Fisheries) Queensland Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries GPO Box 46 BRISBANE QLD 4001 Cover Photograph: Demonstration sites for stream rehabilitation in the Mackay Whitsunday Region. Left side, Vines Creek drain rehabilitation, right side, Gooseponds Creek barrier rehabilitation, centre juvenile barramundi common in these systems. DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES 2006 ii Queensland the Smart State Table of Contents ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS..........................................................................................V GLOSSARY OF TERMS...............................................................................................................V EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................... 4 THE MACKAY WHITSUNDAY REGION............................................................................................. 4 CLIMATE ..................................................................................................................................... 5 GEOMORPHOLOGY ...................................................................................................................... 6 VEGETATION ............................................................................................................................... 7 HYDROLOGY ............................................................................................................................... 7 LAND USE ................................................................................................................................... 8 FRESHWATER FISH COMMUNITIES OF THE MACKAY WHITSUNDAY REGION ................. 9 OVERVIEW .................................................................................................................................. 9 COMMERCIAL FISHERIES.............................................................................................................. 9 RECREATIONAL FISHERIES......................................................................................................... 10 LIFE STRATEGIES ...................................................................................................................... 10 FRESHWATER FISH HABITATS OF THE MACKAY WHITSUNDAY REGION....................... 15 LARGE STREAMS....................................................................................................................... 15 Lowland reaches.................................................................................................................15 Headwaters......................................................................................................................... 15 SMALL STREAMS ....................................................................................................................... 17 Lowland Reaches ............................................................................................................... 17 Headwaters......................................................................................................................... 17 WETLANDS................................................................................................................................18 LAGOONS.................................................................................................................................. 19 CONDITION OF STREAMS, FISH HABITAT AND FISH COMMUNITIES................................ 21 REGIONAL OVERVIEW................................................................................................................ 21 CATCHMENTS............................................................................................................................ 22 St Lawrence and Clairview ................................................................................................. 22 Flaggy Rock........................................................................................................................ 22 Carmila, West Hill and Marion ............................................................................................ 23 Rocky Dam ......................................................................................................................... 23 Plane Creek ........................................................................................................................ 24 Sandy, Alligator and Bakers ............................................................................................... 24 Pioneer................................................................................................................................ 24 Reliance and Constant ....................................................................................................... 25 Murray, St Helens, Blackrock and Alligator ........................................................................ 25 O’Connell............................................................................................................................ 26 Proserpine .......................................................................................................................... 26 Whitsunday ......................................................................................................................... 27 Gregory............................................................................................................................... 27 KEY THREATENING PROCESSES TO FRESHWATER FISH HABITATS ............................. 29 BARRIERS TO MIGRATION .......................................................................................................... 29 Weirs and Dams ................................................................................................................. 30 Culverts and Pipes..............................................................................................................30 Causeways and Stock Crossings ....................................................................................... 32 Weeds................................................................................................................................. 32 FLOW MODIFICATION ................................................................................................................. 32 WATERWAY MODIFICATION ........................................................................................................ 33 WATER QUALITY ....................................................................................................................... 34 RIPARIAN VEGETATION .............................................................................................................. 34 SEDIMENTATION ........................................................................................................................ 35 INTRODUCED FLORA AND FAUNA ................................................................................................ 36 DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND FISHERIES 2006 iii Queensland the Smart State Flora.................................................................................................................................... 36 Fauna.................................................................................................................................. 37 REHABILITATION TECHNIQUES TO INCREASE FISH HABITAT AVAILABILITY. .............. 39 PROVISION OF FISH PASSAGE AT BARRIERS ............................................................................... 39 Vertical Slot Fishway .......................................................................................................... 39 Fish Locks........................................................................................................................... 41 Fish