Homes for Cod

-a NSW Recreational Fishing Trust funded Habitat Action Grant (HAG) project

Before the works- the project site was affected by erosion which was decreasing water quality and increasing sediment build up instream.

2025 Jan log cribs installed at ustr end of site.jpg

This project has improved instream habitat and mitigated bank erosion along the upper Murrumbidgee River adjoining Scottsdale, which is managed by Bush Heritage Australia for conservation purposes. The site is downstream of the high quality habitat in the Bredbo Gorge where recruitment of native fish has been recorded via fish surveys.

The objectives of this project were to:

a) enhance the habitat for cod by constructing and installing four fish habitats into the Murrumbidgee River at Scottsdale Reserve,

b) survey the habitat of the Bredbo Gorge (upstream) and Bumbalong valley (downstream) to inform on ground works to support management for native fish, and

c) educate the community about the needs of native fish and how we can protect their habitat by showcasing fish friendly works being carried out at Scottsdale Reserve.

Photo: ACT Government carrying out fish surveys along the river at Scottsdale (Photo credit: Annette Ruzicka Photography).

This work complements other UMDR projects such as riparian weed control, riparian revegetation, erosion control and instream habitat works downstream. Further habitat works are planned into the future and habitat information gained by this project will assist with this. This is crucial especially since the black summer bushfires continue to heavily impact this reach due to the effects of sedimentation.

Photo: Adding instream habitat with native hardwood timber and large rock will assist to improve instream habitat complexity in an areas that has seen increased bank erosion and instream sedimentation after the black summer bushfires.

This project has been made possible by funding from the NSW Recreational Fishing Trust, Bush Heritage Australia and community volunteers. Bush Heritage looks after 4km of the upper Murrumbidgee and so are a key land setward helping to protect and improve the health of the upper Murrumbidgee river in our region. Funding for mitigating erosion at this site was also contributed by the VW Foundation and the Australian Government’s Healthy Rivers Grant.

Photo: The project works will improve fish habitat and prevent further erosion in the upper Murrumbidgee River. It is a demonstration of what can be done to help the upper Murrumbidgee River and native fish thrive.