water level variation can result in more successful spawning. Proof of concept has been shown in the Edward-Wakool, Murray and Gunbower systems. 8. Does environmental Condition Glenelg Fish CPUE Statewide Continue the current flow management community annual monitoring to No Others? Diversity increase the baseline fish associated Distribution abundance and communities. Not flow related distribution of native targeted as specific question fish? hypotheses, but may be valuable to CMAs? 9. Can increasing Intervention Goulburn/ Murray cod Survival Catchment CMAs Several CMAs have winter baseflows prioritised provision of Autumn/Winter Broken cod & FV improve survival of winter flows to maintain baseflows which Regional Gunbower Blackfish YOY VEWH? juvenile fish / improve connectivity and water exceed minimum recruitment strength? quality. There is some Loddon Australian CPUE / Mark pool connection evidence that annual bass recapture flows Campaspe winter cease-to-flow Estuary perch Occupancy rates events are major Glenelg recruitment bottlenecks tupong Growth Others? for young native fish. Small bodied Evaluation of the benefits spp. of winter flows has some merit. Pygmy perch 10. Does Site-specific but Intervention All rivers All the Dispersal Catchment CMAs Some fish require environmental flow requires flows which connection flows to Distribution & MDBA management enhance connect separate species enhance re-colonisation. Regional Mark recapture dispersal of fish / wetlands CMAs may be able to juvenile fish? identify specific sites Occupancy rates Also pygmy where this question could Growth perch be investigated. For (both lateral and example, flows that Fishway trapping longitudinal) temporarily link rivers/wetlands for pygmy perch dispersal.
water level variation can result in more successful spawning. Proof of concept has been shown in the Edward-Wakool, Murray and Gunbower systems. 8. Does environmental flow management increase the abundance and distribution of native fish? Condition No associated flow related question Glenelg Others? Fish community CPUE Diversity Distribution Statewide Continue the current annual monitoring to baseline fish communities. Not targeted as specific hypotheses, but may be valuable to CMAs? 9. Can increasing winter baseflows improve survival of juvenile fish / improve recruitment strength? Autumn/Winter baseflows which exceed minimum pool connection flows Intervention Goulburn/ Broken Gunbower Loddon Campaspe Glenelg Others? Murray cod cod Blackfish Australian bass Estuary perch tupong Small bodied spp. Pygmy perch Survival YOY CPUE / Mark recapture Occupancy rates Growth Catchment & Regional CMAs FV VEWH? Several CMAs have prioritised provision of winter flows to maintain connectivity and water quality. There is some evidence that annual winter cease-to-flow events are major recruitment bottlenecks for young native fish. Evaluation of the benefits of winter flows has some merit. 10. Does environmental flow management enhance dispersal of fish / juvenile fish? (both lateral and longitudinal) Site-specific but requires flows which connect separate wetlands Intervention All rivers All the species Also pygmy perch Dispersal Distribution Mark recapture Occupancy rates Growth Fishway trapping Catchment & Regional CMAs MDBA Some fish require connection flows to enhance re-colonisation. CMAs may be able to identify specific sites where this question could be investigated. For example, flows that temporarily link rivers/wetlands for pygmy perch dispersal.
VEFMAP-Stage-6-Part-A-manual-Program-context-and-rationale.docx