Central region << BACK TO CONTENTS The threatened Australian grayling fish underwent a baby boom in 2016–17, triggered by water releases into the Tarago River. The releases improved river health for native fish, other animals (such as platypus) and plants, and in the process made the river a better place for the community to enjoy. Populations of threatened Australian grayling benefited greatly from the water released by Melbourne Water from the Tarago/ Bunyip Environmental Entitlement, with high counts of grayling eggs and larvae showing the positive response of these fish to water for the environment. A survey of fish populations in the Tarago and Bunyip rivers also recorded the iconic river blackfish and other native fish species including spotted galaxias, pouched lampreys and hooded lampreys. “We were excited to also find a baby Australian mudfish as part of our monitoring,” Melbourne Water Senior Environmental Water Resources Planner Sarah Gaskill said. “It’s a critically endangered species and has only been recorded in a handful of locations before.” There is however still some concern about the river blackfish, which will be the subject of future research. “Our research over many years has helped us to fine-tune how we release water for the environment, so we can provide the specific river conditions needed for breeding by species such as the Australian grayling,” Sarah said. “But the needs of river blackfish are less well known, so we will need to do some more work to understand their water flow and habitat requirements in detail.” Waterway manager: Melbourne Water Storage manager: Melbourne Water Site Tarago River Volume delivered in 2016–17 (ML) 1,952 Click here to watch the Melbourne Water video about environmental water for the Tarago River, or watch it at https:// youtu.be/1Pzy1IwaQl8 Top to bottom: The Tarago River, by Sarah Gaskill, Melbourne Water; a young grayling in the Bunyip River, by Tarmo A Raadik, Arthur Rylah Institute 31 | Victorian Environmental Water Holder
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