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A
Guide to the Inland Angling Waters of Victoria
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Thomson River Basin 25
MANAGEMENT
| DIVERSIONS
| HERITAGE | RAMSAR
| FISH STOCKING
| BEST FISHING WATERS | THREATENED
FISH | ENVIRONMENTAL
CONDITIONS
 Avon River |
The larger northern section consists of forested mountains in which all the waterways originate. Annual rainfall is over 1,000mm resulting in reliable and high flow regimes in the larger rivers. These have wide channels, well defined riffle and pool structure and high water velocities. Substrate is usually coarse material. The smaller southern area is flat farmland with unconsolidated deposits and a lower mean annual rainfall declining from 700-1,000mm in the foothills to 500-600mm north of Lake Wellington.
Land use is grazing and broad acre cropping with intensive cropping and irrigation in the lower Thomson River and Macalister River valleys.
Fishing in waterways in the forested, mountains is a pleasant experience because of the pristine nature of the rivers. The main rivers can be reached by road by conventional vehicle but access to the tributaries often requires a 4WD vehicle. The rivers can be fished at road crossings but some walking is necessary to reach other fishing spots. Abundant and widespread angling fish are both species of eel, river blackfish, redfin and brown trout with some estuarine species such as estuary perch common in the lower reaches of rivers flowing into Lake Wellington. Carp have become established in the lowland waterways.
Fisheries Victoria, DPI, manages stocking and fisheries policy. Gippsland Fisheries, DPI, manages compliance with fisheries regulations and angler contact. The Victorian Inland Fisheries Strategy has assessed Lake Glenmaggie, the Macalister River and the Thomson River below Thomson Dam as mixed species fisheries. Lake Guthridge is a 'special purpose' water and the Thomson River above Thomson Dam is a salmonid water. The West Gippsland Catchment Management Authority is responsible for catchment management. Gippsland & Southern Rural Water Authority manages irrigation and rural diversion. Central Gippsland Region Water Authority manages urban water diversion. (Melbourne Water Corporation manages Thomson Reservoir).
Streamflow Management Plans are being prepared for the Avon River. Environmental flows are already operating in the Thomson River downstream of Thomson Reservoir.
Flow in the Thomson River is held in the Thomson Dam and diverted for Melbourne Urban Supply. Water from the lower Thomson River is held in Cowwarr Weir and diverted for irrigation. Water
from the Macalister River is diverted to Maffra and is also held in Glenmaggie Lake for irrigation diversion.
Heritage River Areas, Natural Catchment Areas and Representative Rivers
The Thomson River (downstream of Thomson Reservoir to Cowwarr Weir) and the Aberfeldy River (in the Baw Baw National Park) have been listed as Heritage River Areas. The upper reaches of the Avon River including Turton and Dolodrook Rivers and Ben Cruachan Creek have been listed as Natural Catchment Areas. The upper reaches of the Macalister River at Glencairn has been listed as a Representative River for East Victorian uplands, dissected plateau.
The Gippsland Lakes, which are the receiving body for all water flowing out of this Basin, are listed as wetlands of international significance under the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran 1971).
The Department of Primary Industries' (DPI) fish stocking program is designed to enhance recreational fishing opportunities for:
Stocking Plans for desirable species are developed annually as part of the regional consultation process involving VRFish representatives and various arms of DPI including Fisheries Victoria and Primary Industries Research Victoria (PIRVic).
Up to date information can be found on the Fish Stocking section in Fisheries and Aquaculture.
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Native |
Exotic |
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Australian bass |
brown trout |
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Australian grayling |
carp |
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Australian smelt |
goldfish |
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broad-finned galaxias |
rainbow trout |
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common galaxias |
redfin |
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dwarf galaxias |
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estuary perch |
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flat-headed gudgeon |
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long-finned eel |
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mountain galaxias |
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river blackfish |
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southern pygmy perch |
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short-finned eel |
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tupong |
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Water |
Species |
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Thomson River downstream of Thomson Reservoir |
river blackfish, eels |
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Shaw Creek & Wellington River |
small brown trout |
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Macalister River downstream of Lake Glenmaggie |
large brown trout |
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Avon River |
estuary perch |
The Department of Sustainability and Environment has listed the Australian grayling as Vulnerable and the dwarf galaxias as Lower Risk-near threatened. Both species are listed under the Flora & Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.
Environmental Condition of Waterways
The upper reaches of the rivers and tributaries in the northern, forested area of the Basin are in excellent condition with native riparian vegetation, coarse substrate with little or no sedimentation, fast flowing riffles, good pools, clear water and good summer flow. They contain excellent habitat for biota and provide a very pleasant fishing environment. The lower reaches flowing in farmland are in from poor to moderate condition.
The lower Avon River suffers from a scarcity of riparian vegetation, some erosion and sedimentation and is in poor condition. In contrast the lower Macalister and Thomson Rivers are still in moderate condition with reasonable riparian vegetation. In fact 90 percent of the waterways in the Basin, are still in good to excellent environmental condition.
| Department of Primary Industries, Victoria, Australia |
© The State of Victoria
