Fishing & Aquaculture

		Angling Waters of the Moorabool River Basin
			MOORABOOL RIVER BASIN MAP (PDF 114Kb)
			BOLWARRAH RESERVOIR
			BOSTOCK RESERVOIR
			BUNGAL DAM
			HOVELL CREEK
			HUNTS RESERVOIR
			KORWEINGUBOORA RESERVOIR
			LAL LAL RESERVOIR
			LITTLE RIVER
			MOORABOOL RESERVOIR
			MOORABOOL RIVER
			STONY CREEK RESERVOIRS
			JUNIOR ANGLING

A Guide to the Inland Angling Waters of Victoria
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Moorabool River Basin 32
MANAGEMENT | DIVERSIONS | HERITAGE | FISH STOCKING | BEST FISHING WATERS | THREATENED FISH | ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS | JUNIOR ANGLING

Moorabool River

There are three quite large areas of low, mixed species forest in the middle reaches of the Moorabool River. The upper half of the river flows through gentle to moderate hills derived from granites and sedimentary rock. The lower half, downstream of Meredith, flows through flat terrain composed of volcanic rocks and finely textured unconsolidated soils. Annual rainfall decreases from 700-1,000mm in the headwaters to 500-600mm in the middle/lower reaches.

Flow in the Moorabool River is controlled by releases from Lal Lal Reservoir (Bungal Dam) and Bostock Reservoir. These reservoirs, located in the upper reaches, together with the low rainfall in the northern area of the Basin results in low flow in the southern streams during summer and autumn.

Management

Fisheries Victoria, DPI, manages stocking and fisheries policy. The Port Phillip Fisheries, DPI, manages compliance with fisheries regulations and angler contact in most waters. A few waters are managed in a similar way by the South West Fisheries, DPI. These are indicated in the text. The Victorian Inland Fisheries Strategy has listed Bostock Reservoir as a mixed species fishery. Moorabool River, above Meredith, as a salmonid fishery and, below Meredith, as a mixed species fishery.

The Corangamite Catchment Management Authority manages the catchment. Gippsland and Southern Rural Water Authority manages irrigation and farm use of water. Urban water use is managed by Barwon Region Water Authority and Central Highlands Region Water Authority. A Streamflow Management Plan is being developed for the Moorabool River.

Diversions

Water from the three Reservoirs (Korweinguboora, (2,100ML), Bolwarra (122ML) and Bostock (7,455ML) on the East Branch of the Moorabool River, is conveyed by channel to Stony Creek Reservoirs (upper 9,500ML, lower 270ML), and then by pipeline to Geelong. Water also goes into Railway Weir then to Ballan Shire. Water from Bostock Reservoir is sent direct to Ballan. The flow in the river downstream of these reservoirs is mainly dependent on special releases. Water in the west branch of the Moorabool River is stored in Moorabool Reservoir (5,740ML) and Lal Lal Reservoir (59,549ML).

The west branch is used as a conduit to carry water downstream for 32km to Sheoaks where it is diverted to Geelong. Water flow in this section is often high in summer but can be low from April to June when little water is being released. Water is also pumped from the west branch of the Moorabool River to Bannockburn. Water is also diverted from Lal Lal Creek into Beales Reservoir (415ML) and Wilson Reservoir (1,100ML) and from Geddes, Two Mile and Black Swamp Creeks to Ballarat.

Heritage River Areas, Natural Catchment Areas and Representative Rivers

The east branch of the Moorabool River has been listed as a Representative River of volcanic plains, west Victorian dissected uplands.

Ramsar Sites

Parts of the western shore of Port Phillip Bay and wetlands associated with them are listed as wetlands of international significance under the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran 1971).

Fish Stocking

The Department of Primary Industries' (DPI) fish stocking program is designed to enhance recreational fishing opportunities for:

• Desirable introduced species such as brown trout, rainbow trout, Chinook salmon and Atlantic salmon, and
• Desirable native fish species such as golden perch, Murray cod, Australian bass and silver perch.

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.

Best Fishing Waters

Freshwater Fish in the Basin

Threatened Fish Species

The Department of Sustainability and Environment has listed Australian grayling as Vulnerable and it is also listed under the Flora & Fauna Guarantee Act 1988.

Environmental Condition of Waterways

The Moorabool River has been rated by the Department to be in generally moderate environmental condition with good riparian vegetation, stable banks and good instream habitat and little sedimentation. Exceptions to this are reaches in forest, which are in good condition, while the upper reaches of the west branch are in poor condition, with bank instability and willows.

The most scenic fishing area is in the forest upstream of Sheoaks, with native forest to the water's edge, rubble substrate, fast flow water in the riffles and good pools. The water is clear with little or no sedimentation. The major environmental problem in the Moorabool River is low flows and poor water quality in the lower reaches. Salinity in the Moorabool River increases downstream to exceed 1,000EC below the junction of its east and west branches, at certain times. Levels can exceed drinking water standards and are close to unacceptable levels for some crops.

The other waterways (Little River and Hovell Creek) are in poor to moderate condition with either poor riparian vegetation or unstable banks. Major water issues in the Basin are high salinity, colour, and nutrient concentrations, which appear to be the result of agricultural activities. However water quality is still good to moderate for aquatic biota.

© The State of Victoria