Fishing & Aquaculture

		Angling Waters of the Barwon River Basin
			BARWON RIVER BASIN MAP (PDF 114Kb)
			BARWON RIVER
			CONNEWARRE LAKE
			DRYSDALE LAKE
			GONG GONG RESERVOIR
			LEIGH RIVER
			LORNE LAKE
			MODEWARRE LAKE
			MURDEDUKE LAKE
			SEAGULL PADDOCK LAKE
			WENDOUREE LAKE
			WEST BARWON RESERVOIR
			WILLIAMSON CREEK
			WURDIBOLUC RESERVOIR
			YARROWEE RIVER

A Guide to the Inland Angling Waters of Victoria
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Barwon River Basin 33
MANAGEMENT | DIVERSIONS | HERITAGE | RAMSAR | THREATENED FISH | FISH STOCKING | BEST FISHING WATERS | ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

Barwon River Buckley Falls

There are outcrops of basalt rock particularly around Inverleigh, Pollocksford and at Buckleys Falls creating rapids and cascades. Annual rainfall is 700-1,000mm at Forrest but decreases to 500-600mm at Geelong. Storage of water in the West Barwon Reservoir and low rainfall in the middle and lower reaches result in extended periods of very low flow during summer and autumn. There are numerous deep pools, particularly in the lower reaches of the Barwon River, which provide permanent habitat supporting good fish populations.

Salinity is the major water quality problem. Most occurs naturally from volcanic soils and saline springs and soaks but saline water also enters from Lakes Colac and Corangamite. Most of the Barwon River has little riparian vegetation except for some sections with river red gums and willows but rushes and sedges are abundant in most localities. The river downstream of Buckleys Falls is a popular fishing area with target species being redfin, carp, short-finned eel and brown trout. The lower estuarine section is also popular with anglers.

There are three major lakes (Modewarre. Murdeduke and Wendouree) providing good trout fishing at times. Other lakes are domestic water storages and some are open to fishing by permit.

Management

Fisheries Victoria, DPI, coordinate stocking and fisheries policy, The South West Fisheries, DPI, manages compliance with fisheries regulations and angler contact for waters in this Basin west of Winchelsea, and the Port Phillip Fisheries, DPI, manages waters east of Winchelsea. Further detail is given in individual water descriptions. The Victorian Inland Fisheries Strategy has classified the Barwon River as a mixed species fishery, Lake Modewarre and Lake Murdeduke as salmonid and commercial eel fisheries, and Lake Wendouree as a salmonid fishery. Barwon Region Water Authority and Central Highlands Region Water Authority are responsible for domestic/urban water diversion. Gippsland & Southern Rural Water manages farm and irrigation water diversion. Corangamite Catchment Management Authority is responsible for catchment management. A Streamflow Management Plan is being developed for the Barwon River.

Diversions

Water diversion occurs from an unnamed stream into White Swan Reservoir (14,100ML). From Fellmongers Creek into Gong Gong Reservoir (1,900ML), Giles Creek into Kirk's Reservoir (400ML), and Leigh Creek into Pincotts Reservoir (218ML) all managed by Central Highlands Region Water Authority and with water being diverted to Ballarat, Lal Lal and Yendon. From the West Barwon River into West Barwon Reservoir (21,900 ML) then direct to Forrest or to Geelong via Wurdiboluc Reservoir (19,230ML). From Gosling, Matthews, Callahan, Dewing, and Pennyroyal Creeks managed by Barwon Water, also to Geelong via the Wurdiboluc inlet channel and Wurdiboluc Reservoir.

Heritage River Areas, Natural Catchment Areas and Representative Rivers

None in this Basin.

Ramsar Sites

Lake Murdeduke, Lake Connewarre, parts of the shoreline of the Bellarine Peninsula and associated wetlands, are listed as wetlands of international significance under the Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar, Iran 1971).

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.

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

Lakes Murdeduke and Wendouree provide good fishing at times for brown trout and rainbow trout. Fish are usually free of the redworm (Eustrongyloides) but angling success fluctuates.

Freshwater Fish in the Basin

Environmental Condition of Waterways

The Department has assessed that the Barwon River and its tributaries are in poor environmental condition upstream of Birregurra with cleared land, pasture or willow riparian vegetation and some bank instability. However instream fish habitat is generally in good or moderate condition. The middle and lower reaches of the river are in moderate condition with stable banks and riparian vegetation of native or introduced trees. Fish habitat is excellent except for the presence of some saline pools.

The Leigh River (Yarrowee River) is in moderate to good environmental condition with good riparian vegetation and instream habitat. It does receive treated sewage from Ballarat which encourages some growth of aquatic vegetation and water quality problems at low summer flows. In summary, almost all the length of the major and tributary waterways are in poor to moderate condition, while most (65%) of the length of the minor streams are still in good condition. Salinity is high in the major streams. Generally the waters are unacceptable for domestic use and irrigation of most crops, except during high flows but are still suitable for fish.

Ballarat Water Storages (Not shown on the map) Managed by the Central Highlands Region Water Authority. SW DPI.

These are Beales, Gong Gong Reservoir, Kirks, Pincotts, White Swan and Wilsons Reservoirs. All are closed to fishing except Gong Gong Reservoir which contain short-finned eel, goldfish, redfin and tench as well as stocked brown trout and rainbow trout.

© The State of Victoria