Inland Fisheries Service News
Extension to Tods Corner boat ramp completed
The Tods Corner Boat Ramp has been extended by 30 linear metres and improvements have been made to the parking and turning areas to provide better access and egress for boaters. This work was made possible by MAST’s maintenance program and project managed by IFS. Anglers are reminded that Great Lake's boat ramps at Tods Corner, Swan Bay, Brandum Bay and Cramps Bay have an operational range to approximately - 17 m below FSL. With Great Lake currently at -16.13 m below FSL boaters should check the toe of ramps for drop offs, obstructions and silt prior to launching. Low level launching is available at Boundary Bay.
Woods Lake Boat Ramp upgrade nearing completion
Funded through MAST’s Recreational Boating Fund 2012 and project managed by IFS the upgrade of the Woods Lake boat ramp is nearing completion and will be a significant improvement for the 2013/14 angling season. Construction was delayed until the end of the angling season to minimise disruption to anglers and take advantage of lowest possible lake levels. The concrete ramp is 6 m wide and 35 metres long and extends to 2.4 m below Full Supply Level of the lake. The ramp has a rough screed finish to provide additional grip for vehicles. Construction required the removal of two mature eucalypts from the turning/parking area. The new ramp compliments the breakwater completed in 2011.
Breakwater height at Arthurs Lake increased
Due to recent record high water levels in Arthurs Lake MAST and IFS have increased the height of the breakwater at the Arthurs Lake Dam Wall boat ramp by a further 1.2m. The project was funded through MAST’s maintenance program and project managed by IFS. This latest work increases the breakwater above the Full Supply Level of the lake and will provide protection for boaters should this ever be reached and at all other lake levels.
Liawenee Open Weekend 18 & 19 May 2013
Liawenee open weekend is to be held on Saturday and Sunday, 18th & 19th May 2013 from 10am to 3pm each day at the Inland Fisheries Service field station. The open weekend celebrates the annual brown trout spawning and is a mecca for all fresh water anglers. There is no entrance fee, however, a gold coin donation is gratefully appreciated. All are welcome and we look forward to seeing you over the weekend.
Lagoon of Islands decommissioned by Hydro Tasmania
Hydro Tasmania today announced work to decommission the dam at Lagoon of Islands in Tasmania’s central highlands and rehabilitate the site to a natural state is nearing completion. Manager Sustainability and Safety Andrew Scanlon said the project is in keeping with Hydro Tasmania’s reputation for sustainable water management and environmental leadership. decommissioned “This is the first time in our 100-year history that Hydro Tasmania has decommissioned and removed a water storage asset,” Mr Scanlon said. The project involves removing the 320-metre long, six metre high earth wall dam and other associated infrastructure, rehabilitating the site and restoring native vegetation to the area. Originally a unique ecosystem characterised by floating islands of vegetation, Lagoon of Islands was flooded in 1964 to provide water to downstream irrigators along the Ouse River. The demand for water increased rapidly and in 1984 Ripple Canal was constructed to divert more water into the lagoon. Ultimately the Lagoon of Islands scheme has proved to be an unsustainable development with significant and ongoing water quality problems. The first noticeable adverse change to water quality at Lagoon of Islands was observed in December 1988 when a substantial algal bloom occurred. Mr Scanlon said Hydro Tasmania explored a number of possible remedial actions to improve ecosystem health and introduced a change to the water management regime. Water quality improved for a few years and then started to deteriorate again. Conditions worsened substantially during the recent drought in Tasmania. “During the drought, encouraging improvements were observed in the vegetation suggesting the wetland would recover if natural ecological processes could be restored,” Mr Scanlon said. “The water was no longer used for its intended purpose and, as a result, Lagoon of Islands was an unused asset with the irrigation needs now met from Great Lake. “Decommissioning the dam and rehabilitating Lagoon of Islands are accepted as the best means of achieving an environmentally acceptable solution, returning it to a natural, healthy and self-sustaining state. “Some minor works have already been undertaken, including the decommissioning of the Ripple Canal and the construction of bunds in the remaining canal to reduce the flow of nutrients and the speed of water flows. “The remaining actions from the rehabilitation plan include removal of the dam, active rehabilitation of the dam footprint, including reseeding and planting with natural vegetation. This work has commenced and will be completed by the end of May.” Mr Scanlon said Hydro Tasmania had relied on advice from an expert panel with leading scientific support to guide the planning and the long-term rehabilitation of the site. The project also has the support of neighbouring landowners and farmers downstream. A comprehensive monitoring program is being implemented to collect baseline data and track the progress of the lagoon’s recovery. This will involve monitoring of key water quality parameters, vegetation community, invertebrates, weeds and algae. For more information please contact Andrew Scanlon on 0418 141 898 Supplied by Hydro Tasmania website
End of the 2012/13 season for Brown Trout Waters
Most waters in Tasmania closed to angling as of midnight 28 April 2013. While for some this marks the end of fishing till the August opening of the 2013/14 season there are still opportunities for those that wish to fish through the winter period. Dee Lagoon, Lake Skinner, Lake Rowallan, Lake Rosebery, Lake Meston, Junction Lake and sections of each of the following rivers; Weld River (South), Weld River (North), Mersey River (above Lake Rowallan) and the River Leven are all open till midnight Sunday 2 June 2013. The following fisheries are open to angling all year: Craigbourne Dam, Brushy Lagoon, Lake Barrington, Great Lake (except for Canal Bay), Hunstman Lake, Lake Burbury, Lake Pedder, River Derwent downstream of the Bridgewater Bridge, River Leven downstream of Allisons Bridge on Golf Course Rd and the Tamar River. Meadowbank Dam is another water open all year round but is unlikely to be refilled until the last week in May 2013. Hydro Tasmania is currently carrying out maintenance on the Meadowbank Dam crest gates. To complete this work safely Lake Meadowbank has been drawn down to approximately 6 metres below its normal level. The exposed areas of the lake are muddy and slippery and water may rise without warning. Access to the boat ramps and lake shores is prohibited to ensure public safety.
Drawdown of Lake Meadowbank
Hydro Tasmania is currently carrying out maintenance on the Meadowbank Dam crest gates. To complete this work safely Lake Meadowbank has been drawn down to approximately 6 metres below its normal level. The exposed areas of the lake are muddy and slippery and water may rise without warning. Access to the boat ramps and lake shores is prohibited to ensure public safety. A water quality monitoring plan of the river down stream from the dam and within the lake has been developed. Hydro Tasmania will notify stakeholders of any water quality issues during the lake draw down. For further information visit the Hydro Tasmania website or contact Hugh Skerritt, the Project Liaison Officer on 1300 360 441.
Lake Burbury camping ground boat ramp upgrade
Members of the public are advised the works on this boat ramp will commence on Wednesday 17 April 2013 and should be completed by Friday 10 May 2013 (weather permitting). The nature of the works will necessitate the boat ramp being closed during this period. An alternate boat ramp is available at Thureau Hills (Old Crotty Road). For more information contact Jim Caulfield on 62358853 or 0419120209. Marine and Safety Tasmania apologises for any inconvenience that may be caused.
Spillway barrier net installed at Four Springs Lake
There have been concerns voiced by anglers for many years of the loss of trout over the spillway at Four Springs Lake. While a spillway screen could prevent such losses it would also bring with it maintenance issues, as debris build up would likely compromise the efficiency of the spillway. The fish barrier nets in use at Lake Sorell for the carp project were seen as a practical solution. A spare piece of the nets used at Lake Sorell has been used to cordon off the spillway at Four Springs Lake thus reducing the likelihood of loss of fish over the spillway without compromising its efficiency. In April 2013 the net was put in place by the IFS.
How to Report Suspected Disease in Fish
Mr Barry Calderbank Communications Officer BioSecurity Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE) advises that in most cases it is not possible to make a diagnosis from a photograph, other than to say that it looks unusual and should be further investigated. It is really necessary to get samples to our Launceston Laboratory so that appropriate tests can be done. The ideal situation is that samples should be taken from sick fish, rather than a fish that has been dead for some time, preserved in a fixative or special media and packaged and sent to our laboratory. This is feasible on a fish farm, but unlikely to be a practical option for recreational fishers. So, for recreational fishers, the best option is to phone DPIPWE as soon as you see a fish with unusual lesions. The DPIPWE officer can then ask you the questions necessary to determine the best course of action and that may include making special arrangements to get the fish to the labs quickly. The second best option is to keep the fish chilled (in the fridge), but only if the fish can be delivered to our labs within 24 hours. Chilling does reduce the number of lab tests that can be done. The third best option is to freeze the suspect fish. This severely reduces the number of tests that can be done at the labs, but it is an option where you cannot phone us and/or cannot get the fish to our labs within 24 hours of catching. The fourth best option is to photograph the fish and text or mail the photo to us with the best possible description of where you caught the fish. This is far better than not reporting the suspect fish at all and does at least give us the information we need to follow up. Relevant phone numbers are as follows: Emergency Animal Disease hotline - 1800 675 888 (anytime) DPIPWE fish veterinarian - 03 6233 6875 (business hours) DPIPWE laboratories - 03 6336 5216 (business hours) Email - AnimalDisease.Enquiries@dpipwe.tas.gov.au
