What we're doing
Enlarged Cotter Dam and protecting the environment
Considerable work has been undertaken by ACTEW Corporation to identify environmental issues associated with an enlarged Cotter Dam.
What environmental issues exist?
The single largest environmental issue is that there are three fish and one crayfish species present in the Cotter Dam and the Cotter River that could be potentially affected by an enlarged Cotter Dam. These are:
- Macquarie Perch (Macquaria australasica) – endangered
- Trout Cod (Maccullochella macquariensis) – endangered
- Two-spined Blackfish (Gadopsis bispinosus) – vulnerable
- Murray River Crayfish (Euastacus armatus) – vulnerable
Macquarie Perch is considered to be the key species of concern since one of the most viable populations of this threatened species is found in the Cotter Reservoir.
What is ACTEW doing to protect fish species?
ACTEW is committed to ensuring the ongoing protection and improvement of key fish species and habitats in the Cotter catchment.
A series of further fish studies are being undertaken, which will be used to formulate fish management plans to ensure:
- Fish populations over the long term remain stable
- Habitat of endangered and vulnerable species are maintained, and where possible improved
- Harmful invasive species are kept out of the river
How will these studies protect the fish?
The studies are examining such things as:
- Maximising existing and creating new artificial fish habitats
- Creating fish passages for migration upstream and for spawning
- Preventing the introduction of fish diseases and invasive species into the reservoir
- Providing water flows to meet the needs of fish throughout their lifecycle
The fish studies continue on from important work already undertaken in the Cotter catchment by various agencies. The findings from this work will enhance our current understanding of these important species and ensure that they are appropriately managed throughout the planning, design and construction of an enlarged Cotter Dam and beyond.
They will form the basis for the environmental legislative requirements (ACT and Commonwealth) that ACTEW Corporation will have to meet when enlarging the Cotter Dam.
Who is undertaking the studies?
ACTEW Corporation has drawn together a skilled team from research institutions, government agencies and private companies to undertake these studies.
Learn more about ACTEW's attempts to establish artificial fish habitats in the Cotter Reservoir here.