Author(s): Matthew Curtis; Megan Holcomb
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Abstract: Brisbane is one of the fastest developing areas in Australia[1]. The increase in impervious area and pollution point sources have put strain on our waterways. In the midst of this urbanisation and a new wave of infill progressing across the city, Council has recognised our waterways as assets to enable further funding and management strategies into the future. As with all asset management, monitoring and data collection regarding the condition and performance of the asset is critical. Fortunately, several waterways located within the Council land area have flow gauging weirs that are capable of recording baseflow, which have been installed for more than forty years. This baseflow information is now proving essential in understanding changes, which have occurred to catchment flow regimes since their installation. Unfortunately, the historical flow gauging weir designs did not include fish passage consideration; consequently, most of these weir gauges are classified as barriers to fish passage. As urban catchments have developed and baseflow regimes have modified, additional stresses been placed on native fish populations in urban waterways. To ease the stress on native fish populations, it would be beneficial to minimise the barriers encountered. The ambition to reinstate fish passage as well as utilise existing infrastructure to extend existing historical flow data sets, are at odds with each other. This paper considers the connection between these two issues: providing successful, sustainable fish passage and maintaining reliable flow gauging station data points within urban catchments.
Year: 2018