Full Title
Captive maintenance of Murray Hardyhead from Lake Hawthorn and Cardross Basin 1
Contact Person
Iain Ellis
Project Team
Leigh Pyke, Karla Williams
Funding Body
Mallee Catchment Management Authority, North Central Catchment Management Authority, Dep. Sustainability and Environment
Duration
At least 12 months (potentially 3 years)
Outcomes
To maintain representative sub populations of Murray hardyhead from Lake Hawthorn and the Cardross Lakes until either location of alternative sites for translocation, or re-watering of the endemic sites (Cardross and Lake Hawthorn) can be achieved.
Summary
All four of the sites in Victoria which currently hold remnant populations of Murray hardyhead are threatened by reduced water levels (a consequence of river regulation, reduced irrigation drainage and prolonged drought). The delivery of environmental water allocations to Cardross Basin 1 was reduced significantly in 2006-07, and ceased all together in Lake Hawthorn. Lake Hawthorn has subsequently dried completely. Maintenance and breeding of sub-populations rescued from each drying wetland in aquaria will be conducted at the MDFRC Mildura. The program has the potential to be scaled up if numbers in captivity are sufficient.
