“There is another alphabet, whispering from every leaf, singing from every river, shimmering from every sky.” *

We are so delighted to have received funding from our friends and investors at the New South Wales Environmental Trust to continue the work we started in our Yass River Linkages Phase One project.  Rivers of Carbon: Yass River Linkages Phase Two will build on the relationships and work already accomplished in this catchment to protect and improve water quality and riparian outcomes.   Yass is an important water supply catchment, and Rivers of Carbon focuses on reducing sedimentation, regenerating structurally complex riparian vegetation, and boosting biodiversity.  With an engagement approach targeting fish habitat, we will continue to work with NSW Department of Primary Industry Fisheries to conduct fish surveys and examine the possibilities of bringing native species formerly found in the Yass River, back into the waterway.

Our project partners are Greening Australia,  Yass Area Network of Landcare, South-east Local Land Services and the local community.  Over the next two years we will:

  • Protect and enhance 5km of riparian corridor (24 ha)
  • Link and enhance 300 ha of remnant vegetation
  • Revegetate 20 ha of riparian corridor
  • Negotiate 6 ten year landholder agreements
  • Provide alternative water to 4 sites to offset loss of direct water supply
  • Fence 5 kms of riparian zones
  • Plant 5000 tubestock
  • Direct seed 4 km using local provenance native seed
  • Monitor progress and record on-ground outcomes (RARC) at 6 sites at the beginning of the project.
  • Willow control undertake at 3 sites
  • Raise awareness at 2 activities (workshops, field days)

We would love to hear from any landholders living along the Yass River who might like to get involved in this second phase of our project.  Incentives for fencing, alternative water, revegetation and some weed control (complementary to on-ground works) will be provided to enable landholders to better manage riparian zones within a framework of sustainable agriculture.  The map below shows the region we are covering and, as with all Rivers of Carbon activities, we spend as much time on building our relationships with the people we work with, as we do with getting works done on-ground.

 

RoC Yass project area 2014

 

 

Feeling Fishy Field Day at the Yass Gorge

We recently held a Feeling Fishy field day in Yass exploring native fish, bush tucker, indigenous river stories, Yass Gorge rehabilitation, and of course some cooked carp with our culinary giant Luke Pearce!

Waterwatch, Landcare, Greening Australia, Yass Valley Council and many more local groups came along with us, and we enjoyed ‘walk and talks’ throughout the day, as well as some knowledge sharing presentations on protecting and restoring Yass Gorge.

Read the full event recap here.

 

Community activities:

Rivers of Carbon enjoys sharing knowledge and providing landholder with access to experts who can talk on topics of interest to the local community.  With the ongoing focus on habitat for fish, Rivers of Carbon will provide ongoing information about the possible release of the carp herpes virus, how landholders can be prepared, and what this will mean for the river.  Our key message is that ‘habitat makes fish happen’, and with carp numbers potentially being reduced, we need a river ready to support our native fish to survive and thrive.  You can read more about our work with carp and the Southern Pygmy Perch by following these links.

Instream outcomes for native fish


 

Yes, I would like to know more…

If you are a landholder along the Yass River then get in touch with Lori Gould.  If you would like to keep up to date with our work in Burra then please subscribe to our free E-newsletter as this will advertise any upcoming activities.

Lori phone: 0439 030 058
Lori email: lori.gould@arrc.com.au

Yass River linkages – Phase One was funded by the New South Wales Environmental Trust and managed through a partnership between the Australian River Restoration Centre, Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups and Greening Australia

* Quote by Dejan Stojanovic

NSW Environment Trust Logo
ARRC logo
YAN logo
south east local land services logo
greening australia logo

 

Free Booklet: Welcome to Yass Gorge

This booklet has been prepared to encourage local residents and visitors to use the Gorge as a recreational area and possibly participate in its conservation and restoration. It is the final part of the Yass Gorge – being a good neighbour to the bush project organised by Kosciuszko to Coast with the assistance of Friends of Yass Gorge, Yass Valley Council, local schools and many more conservation and community groups mentioned throughout the booklet. This project has been assisted by the New South Wales Government through its Environmental Trust and Rivers of Carbon program.

This booklet has been written as an easy-to-read resource so that all Yass residents, young and old, as well as visitors may appreciate the natural values of the Gorge and surrounding country and become better acquainted with the Traditional owners.

Click the image to get your copy.