February 2009 - Impacts on Rivers and Creeks
The most severe impacts of the February 2009 bushfires were seen in the Yarra Ranges, Baw Baw, Nillumbik, Mitchell, Cardinia and Whittlesea areas.
Impacts on rivers and creeks have included:
- loss of nearby vegetation
- fallen and burnt vegetation in the water
- increased sediment and erosion
- reduced water quality
- loss of habitat for birds, animals and fish
Moderate rain over bushfire-affected areas has helped some of our waterways start their gradual recovery from bushfire. This moisture has encouraged vegetation, including grass, to grow and form a natural barrier, reducing ash and sediment runoff in the event of heavy rain.
Rain can push ash and sediment from the worst bushfire affected areas into nearby waterways, due to higher levels of erosion.
This can cause some temporary discolouration in these waterways.
This is part of a natural process but it comes at a time when many of our rivers are already under considerable stress from drought. We will continue to monitor these impacts very closely to determine what we can do to help.
With help from community groups, we’re working hard to minimise impacts and accelerate the recovery of our waterways.
Rehabilitation activities are focused on:
- suppressing weeds along waterways to give native vegetation a better chance of recovery
- encouraging natural regeneration of native species and, where necessary, revegetating banks to provide shelter for native animals and reduce erosion
- clearing streams and banks of sediment and debris
- restoring fences to prevent farm stock getting into stream beds
- increasing monitoring along key rivers and creeks.
Effects of fires on works funded by Melbourne Water grants
The community works hard to protect and care for rivers and creeks. Some of this valuable work has now been damaged by the fires (including work funded through our grant programs).
We want to continue to work with communities as we rehabilitate areas affected by the fires.
We have been contacting affected landowners since the end of February to help them repair damage to waterways that run through their property.
Contact our River Health team online or call 131 722 if you:
- own land beside a river or creek and bushfire has damaged or destroyed your fence or off-stream stock watering facilities, such as pipes and troughs for stock drinking.
- own land that borders Melbourne Water land and the fence is a boundary fence and part owned by Melbourne Water
- received or were offered one of our Community, Corridors of Green or Stream Frontage Management Program grants and:
- your proposed work location is affected by the bushfires
- your completed work has been affected by the fires
- your payment or paperwork has been lost
- you are not sure how to fulfil contractual obligations.
We started to visit properties from the end of February 2009 and will continue to assess damage. Where possible, we will provide financial assistance to help replace streamside fencing, plantings and off-stream stock watering facilities.
For more information on fencing see the Bushfire Recovery Essential Facts - Fencing - 19 May 2009 (PDF, 54kb).