Short-term intervention monitoring associated with the translocation of Murray Hardyhead into Little Frenchmans Creek, Wingillie Station NSW.

About the document

During 2018-19 and 2019-20, environmental water was delivered to support the translocation of around 800 endangered Murray hardyhead from the Riverland, South Australia, to establish a new self-sustaining population at Little Frenchman’s Creek on Wingillie Station. The translocation aimed to reduce the risk of the species becoming extinct. Water delivery has enabled ideal salinity levels for Murray hardyhead to be maintained within the wetland.

Surveys throughout 2018-19 and 2019-20 have demonstrated that the translocated Murray hardyhead population is surviving and successfully breeding following their release to Little Frenchman’s Creek.

The watering and relocation project is a joint project involving the Commonwealth Government, the NSW Department of Primary Industries-Fisheries, Aquasave - Nature Glenelg Trust, the Murray Darling Wetlands Working Group, the owners of Wingillie Station – the Hazel L Henry Farmland Nature Refuges, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Western Local Land Services and the SA Department for Environment and Water.

For more information about this project, see the media release: Little Aussie battler Surviving against the odds.

Endangered Murray hardyhead captured during 2018 post-translocation surveys at Wingillie. Photo: Iain Ellis.