Fish Ladders "Giving the little buggers a hand"

Introduction

The Lake Eyre Yacht Club is interested in preserving the environment of the Lake Eyre Basin. In 2004 discussions were initiated with the South Australian Department of Transport on the possibility of installing fish ladders on the Lake's tributaries where road culverts impede the upstream migration of desert fish during floods. Desert fish can travel vast distances in shallow streams but lack the ability to swim against strong currents or jump a low waterfall - they live in flat country! At present the watercourses affected are the Stuart and Margaret Creeks where crossed by the Oodnadatta Track and Coopers Creek at the Innamincka Causeway. Ladder installation (steel design) on the Oodnadatta Track causeways commenced mid 2006 and completed in 2007.

The Lake Eyre Yacht Club (and the desert fish) would like to thank the South Australian Department of Transport for the construction of these fish ladders.

If you are interested in desert fish species have a look at:

• Australian Desert Fish Pages http://www.desertfishes.org/australia/index.html

	Steel Plan View
	Steel Construction
	Block Notes
	Block Plan
	Proposal for Cooper Creek causeway at Innamincka P1
	Proposal for Cooper Creek causeway at Innamincka P2
	Stuarts Creek Fish Ladder - After the February 2007 flood. These dead Lake Eyre Hardyheads didn't make it up the last trickle but this image proves they were using the ladder till the last moments of the flood.
	Downstream end
	Upstream end
	Upstream end detail
	Stuart Creek - Upstream Waterhole still wet