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The Upper Hunter River Rehabilitation Initiative (UHRRI) is a large-scale river rehabilitation
and research project based near Muswellbrook NSW. The river-banks along a 10km reach of the
Hunter River have been planted with native species and woody debris has been reintroduced into
the channel.
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Research has investigated how the rehabilitation efforts influence sediment flow, the distribution and abundance of fish,
weed ecology, carbon and nutrient cycling,and the hyporheic zone. Interactions between weeds, landform and native
plants have also been studied. This research was undertaken by scientists and postgraduate students from Macquarie
University, Griffith University, the University of New England and NSW Fisheries. The research was funded by a fiveyear
grant from the Australian Research Council and contributions from the NSW Department of Natural Resources,
NSW Department of Primary Industries, Mt Arthur Coal, Bengalla Mining Company and Macquarie Generation.
The rehabilitation was funded by HCRCMA, NSW Department of Lands and Newcastle Ports Corporation.
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(click to enlarge)
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 The vision for the UHRRI project
To create an ecologically sustainable riparian plant community dominated
by indigenous species and to re-introduce woody debris to the river,
so that river health is improved, habitat is provided
for native species, a model is provided for future riparian restoration
efforts, and the area becomes a valued community resource.
The objectives
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To create a riparian plant community through revegetation
along an 8-km stretch of the Hunter River that:
– Uses species that occurred or are likely to have occurred
on the original riparian and floodplain landforms
– Becomes self-sustaining
– Provides habitat for terrestrial and aquatic indigenous
species
– Provides a source of propagules for the natural
colonisation of native species downstream
– Ensures bank stability equivalent to that provided by the
existing willows
– Improves water quality
– Provides for storage of atmospheric carbon
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| 2 |
To
establish large woody structures instream that:
– Increase instream habitat diversity for fish and other
aquatic organisms
– Contribute to the storage, transformation and
bioavailability of nutrients
– Contribute to the storage and redistribution of sediment
to generate river structure and dynamics that are appropriate
for the local setting
– Protect riverbanks from erosion
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To understand the dynamics of the Hunter River ecosystem, the
ecosystem response to rehabilitation, and the effect of
ecosystem dynamics on rehabilitation, through experimentation
and the facilitation of scientific research. |
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To provide opportunities for community education and
involvement in UHRRI so that it is recognised as a valuable
community resource.. |
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To provide opportunities for sponsors and partner organisations
to benefit by association with the programme.
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Project location
This project starts at Keys Bridge, 4 km from Muswellbrook, and extends
8 km downstream (see map).
Mt Arthur Coal
(left bank looking downstream) and Bengalla
Mining Company (right bank) own the land.
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