Harvey River Ecosystem Restoration, Monitoring and Promotion Program

This collaborative project being funded by the ALCOA Foundation will conduct ongoing aquatic ecosystem monitoring of the first jointly coordinated river re-snagging and riparian vegetation restoration project that has occurred in Western Australia. The project is occurring at two reaches of the Harvey River.  In 2020, logs were introduced and bank revegetation undertaken at Bristol Rd (Wagerup) in order to increase the riparian and aquatic habitat diversity for native species including fish, macroinvertebrates, crayfish (including the iconic Smooth Marron), mussels and turtles. In autumn 2024, similar restoration activities will occur at Riverdale Rd (Yarloop) and involve the construction and installation of nine organic fish habitat structures (termed ‘Fish Hotels’). By undertaking ecological monitoring before and after the restoration activities occur, it will determine the improvement in the health of aquatic ecosystems restoration. 

The project has a strong community involvement including with schools, regional TAFE, and through knowledge sharing with Traditional Custodians of the Harvey region (Binjareb).  This aspect of the project aims to build relationships to improve the appreciation and respect for the biodiversity values of the Harvey River by the broader community and help empower them to protect and restore other reaches here and other modified streamlines on the Swan Coastal Plain.