Bonville Creek, New South Wales. Photo source: NSW Government
Excerpts;
Officials are warning residents of coastal communities that excavating the entrances of lakes, lagoons and intermittently opening creeks can have long lasting and severe consequences for fish and fish habitat.
“Many people wrongly believe that opening creeks and lagoons can improve water quality or enhance fish recruitment, however, this is not the case.
“Opening closed creeks and lagoons to the ocean in the wrong way can lead to low dissolved oxygen levels, increased exposure, death of aquatic vegetation and large fish kills.
It is important that there is minimal interference with these entrance barriers and that we allow the natural processes to operate where possible.
Over the long term, more frequent openings can increase the rate of sand movement and lead to shifts in the structure of fringing riparian vegetation communities…”
