In dry times, deep pools in the upper Murrumbidgee become vital refuges where native fish and other aquatic wildlife can survive. This project identifies the most important of these drought refuges and surveys their current condition. Water quality monitoring for dissolved oxygen and temperature is being installed in five pools, and environmental DNA (eDNA) samples are being collected to record the species present. The work will show how much habitat these refuges provide and how water temperature affects native fish breeding, helping to guide how flow events are managed and to shape longer-term drought planning for the river.
