Removal of barrier

Removal of barrier

• Overview
• Links and references

Description

The removal of artificial instream barriers can be an option for restoring connectivity for fish and other aquatic fauna. It involves reinstating the natural open channel allowing all species and size classes of fish and other aquatic fauna to move at all flows. Removal is becoming increasingly considered as old structures become redundant[1].

Barrier removal is not a simple concept or task. It is vital to have broad stakeholder involvement including social, economic, cultural and heritage representation.

Detailed assessments are required to understand potential impacts of removal e.g. instream barriers may hold back large amounts of impounded sediment and contaminants, which need to be evaluated and planned for before barrier removal and some natural barriers are also important for maintaining isolated populations (i.e. protection from predators and genetic isolation). Artificial instream barriers can also create important refuge habitats in areas such as the Murray Darling Basin, which may become increasingly significant as surface flow reductions continue[2].

More information

Luscombe Weir removal and river restoration: Luscombe Weir on the Albert River, Queensland was demolished in December 2025.

References

1. ^ O'Connor, J, Stuart, I, Jones, M & Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research (2017), Guidelines for the design, approval and construction of fishways, accessed 25 February 2021. http://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-664261559
2. ^ Robson, BJ, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility (Australia) & Murdoch University (2013), Novel methods for managing freshwater refuges against climate change in southern Australia, accessed 19 February 2021. http://hdl.handle.net/10462/comp/6910

Last updated: 16 July 2026