Refreshing Rivers is working alongside Landcare, local government, and the Soil Conservation Service to install cod logs in the Adelong Creek. These structures form part of a nature‑based solution designed to strengthen river resilience following extreme weather events and ongoing habitat loss.

This project builds on an earlier initiative undertaken in 2013, when the Riverina Highlands Landcare Network carried out works along Adelong Creek to improve habitat for native fish. As part of those works, Murray cod fingerlings were released into the creek.

Historically, Murray cod would have been common throughout local waterways, including Adelong Creek. However, a combination of declining water quality, the introduction of exotic fish species, and the loss of native habitat meant that Murray cod had not been recorded in the creek for many years.

With strong support from the local community, the release of Murray cod fingerlings acted as a catalyst for the re‑establishment of this iconic species. To help ensure Murray cod can continue to survive and thrive, cod logs are now being installed at two sites along the creek.

Cod logs are natural habitat structures, constructed from hardwood logs and carefully installed to replicate the large woody debris that Murray cod rely on for shelter, feeding, and spawning. These structures also provide an effective model for freshwater habitat restoration, similar to the role artificial reefs play in marine environments.

Over the coming years, staff from the Refreshing Rivers Project will be monitoring the installed logs to assess their effectiveness and determine their success in supporting Murray cod breeding and long‑term population recovery.

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