The following thoughtful message was received from Steve Samuels (Pres) in the context of the recent news about “Snowy Hydro 2.0”.  CAA Blogmaster response to Steve is below Steve’s words.

Dear Supporters

As you are aware the Federal Government is examining the prospect of implementing a “pumped hydro” project for the Snowy Scheme.  As you will be aware the pumped concept is to pump water back to a holding reservoir once used so it can be used again.  We should all welcome “green” solutions to our power issues, but there may well be some unintended consequences we need to be aware of.

While there is no definitive plan yet it seems that the most likely will be to pump water from Talbingo Dam to another dam such as Tantangara or Eucumbene.  Most of you will be aware that Talbingo Dam has redfin perch in it.  Redfin perch have been responsible for the decline of many trout lakes across NSW and are carriers of Epizootic Haematopoietic Necrosis Virus (EHNV) which has a significant impact on rainbow trout and Macquarie perch.

The Monaro Acclimatisation Society is concerned that if water is pumped from Khancoban or Talbingo to any other dam there is the possibility that redfin will get a free ride into that lake.  The problem is compounded if the destination dam is either Tantangara or Eucumbene because Tantangara feeds directly into Eucumbene via the Providence Portal and from there Eucumbene can service every other dam in the system.  A redfin explosion across the whole of the Snowy Scheme is a distinct possibility if not managed appropriately.

The MAS is currently making contact with politicians and Snowy Hydro representatives to make our concern known.  I doubt that anglers alone can stop this project from going ahead as there is a lot a stake politically.  However, with a budget of between $2 and $4 billion the MAS believes that it is not unreasonable to ask that the world’s best filter technology be installed to prevent redfin or their eggs being circulated around the system.

As this issue progresses the MAS will keep you informed, but you may like to take this opportunity to discuss the matter with fellow anglers and businesses that rely on trout fishing.  The only outcome of redfin infection in our trout dams will be the demise of the trout and this will have a serious impact on our recreation and the businesses that rely on it.

Steve Samuels

President

Monaro Acclimatisation Society Inc

21 March 2017

My response to Steve was:

Thanks for this. A couple of points:

• I cringe when people describe this idea as “green”. The thing is only another form of battery. It will only be green if the water is pumped using green power ie from excess solar or wind. But if from fossil fuel (or even ‘renewable’ wood fired) sources it ain’t green.
• I had been concerned about possible bio threats from taking water from ine catchment and putting it into another but the idea of fish translocation hadn’t occurred to me. Bugger
• I’d be uncertain whether requisitely fine filters could be fitted into a system that has to move that amount of water. Perhaps you should refer to “filters or other reliable mechanism”

This’ll be on CAA blog in a jiffy and our newsletter tonight.  Thanks for taking this up. I presume you’ll take this to Niall Blair and remind him that redfin fishing will not attract the same economic benefits to the region that trout fishing does.

Cheers

Bill