Native fish benefit from Tallowa Dam fishlift upgrade

WaterNSW Executive Manager Operations, Ronan Magaharan, said the project will improve the reliability of the fish lift to enable fish migration between the lower and upper Shoalhaven River.

“Due to aging infrastructure and recent flooding impacts, the fish lift is currently not operational,” Mr Magaharan said.

“When completed, this major upgrade to mechanical and electrical equipment will greatly improve the reliability of the fish lift and help up to 10 endangered fish species migrate upstream.

“We are also upgrading the infrastructure that enables the release of the best quality water downstream as environmental flows, so that both the e-flows system and fish lift can withstand floods.”

Tallowa Dam incorporates a unique mechanical fish lift that uses a 2,500 litre bucket, known as a hopper, to transport fish along a 30 metre track over the dam wall.

The lift was the first of its kind to be built in NSW. Water from the surface of the lake is released into a confined channel at the base of the dam, which attracts fish through a gate and into the hopper.

After a specified period of time the gate closes and the hopper is lifted over the wall and lowered into the lake upstream of the dam wall. Fish are then released from the hopper and are able to resume upstream migrations.

A gated channel installed on the spillway leading to a plunge pool at the base of the spillway allows fish to migrate downstream to the estuary to spawn.

The project is expected to be completed by early 2026, weather permitting.

Construction includes upgrading existing fish lift components with new pipework, valves and fittings and constructing access walkways for ongoing maintenance. The electrical system driving the fish lift will be upgraded with new winches, braking components, wiring and control panels.

A crane and temporary pad will be used to supply and remove equipment and materials from the upper bank to the fish lift.

Public access will remain open during the works to Tallowa Dam recreation areas including canoe launching areas, viewing platforms, barbecues and carparks.

Visitors are advised there will be extra trucks, cars and equipment travelling along Tallowa Dam Road to the construction site. Please be mindful of the extra traffic and follow all site signage.

Completed in 1976, Tallowa Dam is the centrepiece of the Shoalhaven system which provides water to the Shoalhaven and Southern Highlands regions, and a back-up to the Sydney and Illawarra water supplies.