Meet the ancient giant hiding in Lake McDonald! 🐟
During a routine aquatic survey on the Lake McDonald Dam Improvement Project we’re delivering for @seqwater, our team pulled up a fyke net and found themselves eye to eye with a piece of living history.
Staring back at them was a Queensland Lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri), a species so ancient its lineage stretches back more than 100 million years!
At nearly one metre long and over 19kg, this living fossil has been around since the dinosaurs and now survives in just a few South East Queensland rivers.
After a careful assessment from our team and marine specialists Fishology, the big boy was released back into the water right where it was found.
Ensuring the safety of aquatic species and wildlife is a key priority for our project team. With lake levels temporarily lowered to allow construction to safely take place, our aquatic specialists closely monitor conditions throughout the entire dam, including its tributaries and downstream in Six Mile Creek, to minimise the impact on aquatic life.
The project is also making great strides on site, with the temporary cofferdam completed in preparation for the demolition of the existing dam.
Once complete, the upgraded dam will improve water supply reliability and bolster the dam’s ability to manage extreme weather conditions, helping secure South East Queensland’s water future for generations to come.
#JohnHollandTransformingLives #LakeMcDonaldDam #Water