Mehi River
Encyclopedia
The Mehi River is an inland stream in north-western New South Wales
which diverts from the Gwydir River
, about 21 km east of Moree
. From here the river flows generally west, through the town of Moree and then generally west-south-west and westwards to join the Barwon River
about 11 km northeast of Collarenebri
.
In 1889 a timber bridge was erected over the Mehi River at Moree. Another bridge was built over Mehi River, Moree in April 1960. The Geographical Names Board of New South Wales officially named Mehi as the 160 km tributary of the Gwydir River in 1975 ending years of confusion over the naming of this section.
During December 1995 a bridge over was made over the Mehi River, west of Moree.
Moree has been flooded regularly over the years by the Mehi River. The area adjoining the river has numerous attractive riverside parks, golf links and reserves. The Mehi River jetty at Moree is a popular spot for water sports. The Gwydir Highway
, too is subject to flooding of the Gwydir and Mehi Rivers (the highway is actually on an island in the middle of these two rivers near Collarenebri).
During 2008 plans were drawn up to install a fish passage at Moree which will open up a 300 kilometre “freeway” for native fish between Copeton Dam and Collarenebri. The Barwon River-Gwydir CMA has provided $175,000 to Moree Plains Shire Council to install a fish passage at the Moree Town Weir.
Native fish that are found in the Gwydir-Mehi river system include bony bream
, Murray cod
, spangled perch, golden perch
, which are often known as yellowbelly and eel-tailed catfish
.
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
which diverts from the Gwydir River
Gwydir River
The Gwydir River is a large inland river in the northern part of the Australian state of New South Wales which is part of the Murray-Darling Basin. The river has two main tributaries—the Horton River and the Rocky River...
, about 21 km east of Moree
Moree, New South Wales
Moree is a large town in Moree Plains Shire in northern New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the banks of the Mehi River in the centre of the rich black-soil plains....
. From here the river flows generally west, through the town of Moree and then generally west-south-west and westwards to join the Barwon River
Barwon River (New South Wales)
The Barwon River flows through New South Wales, virtually as a continuation of the Macintyre River / Border Rivers system, before joining with the Culgoa River to form the Darling River...
about 11 km northeast of Collarenebri
Collarenebri, New South Wales
Collarenebri is a town with a population of 478 people in north western New South Wales, Australia. It is situated in Walgett Shire, on the Barwon River approximately 75 km northeast of Walgett and south west of Mungindi on the Gwydir Highway. It is from Pokataroo which was the nearest...
.
History
This river which travels about 160 km commencing at its branching off at the Tareelaroi Weir was previously known as the Gwydir River or Meei River.In 1889 a timber bridge was erected over the Mehi River at Moree. Another bridge was built over Mehi River, Moree in April 1960. The Geographical Names Board of New South Wales officially named Mehi as the 160 km tributary of the Gwydir River in 1975 ending years of confusion over the naming of this section.
During December 1995 a bridge over was made over the Mehi River, west of Moree.
Moree has been flooded regularly over the years by the Mehi River. The area adjoining the river has numerous attractive riverside parks, golf links and reserves. The Mehi River jetty at Moree is a popular spot for water sports. The Gwydir Highway
Gwydir Highway
The Gwydir Highway is a 567 kilometre highway in northern New South Wales, Australia. It was named after the Gwydir River, which in turn was named for a locale in Wales....
, too is subject to flooding of the Gwydir and Mehi Rivers (the highway is actually on an island in the middle of these two rivers near Collarenebri).
During 2008 plans were drawn up to install a fish passage at Moree which will open up a 300 kilometre “freeway” for native fish between Copeton Dam and Collarenebri. The Barwon River-Gwydir CMA has provided $175,000 to Moree Plains Shire Council to install a fish passage at the Moree Town Weir.
Native fish that are found in the Gwydir-Mehi river system include bony bream
Bony bream
Bony bream Nematalosa erebi are a widespread and common, small to medium sized Australian freshwater fish often found in large shoals throughout much of northern and central Australia, and the Murray-Darling basin.-Description:...
, Murray cod
Murray Cod
The Murray cod is a large Australian predatory freshwater fish of the Maccullochella genus and the Percichthyidae family. Although the species is a called cod in the vernacular, it is not related to the northern hemisphere marine cod species...
, spangled perch, golden perch
Golden perch
The golden perch, Macquaria ambigua, is an Australian native freshwater fish, primarily of the Murray-Darling river system. It is not a true perch of the genus Perca....
, which are often known as yellowbelly and eel-tailed catfish
Catfish
Catfishes are a diverse group of ray-finned fish. Named for their prominent barbels, which resemble a cat's whiskers, catfish range in size and behavior from the heaviest and longest, the Mekong giant catfish from Southeast Asia and the second longest, the wels catfish of Eurasia, to detritivores...
.