At The Briars, a quiet conservation success is unfolding beneath the surface.
The eastern dwarf galaxias, listed as endangered at both a state and national level, has seen a significant local recovery, with the population at The Briars increasing from around 40 fish to more than 400 in a single breeding season.
For Lachlan Gordon, Briars Conservation & Wildlife Lead at The Briars, it's the kind of result that doesn't come easily.
"It's an exceptional outcome," says Lachlan Gordon. "It shows the wetland conditions are now closely aligned with what the species needs to survive and reproduce."
That turnaround is the result of careful, deliberate work. In partnership with Gemma Walker from Ecology Australia, the team reshaped how water moves through the wetland, adjusting the timing and duration to better reflect natural flooding and drying cycles.
For a species that lives for just one year, those conditions need to be right every time. Without enough water, breeding doesn't occur, and populations can decline just as quickly as they grow.
Now, with the population responding, the focus shifts to consistency, maintaining the right conditions so this threatened species can continue to thrive.
This work forms part of the Briars Arc Program, which is helping protect vulnerable species and strengthen local ecosystems for the future.
It's a reminder that with the right care, the right science, and the right environment, even the smallest species can recover.
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