A popular brown trout fishing spot is becoming a victim of its own success, with erosion from four-wheel-drive use threatening the Eucumbene River's ability to sustain a bountiful spawning season.
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Anglers have raised concerns about the effect unrestricted use of four-wheel-drives is having along a 1.5 kilometre stretch of the river in Kosciuszko National Park.
The area, accessed from the Denison Campground near Providence Portal, has attracted greater numbers of fishing enthusiasts in recent years thanks to its reputation for large brown trout numbers during the spawning season from April until the end of June.
But Monaro Acclimatisation Society president Steve Samuels said erosion from four-wheel-drives either fording the river or driving along its banks was threatening the local ecosystem and the site's viability as a fishing spot.
"Everywhere you can cross the river in a four-wheel drive is also where the trout lay their eggs," he said.
"They drive up and down the other side of the river when the soil is boggy and wet. As they erode the banks, they collapse into the river and then every time it rains that silt washes into the river, which is detrimental to the eggs."
The society has established a working group to find a way to prevent the environmental damage without locking anglers or drivers out of the area.
It held a meeting in late March with representatives from the national park, NSW Fisheries, Snowy Hydro, the Lake Eucumbene Chamber of Commerce and other stakeholders to discuss the concerns.
Mr Samuels suggested the construction of a car park and restrictions preventing vehicles from driving along the river, provided there was enough access for disabled or elderly anglers.
"It's a bit of a walk, but we have to protect the spawning point for the future because, if we just let cars continue to do what they do, we might end up with nothing," he said.
"We thought we could propose something that would be palatable to all anglers rather than having something foisted upon us by the authorities."
Recreational angler Ben Caddaye frequents the area during the peak season and said he had seen a "minority of anglers" leaving behind beer cans and other objects in the park.
"Last time I was up at the site there were more than 100 people, maybe a couple of hundred people along that stretch of river," he said.
"Someone even brought a couch up and put it in front of the river. I don't think that's in the spirit of trout fishing, to be honest."
Mr Samuels said the working group hoped to have a solution in place in time for the 2017 season.
