Works to remove willows and weeds between Union Bridge and Oddies Creek began on Monday and the area, including the walking and cycle path, will be fenced off until June.

After weeds are brought under control, native species such as river red gums will be planted.

Acting Albury mayor Amanda Cohn said short-term pain would be worth the long-term benefits of the $200,000 project.

"All along the Murray River, historically snags were removed and exotic trees were planted, and it's become a real problem for the ecosystem," she said.

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"It's a bit of process to remove those trees, but in the long-run it will be completely revegetated with native plants, and it will be a much better habitat.

"The path along the river in this section will be closed during this process of work, and we're expecting it to be finished around the end of June."

Ben Berry, of the NSW Government Soil Conservation Service, said high flows from the Murray River took a toll on the banks, and logs and rock treatments would better protect them from erosion.

"We're putting in over 100 large yellow-box trees, that are the result of agricultural clearing," he said.

"There's also some rock going in to stabilise the bank, but that will be under water level."

NSW Department of Primary Industries fisheries manager Luke Pearce said the works were "critical to maintain the ecological function of the river" and followed similar intervention to Oddies Creek itself.

"It will provide a physical habitat for a whole range of fish species, like Murray cod, Murray crayfish and river blackfish," he said.

"Those are all species that depend on having large logs, snags, and rocks in the river to lay their eggs and feed on."

The environmental streambank works fall under the 'riverside improvement projects' funded by the NSW government's Regional Growth Environment and Tourism Fund.

Another project approved for the funding, an extended play area in Oddies Creek Park, was completed in April.

Cr Cohn said it had been received well.

"Once this section of the works is finished, it will be a really fantastic area and a leading regional space both in terms of habitat and the play space for the whole community to enjoy," she said.

There will be a part of the Oddies Creek parking closed for machinery during the works.

Cyclists will need to cross Wodonga Place before Noreuil Park and turn onto the pedestrian access on the Lincoln Causeway via Nurigong Street to cross the river.