Clyde
Rising below Kangaroo Hill in the Budawange range as apart of the Great Diving Range, the Clyde river generally flows southward and stretches over 100km in length. With no polluting industries surrounding the catchment and no sewerage outflows, the Clyde river has a reputation for being clean with very good water quality.
Location
The Clyde-Jervis Bay catchment is located on the New South Wales south coast and has a catchment area of 3,260km2.
The Clyde-Jervis Bay catchment is located on the New South Wales south coast and has a catchment area of 3,260km2.
Major town
Milton, Ulladulla, Batemans Bay and Sussex Inlet.
Milton, Ulladulla, Batemans Bay and Sussex Inlet.
Rivers and tributaries
Tributaries of the Clyde River include Bimberamala Creek, Currowan Creek and the Buckenbowra River.
Minor coastal river and creek systems account for 40 per cent of the catchment area and include: Currambene, Wandandian and Conjola creeks and Tomago River.
Tributaries of the Clyde River include Bimberamala Creek, Currowan Creek and the Buckenbowra River.
Minor coastal river and creek systems account for 40 per cent of the catchment area and include: Currambene, Wandandian and Conjola creeks and Tomago River.
Real-time flow data
The department monitors the conditions of river systems in NSW and provides regular updates on water levels, rainfall, water temperature and electrical conductivity.
View real-time data from the Clyde catchment on this website.
The department monitors the conditions of river systems in NSW and provides regular updates on water levels, rainfall, water temperature and electrical conductivity.
View real-time data from the Clyde catchment on this website.
Major water storage
Porters Creek Dam with a storage capacity of 1,000 megalitres, is operated by Shoalhaven Water to supply water to Milton and Ulladulla. Eurobodalla Shire Council pumps water from the Buckenbowra River to Deep Creek Dam (4,900 megalitres) which supplies the townships of Batemans Bay and Malua Bay.
Porters Creek Dam with a storage capacity of 1,000 megalitres, is operated by Shoalhaven Water to supply water to Milton and Ulladulla. Eurobodalla Shire Council pumps water from the Buckenbowra River to Deep Creek Dam (4,900 megalitres) which supplies the townships of Batemans Bay and Malua Bay.
Major water users
Shoalhaven Water, Eurobodalla Shire Council, tourism, forestry, cattle grazing, dairy farming, oyster farming and fishing.
Shoalhaven Water, Eurobodalla Shire Council, tourism, forestry, cattle grazing, dairy farming, oyster farming and fishing.
Key water management issues
Most of the rivers and creeks in the Clyde River-Jervis Bay Basin are unregulated, meaning there are no major storages to capture and control flows. Most water users rely on natural flows or small structures, such as weirs for their water supplies. As in most unregulated rivers, flows are mostly affected during relatively dry times, when water is low and demand is high.
The management of lands along river and creek banks is an important issue that can affect water flow and quality. For example, cattle grazing can damage sensitive riverbank vegetation resulting in erosion and development along the coastal fringe can alter natural waterways and increase water pollution.
Most of the rivers and creeks in the Clyde River-Jervis Bay Basin are unregulated, meaning there are no major storages to capture and control flows. Most water users rely on natural flows or small structures, such as weirs for their water supplies. As in most unregulated rivers, flows are mostly affected during relatively dry times, when water is low and demand is high.
The management of lands along river and creek banks is an important issue that can affect water flow and quality. For example, cattle grazing can damage sensitive riverbank vegetation resulting in erosion and development along the coastal fringe can alter natural waterways and increase water pollution.
Environmental values
Extensive forest communities and endangered ecological communities populate this catchment. The vegetation of the foreshores helps to maintain the health of the Clyde estuary and the abundance of fish in its waters, which are part of Batemans Marine Park.
Extensive forest communities and endangered ecological communities populate this catchment. The vegetation of the foreshores helps to maintain the health of the Clyde estuary and the abundance of fish in its waters, which are part of Batemans Marine Park.
Water sharing plans
To preserve water resources in river and groundwater systems for the long term it is critical to balance the competing needs of the environment and water users. Water sharing plans establish rules for sharing water between the environmental needs of the river or aquifer and water users, and also between different types of water use such as town supply, rural domestic supply, stock watering, industry and irrigation. Water sharing plans to cover all catchments in NSW are progressively being developed in consultation with stakeholders and the community.
Visit Water Sharing Plans.
Under the Water Management Act 2000 all water sharing plans are required to have performance indicators to assess whether the plans have been effective in meeting their objectives. The Environmental flow response and socio-economic monitoring. South Coast - progress report 2010 (PDF, 4362.87 KB) summarises activities undertaken in the previous water year and provides an interim assessment of outcomes from the investigations.
To preserve water resources in river and groundwater systems for the long term it is critical to balance the competing needs of the environment and water users. Water sharing plans establish rules for sharing water between the environmental needs of the river or aquifer and water users, and also between different types of water use such as town supply, rural domestic supply, stock watering, industry and irrigation. Water sharing plans to cover all catchments in NSW are progressively being developed in consultation with stakeholders and the community.
Visit Water Sharing Plans.
Under the Water Management Act 2000 all water sharing plans are required to have performance indicators to assess whether the plans have been effective in meeting their objectives. The Environmental flow response and socio-economic monitoring. South Coast - progress report 2010 (PDF, 4362.87 KB) summarises activities undertaken in the previous water year and provides an interim assessment of outcomes from the investigations.