Condamine-Culgoa
The Condamine-Culgoa catchment begins in Queensland as the Condamine River. Half way down the catchment, the river develops a broad distributary system of channels, including the Culgoa, Birrie, Bokhara and Narran, that carry water over a vast floodplain and across the border into NSW.
Location
The Condamine-Culgoa catchment is in northern NSW and southern Queensland. The rivers of this system enter the Barwon River between Bourke and Brewarrina.
The Condamine-Culgoa catchment is in northern NSW and southern Queensland. The rivers of this system enter the Barwon River between Bourke and Brewarrina.
Catchment area
The catchment covers a total area of 162,640 square kilometres of which 16 per cent, or 26,060 square kilometres, lies within NSW. The NSW portion of the catchment is a flat landscape of extensive floodplains with elevations ranging between 100 and 150 metres.
The catchment covers a total area of 162,640 square kilometres of which 16 per cent, or 26,060 square kilometres, lies within NSW. The NSW portion of the catchment is a flat landscape of extensive floodplains with elevations ranging between 100 and 150 metres.
Major towns
Major towns in Queensland include Toowoomba, Roma and St George. Lightning Ridge is the major town in the NSW portion of the catchment. Brewarrina is located on the Barwon River at the bottom of the catchment.
Major towns in Queensland include Toowoomba, Roma and St George. Lightning Ridge is the major town in the NSW portion of the catchment. Brewarrina is located on the Barwon River at the bottom of the catchment.
Rivers and tributaries
The Condamine River begins at Warwick in south-eastern Queensland, flowing in a north-westerly direction across the Darling Downs, before becoming the Balonne River near Surat. It is joined by the Maranoa River, a major tributary that drains a large area north of St George.
About 70 kilometres downstream of St George, the river splits into five channels – the Narran, Bokhara, Ballandool and Culgoa rivers, and Briarie Creek. After crossing the border into NSW, the Bokhara River splits again, forming the Birrie River that flows south-east, eventually joining the Culgoa. The Narran River terminates in a series of floodplain lakes, while the Bokhara and Culgoa flow into the Barwon-Darling River downstream of Brewarrina, during times of very high flow
The Condamine River begins at Warwick in south-eastern Queensland, flowing in a north-westerly direction across the Darling Downs, before becoming the Balonne River near Surat. It is joined by the Maranoa River, a major tributary that drains a large area north of St George.
About 70 kilometres downstream of St George, the river splits into five channels – the Narran, Bokhara, Ballandool and Culgoa rivers, and Briarie Creek. After crossing the border into NSW, the Bokhara River splits again, forming the Birrie River that flows south-east, eventually joining the Culgoa. The Narran River terminates in a series of floodplain lakes, while the Bokhara and Culgoa flow into the Barwon-Darling River downstream of Brewarrina, during times of very high flow
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 Condamine-Culgoa 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 Condamine-Culgoa catchment on this website.
Major water storage
In Queensland, the Condamine-Culgoa River is regulated by Beardmore Dam (101,000 megalitres) on the Balonne River in Queensland. There are no major storages in the NSW catchment, leaving the streams in the NSW portion of the basin unregulated.
In Queensland, the Condamine-Culgoa River is regulated by Beardmore Dam (101,000 megalitres) on the Balonne River in Queensland. There are no major storages in the NSW catchment, leaving the streams in the NSW portion of the basin unregulated.
Major water users
Grazing accounts for 95% of land use in the NSW catchment. Water is used mainly for irrigation, stock and domestic use, with some volumes of water for town water supply. The irrigation industries in the basin include major cotton growing areas.
Grazing accounts for 95% of land use in the NSW catchment. Water is used mainly for irrigation, stock and domestic use, with some volumes of water for town water supply. The irrigation industries in the basin include major cotton growing areas.
Key water management issues
The water resources of cross border systems are shared between NSW and Queensland under the New South Wales – Queensland Border Rivers Intergovernmental Agreement 2008
The capture and storage of floodwaters by Queensland water users is a key concern for downstream NSW water users. Extraction limits will be set in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan being developed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
Water users along unregulated creeks and streams do not always enjoy a reliable water supply due to the highly variable nature of flows in the basin.
The water resources of cross border systems are shared between NSW and Queensland under the New South Wales – Queensland Border Rivers Intergovernmental Agreement 2008
The capture and storage of floodwaters by Queensland water users is a key concern for downstream NSW water users. Extraction limits will be set in the Murray-Darling Basin Plan being developed by the Murray-Darling Basin Authority.
Water users along unregulated creeks and streams do not always enjoy a reliable water supply due to the highly variable nature of flows in the basin.
Environmental values
Narran Lake Nature Reserve at the end of the Narran River, protects important wetlands of the Narran Lakes system, and was listed as a Ramsar wetland in 1999. The Narran Lakes are nationally and internationally significant as a major waterbird breeding site.
Narran Lake Nature Reserve at the end of the Narran River, protects important wetlands of the Narran Lakes system, and was listed as a Ramsar wetland in 1999. The Narran Lakes are nationally and internationally significant as a major waterbird breeding site.
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 in this catchment:
- NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater
- NSW Great Artesian Basin Shallow Groundwater
- Intersecting Streams Unregulated and Alluvial
- NSW Murray-Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater
Visit Water Sharing Plans for a status update.
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 in this catchment:
- NSW Great Artesian Basin Groundwater
- NSW Great Artesian Basin Shallow Groundwater
- Intersecting Streams Unregulated and Alluvial
- NSW Murray-Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater
Visit Water Sharing Plans for a status update.