Lachlan
The Lachlan catchment features a broad geographic diversity that includes the temperate forests, woodlands and grasslands of the east, and the semi-arid woodlands, mallee and shrublands of the west. A large range of native vegetation makes up 40 per cent of the catchment.
Location
Located in central NSW and west of the Great Dividing Range, the Lachlan catchment borders the Murrumbidgee catchment to the south and the Darling catchment to the north.
Located in central NSW and west of the Great Dividing Range, the Lachlan catchment borders the Murrumbidgee catchment to the south and the Darling catchment to the north.
Catchment area
The Lachlan catchment occupies an area of around 90,000 square kilometres. Its landscape varies markedly from east to west as it moves from the headwaters and tablelands through the slope of the middle catchment to the flat western plains.
The Lachlan catchment occupies an area of around 90,000 square kilometres. Its landscape varies markedly from east to west as it moves from the headwaters and tablelands through the slope of the middle catchment to the flat western plains.
Major towns
Major rural centres drawing their water from the Lachlan catchment are Cowra, Parkes, Forbes and Young. Smaller towns in the catchment include Crookwell, Grenfell, West Wyalong, Condobolin, Hillston and Lake Cargelligo.
Major rural centres drawing their water from the Lachlan catchment are Cowra, Parkes, Forbes and Young. Smaller towns in the catchment include Crookwell, Grenfell, West Wyalong, Condobolin, Hillston and Lake Cargelligo.
Rivers and tributaries
The Lachlan River rises near Gunning and travels approximately 1,400 kilometres to its junction with the Murrumbidgee River. Nearly 1,300 kilometres of its total length is regulated. Very little water from the Lachlan River reaches the Murrumbidgee except during major floods. Most is taken up by water users or provides inflows to the wetlands in the lower Lachlan, particularly the Great Cumbung Swamp.
The Lachlan River rises near Gunning and travels approximately 1,400 kilometres to its junction with the Murrumbidgee River. Nearly 1,300 kilometres of its total length is regulated. Very little water from the Lachlan River reaches the Murrumbidgee except during major floods. Most is taken up by water users or provides inflows to the wetlands in the lower Lachlan, particularly the Great Cumbung Swamp.
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 Lachlan 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 Lachlan catchment on this website.
Major water storage
With a capacity of 1.22 million megalitres, the Wyangala Dam is the main regulating storage in the Lachlan catchment. It provides a regulated water source for irrigators and towns along the Lachlan River. A number of natural lakes have also been modified for use as storages, the largest of these being Lake Cargelligo at 36,000 megalitres, and Lake Brewster at 154,000 megalitres. Carcoar Dam, at 35,800 megalitres, is a relatively small storage on the Belubula River and supplies water for irrigation, stock and domestic use within the Belubula valley.
With a capacity of 1.22 million megalitres, the Wyangala Dam is the main regulating storage in the Lachlan catchment. It provides a regulated water source for irrigators and towns along the Lachlan River. A number of natural lakes have also been modified for use as storages, the largest of these being Lake Cargelligo at 36,000 megalitres, and Lake Brewster at 154,000 megalitres. Carcoar Dam, at 35,800 megalitres, is a relatively small storage on the Belubula River and supplies water for irrigation, stock and domestic use within the Belubula valley.
Major water users
Land use in the Lachlan catchment is dominated by extensive agriculture with 75 per cent of the catchment used for livestock grazing and 15 per cent for dryland cropping. Major water users are local councils, water utilities, mining and agriculture, including dairy, wool, beef and lamb, as well as irrigated crops such as cereals, lucerne and cotton.
Land use in the Lachlan catchment is dominated by extensive agriculture with 75 per cent of the catchment used for livestock grazing and 15 per cent for dryland cropping. Major water users are local councils, water utilities, mining and agriculture, including dairy, wool, beef and lamb, as well as irrigated crops such as cereals, lucerne and cotton.
Key water management issues
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is developing the Basin Plan to set new rules to govern water sharing.
The alteration of natural river flows through the construction of dams and weirs, and erosion from land clearing affect riverine health and contribute to water quality problems, such as salinity.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority is developing the Basin Plan to set new rules to govern water sharing.
The alteration of natural river flows through the construction of dams and weirs, and erosion from land clearing affect riverine health and contribute to water quality problems, such as salinity.
Environmental values
There are a number of significant wetlands within the Lachlan catchment considered to be of national significance, particularly as waterbird habitat. Nine of these wetlands, including Lake Cowal near Forbes, Lake Brewster, Booligal wetlands and the Great Cumbung Swamp, feature in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia.
There are a number of significant wetlands within the Lachlan catchment considered to be of national significance, particularly as waterbird habitat. Nine of these wetlands, including Lake Cowal near Forbes, Lake Brewster, Booligal wetlands and the Great Cumbung Swamp, feature in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia.
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:
- Belubula Regulated River
- Lachlan Regulated River
- Lachlan Unregulated and Alluvial
- Lower Lachlan Groundwater
- 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:
- Belubula Regulated River
- Lachlan Regulated River
- Lachlan Unregulated and Alluvial
- Lower Lachlan Groundwater
- NSW Murray-Darling Basin Fractured Rock Groundwater
Visit Water Sharing Plans for a status update.
More information
General purpose water accounting reports
The department has released General Purpose Water Accounting Reports for the Lachlan catchment providing annual consolidated and informative summaries of water resources availability and water management issues. These reports have been produced using the Australian Water Accounting Standard.
- General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 - Lachlan and Belubula catchments (PDF 4.1 MB)
- General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2011–2012 - Lachlan/Belubula catchments (PDF 4 MB)
- General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2010–2011 - Lachlan catchment (PDF 5 MB)
- General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2009–2010 - Lachlan catchment (PDF 3 MB)
The department has released General Purpose Water Accounting Reports for the Lachlan catchment providing annual consolidated and informative summaries of water resources availability and water management issues. These reports have been produced using the Australian Water Accounting Standard.
- General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2012-2013 - Lachlan and Belubula catchments (PDF 4.1 MB)
- General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2011–2012 - Lachlan/Belubula catchments (PDF 4 MB)
- General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2010–2011 - Lachlan catchment (PDF 5 MB)
- General Purpose Water Accounting Report 2009–2010 - Lachlan catchment (PDF 3 MB)
Catchment overview
The water resources and management overview for the Lachlan catchment provides information on climate, land use, the environment, water resources, and river operations and management.
The water resources and management overview for the Lachlan catchment provides information on climate, land use, the environment, water resources, and river operations and management.