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Estuaries in NSW

Lake Brou
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[Image of Estuary] Lake Brou
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

Lake

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 41 km2
Waterway Area 1.9 km2
Entrance Characteristics Intermittently open, untrained
Location (Lat-Long) 36.129S ,  150.127E
Distance (from Sydney) 340 km South
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

The small coastal settlement of Potato Point is located north of Brou Lake. Brou Lake enters the ocean at the central area of Brou Beach. Typical depth varies from 1 to 2 m.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

Brou Lake
Stoney Creek
Whittakers Creek

Population and Holiday Centres

Bodalla

Special Attributes

General

  • Brou Lake has major feeding habitats for swans and chestnut teal, and provide important drought refuge.
  • Brou Lake is located within Eurobodalla National Park.
  • Lake Brou is intermittently worked by commercial fishermen -also a popular prawning estuary after suitable entrance opening and ocean water exchange.

Estuarine Vegetation

The spatial data is reproduced from NSW Fisheries(2006/7) studies, whilst the species makeup is from the West et al.(1985). This map shows the spatial extent of the Estuarine Vegetation.

Type Area Species 1
(km2)
Mangroves 0.000
Seagrass 0.000
Saltmarsh 0.088

References

R.J. Williams, G. West, D. Morrison and R.G. Creese, (2006),
"Estuarine Resources of New South Wales",
prepared for the Comprehensive Coastal Assessment (DoP) by the NSW Department of Primary Industries, Port Stephens.

R.J. West, C.A. Thorogood, T.R. Walford and R.J. Williams. (1985).
"An Estuarine Inventory for New South Wales, Australia".
Fisheries Bulletin 2. Department of Agriculture, New South Wales.

Estuary Commerce

fishing

Management Issues

This estuary falls in the area covered by Southern Rivers Catchment Management Authority.

Lake Brou

Management Issues

  • Access to and low lying development adjacent to the western side of Lake Brou is subject to flooding at times, resulting in the occasional need to artificially open the entrance to the sea.

The Estuary Management Process 2

Process Status Date
Form Estuary Management Committee (EMC) none
Assemble Existing Data none
Carryout Process Study none
Carryout Estuary Management Study none
Draft Estuary Management Plan none
Review Estuary Management Plan none
Implement Estuary Management Plan none
Monitor and Review Estuary Management Process none

Contact Details

Eurobodalla Shire Council Catherine Potter
Ph (02) 4474 1211

References

Local Government Areas

Eurobodalla

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Bodalla
Narooma