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Estuaries in NSW

Crooked River
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[Image of Estuary] Crooked River
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

River

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 32 km2
Waterway Area 0.4 km2
Entrance Characteristics Open and untrained
Location (Lat-Long) 34.772S ,  150.815E
Distance (from Sydney) 130 km South
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

The Crooked River has its source on the southern slope of Currys Mountain a few kilometres inland from Gerringong. The river is only 8 km long, broadening substantially in the lower 2.5 km to form a sheltered creek. The river enters the ocean at the northern end of Seven Mile Beach adjacent to Black Head and the small town of Gerroa. The largest tributary, Blue Angel Creek, drains Foys Swamp to the south, joining Crooked River just upstream of the main road bridge less than a kilometre from the entrance.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

Crooked River

Population and Holiday Centres

Gerroa
Gerringong

Special Attributes

General

  • Seven Mile Beach National Park adjoins the swampy southern area of the catchment.
  • Canoing, swimming and fishing by day visitors and campers of adjacent caravan parks.

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 0.008 unknown
Seagrass 0.046 z
Saltmarsh 0.017

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.

Crooked River

Current Situation

Kiama Council has formed an estuary management committee to implement the Crooked River Estuary Management Plan.

Management Issues:

  • Entrance closing off to the sea
  • Water Quality

The Estuary Management Process 2

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

Contact Details

Kiama Council Amanda Schipp
Phone (02) 4232 0444 Fax 4323 0555

References

Local Government Areas

Kiama

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Gerroa