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Estuaries in NSW

Lake Innes and Lake Cathie
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Camden Haven Estuary Hastings River
[Image of Estuary] Lake Innes and Lake Cathie
Shape, Size and Scale of Estuary

Estuary Type

Lake system

Estuary Characteristics

Area Catchment 92 km2
Waterway Area 6.7 km2
Entrance Characteristics Untrained and intermittently/mechanically opened
Location (Lat-Long) 31.549S ,  152.859E
Distance (from Sydney) 385 km North
Summary of Available Data Data Pages

Physical Features

A shallow lake system with low-lying foreshore topography. The smaller lake, Lake Cathie, is almost entirely "marshland" and is joined to Lake Innes by Cathie Creek. The small town of Lake Cathie is located immediately south of the highly throttled entrance which connects the lake system to the sea. Tidal data collected in April 1982 shows tidal level within the inlet not to respond to rising ocean level during the first 3 hours after ocean low water. In May 1982, gauging indicated the lake level to be super-elevated 0.35 m above mean sea level with the entrance heavily shoaled. Accordingly, tidal discharges are weak and highly variable depending on the degree of entrance shoaling. A flood tide peak flow of 35 m3/s and an ebb tide peak of 10 m3/s at the bridge were measured in April, 1982.

Significant Estuarine Tributaries

Lake Innes
Lake Cathie
Cathie Creek

Population and Holiday Centres

Lake Cathie

Special Attributes

General

  • Lake Cathie is a popular recreational swimming and fishing area.
  • Second largest estuarine saltmarsh area (6.0 km2) in NSW - surrounding wetlands are a renowned aquatic bird habitat.
  • Lake Innes is fully surrounded by national park.
  • Lake Innes has a small commercial fishing industry supporting 20 families.

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 5.887

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 Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority.

Lake Innes and Lake Cathie

Current Situation

The Lake Cathie/Lake Innes Estuary Management Plan was prepared under the guidance of the lake Cathie/Lake Innes Estuary Management Committee and involved technical studies and community consultation. The Management Plan was adopted by Hastings Council in September 1994 and includes the following strategies:

  • Implement a combined entrance strategy based on environmental and social constraints
  • Maintenance dredging of the lower estuary be carried out every 5 years subject to annual review of sand build up.
  • Recognition that the closure of Lake Innes as a possible beneficial long term option for the estuary.
  • Investigate the impact of catchment runoff on fringing wetlands, estuarine systems and estuarine water quality
  • Construct gross pollution traps and sediment traps on drainage paths leading from existing development
  • No action taken to enlarge Kenwood Drive Bridge. Work to be done to stabilise the northern side of the approaches to Kenwood Drive Bridge.
  • Prepare and implement a regional waterway use assessment.

The Committee continues to meet to monitor the implementation of the management plan.

The "Tale of Two Lakes, Managing Lake Innes and Lake Cathie for Improved Ecological and Community Outcomes - Issues and Options" report was completed in February 2004. This was a precursor for the EIS for the reversion of Lake Innes to fresh water to be prepared by National Parks Service. The isolation of Lake Innes from Lake Cathie will change the lake conditions requiring a review of the management plan.

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

Hastings Council Cliff Toms

References

Local Government Areas

Hastings

NSW 1:25000 Map Name(s)

Port Macquarie
Grants Head