River Health
How healthy are our rivers and creeks?
Summary statistics
Analysis from 2005 shows that of the rivers and creeks in the region:
- 25% are in good or excellent condition
- 31% are in moderate to poor condition , and
- 44% are in poor or very poor condition.
We aim to have 50% of rivers and creeks in good or excellent condition by 2015 (as measured by the Index of River Condition).
Rivers and Creek Condition map
What do the results mean?
These results reflect the major land use patterns. The rivers and creeks located in mountainous, forested areas are in excellent to good condition. Large parts of these areas are protected for water supply purposes.
Condition deteriorates progressively downstream as a result of:
- poor quality drainage and runoff from urban and agricultural land
- weeds
- bed and bank erosion
- loss of in-stream habitat
- presence of barriers to fish migration
- modified flows in many rivers and creeks, which have resulted from:
- Increased urbanisation and land clearing
- The extraction of water for urban and agricultural uses.
Which rivers and creeks are significant in the region?
Nearly 70% of the major rivers and creeks in the region are significant in the regional context. This was demonstrated by an examination of river values and risks to these values, undertaken as part of the development of the Regional River Health Strategy.
These rivers and creeks have been identified as important for management in the five-year program.
