The Rivers and Creeks System
The Yarra River at Warburton
Every year, we make about 100 million visits to our rivers, creeks and bays and about one third of Melbourne's population choose to live within a kilometre of the water.
Yet what we see when we visit our local river or creek is only part of its story.
A changing landscape
Significant changes have occurred around the rivers and creeks in the Port Phillip and Westernport region as the land around them has been modified for agricultural and urban use.
Despite this, some 87% of the region's rivers and creeks are natural. These rivers and creeks support native plants and animals and we need to understand them in order to protect their values.
How our rivers and creeks work
- When it rains, the water either runs across the land or soaks into the ground.
- The water that soaks into the ground is called ground water. It flows slowly through the soil and rocks into the base of rivers, providing a steady flow of water into rivers even after rain has stopped.
- The water that runs across the land is called surface water. It either flows directly into rivers, creeks or bays, or collects in street gutters or street drains.
- The drainage system carries water from roofs, roads and buildings through gutters and drains, and discharges it into rivers and creeks where it eventually flows to the bays. This stormwater can carry pollutants which can affect the quality of water in our rivers and creeks.
- Wetlands help to control some of these water quality issues because they filter stormwater before it flows to rivers and creeks.
- Plants grow in and along the rivers and creeks, providing habitat for native animals and insects. They also stabilise the river bed and banks, preventing erosion and improving water quality by filtering the water.
More information:
- Wetlands - what are they
- Our stormwater quality wetlands
- River Landscapes on the Land and Water Australia website
Natural river flows
Natural river flows can vary throughout the year due to the amount, quality and timing of rainfall and run-off.
This variability is important to a river's health.
River plants and animals need different river flows at different times in their life cycles to survive and reproduce. For example, high river flows can stimulate fish breeding.
More information: