Curalo Lagoon is located on the south coast of New South Wales north of the township of Eden. It is classed as small lagoon with an intermittently closed entrance.
The main tributary, Palestine Creek, flows through an industrial area and enters the lake from the north west.
Water quality report card
As part of our water quality monitoring program we assess the water quality and ecosystem health of an estuary using a range of relevant indicators. We sample a subset of the estuaries between Wollongong and the Victorian border every 3 years. The most recent sampling in Curalo Lagoon was completed over the 2017–18 summer, when 2 sites were sampled on a monthly basis.
This report card represents 2 water quality indicators that we routinely measure: the amount of algae present and water clarity. Low levels of these 2 indicators equate with good water quality.
Algae
Water clarity
Overall grade
The report card shows the condition of the estuary was good with:
- algae abundance graded fair (C)
- water clarity graded good (B)
- overall estuary health graded good (B).
Grades for algae, water clarity and overall are represented as:
- A – excellent
- B – good
- C – fair
- D – poor
- E – very poor.
Go to estuary report cards to find out what each grade means, read our sampling, data analysis and reporting protocols, and find out how we calculate these grades.
Physical characteristics
| Estuary type | Lagoon |
|---|---|
| Latitude | –37.05 (ºS) |
| Longitude | 149.92 (ºE) |
| Catchment area | 28.2 km2 |
| Estuary area | 0.8 km2 |
| Estuary volume | 637.6 ML |
| Average depth | 0.9 m |
Notes: km2 = square kilometres; m = metres; ML = megalitres.
Water depth and survey data
Bathymetric and coastal topography data for this estuary are available in our data portal.
Land use
The catchment of Curalo Lagoon has relatively low disturbance, with 80% remaining forested and around 10% used for urban areas associated with the township of Eden.
National and marine parks
- The northern section of Ben Boyd National Park is the largest conservation area within this catchment.
- This estuary does not flow into a marine park.
Citizen science projects
- The Far South Coast Conservation Management Network supports the local community to better manage native biodiversity. The network organises citizen science projects, provides information for private landowners, manages a local plant database, and coordinates events.
Community involvement
- The Far South Coast Landcare Association is a volunteer environmental and conservation organisation that works to improve management of local land and water.
Aerial view of Curalo Lagoon
Local government management
Local councils manage estuaries within their area unless the estuary is attached to a marine park.
Bega Valley Shire Council manages this estuary. More information can be found on the council’s estuary management webpage.
Threatened species
Estuaries provide an important protected environment for salt-tolerant plants like sea grasses and mangroves.
Read more about the biodiversity in our estuaries.