Cuttagee Lake is a small lagoon located on the far south of New South Wales, south of Bermagui. It is classed as a lagoon, with an intermittently closed entrance.
Cuttagee Creek and Buggy Creek are the main tributaries for this estuary.
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 Cuttagee Lake 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 good (B)
- water clarity graded excellent (A)
- 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.
We have monitored water quality in the Cuttagee Lake since 2007. This table shows the water quality grades for this estuary over that time.
| Year | Algae | Water clarity | Overall grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–08 | A | B | A |
Physical characteristics
| Estuary type | Lagoon |
|---|---|
| Latitude | –36.49 (ºS) |
| Longitude | 150.06 (ºE) |
| Catchment area | 53.1 km2 |
| Estuary area | 1.3 km2 |
| Estuary volume | 1130.3 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 Cuttagee Lake has relatively low disturbance, with over 90% forest in Biamanga National Park. Urban, rural residence and grazing constitute almost 5% of the land use.
National and marine parks
- Biamanga National Park is the largest conservation area for Cuttagee Lake.
- 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 Bega River and Wetlands Landcare Group is a volunteer group dedicated to improving the health of the Bega River, wetlands and floodplains.
- 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 Cuttagee Lake
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.
Threatened species
Estuaries provide important breeding, nursery and feeding grounds for many fish and birds.
Read more about the biodiversity in our estuaries.