Flat Rock Creek is an estuarine creek with an intermittently closed entrance. Flat Rock creek flows into Jervis Bay and is part of the Jervis Bay Marine Park.
The catchment of this lagoon is entirely within the Jervis Bay Territory.
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 Flat Rock Creek was completed over the 2011–12 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.
Physical characteristics
| Estuary type | Creek |
|---|---|
| Latitude | –35.12 (ºS) |
| Longitude | 150.70 (ºE) |
| Catchment area | 6.9 km2 |
| Estuary area | 0.01 km2 |
| Estuary volume | 2.5 ML |
| Average depth | 0.2 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 entire catchment of Flat Rock Creek is undisturbed forest located in Booderee National Park.
National and marine parks
- Jervis Bay National Park is the largest conservation area in the Currambene Creek catchment area.
- Flat Rock Creek is part of the Jervis Bay Marine Park. The entrance of the creek is included in the habitat protection zone for the bay.
Community involvement
- Shoalhaven City Council’s Bushcare webpage provides links to a range of active groups in and around this catchment.
Aerial view of Flat Rock Creek estuary
Local government management
Local councils manage estuaries within their area unless the estuary is attached to a marine park.
This estuary is part of the Jervis Bay Territory, which is administered by the Australian Government.
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.