Murrah River is located on the far south coast of New South Wales. It is classed as a barrier river estuary with an open entrance.
Arnolds Gully is the main tributary 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 Murrah River 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 | Barrier river |
|---|---|
| Latitude (ºS) | –36.53 |
| Longitude (ºE) | 150.06 |
| Catchment area (km2) | 195.8 |
| Estuary area (km2) | 0.8 |
| Estuary volume (ML) | 499.7 |
| Average depth (m) | 0.7 |
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 Murrah River is moderately disturbed due to 30% of land cleared for grazing in the upper catchment at Verona and Quaama. Two-thirds of the catchment is forested, including a portion of Biamanga National Park.
National and marine parks
- Biamanga National Park is the largest conservation area in the Murrah River 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 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 Murrah River estuary.
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 an important protected environment for salt-tolerant plants like sea grasses and mangroves.
Read more about the biodiversity in our estuaries.