Woodburn Creek is located on the south coast of New South Wales. It is classed as a creek with an intermittently closed entrance.
The lower estuary meets the sea at the south end of the beach. Saltwater Creek (Eden) estuary enters the sea at the opposite end of the beach.
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 Woodburn Creek was completed over the 2014–15 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 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 | Creek |
|---|---|
| Latitude | –37.17 (ºS) |
| Longitude | 150.01 (ºE) |
| Catchment area | 13.5 km2 |
| Estuary area | 0.1 km2 |
| Estuary volume | 14.3 ML |
| Average depth | 0.3 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 Woodburn Creek is relatively undisturbed forest within Ben Boyd National Park. A campground exists beside the lower estuary, and an access road cuts through part of the catchment.
National and marine parks
- This estuary is situated within the southern Green Cape area of Ben Boyd National Park.
- This estuary does not flow into a marine park.
Community involvement
- National Parks and Wildlife Service offer many ways for volunteers to get involved in environmental and educational projects in our coastal national parks.
Aerial view of Woodburn Creek
Local government management
Local councils manage estuaries within their area unless the estuary is attached to a marine park. Bega Valley Shire Council manage this estuary.
The Woodburn Creek estuary supports habitat for the threatened eastern ground parrot.
Read more about the biodiversity in our estuaries.