Candlagan Creek is a barrier river estuary with an open entrance. It is located south of the Tomaga River near Mossy Point on the south coast of New South Wales.
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 Candlagan Creek was completed over the 2020–21 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 Candlagan Creek since 2008. This table shows the water quality grades for this estuary over that time.
| Year | Algae | Water clarity | Overall grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008–09 | C | B | B |
| 2011–12 | C | A | B |
Physical characteristics
| Estuary type | Barrier river |
|---|---|
| Latitude | –35.84 (ºS) |
| Longitude | 150.18 (ºE) |
| Catchment area | 24.1 km2 |
| Estuary area | 0.2 km2 |
| Estuary volume | 52 ML |
| Average depth | 0.4 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 Candlagan Creek is moderately disturbed due to 10% being cleared for grazing and 7% for urban land use including Bimbimbie and Mossy Point. About 75% of the catchment remains as forest.
National and marine parks
- Illawong Nature Reserve is the largest conservation area in the catchment for the Candlagan Creek estuary.
- This estuary flows into the Batemans Marine Park.
Citizen science projects
- iNaturalist’s Plants of Eurobodalla is a citizen science project that monitors plants found in the Eurobodalla region.
- The Budawang Coast Nature Map is an online data platform the community can use to record and identify biodiversity. Data collected is used to map the distribution of native plant and animal species from Moruya up almost to Kiama.
Community involvement
- Eurobodalla Landcare is a volunteer network of 24 Landcare groups on the NSW south coast.
- The Coastwatchers Association is a community environmental and conservation group based on the south coast.
Aerial view of Candlagan Creek
Local government management
Local councils manage estuaries within their area unless the estuary is attached to a marine park.
Eurobodalla Shire Council manages this estuary, which is located in Batemans Marine Park.
Threatened species
Estuaries are important to our native animals as they provide food, shelter and breeding grounds.
Read more about the biodiversity in our estuaries.