Meringo Creek is a small back-dune lagoon with an intermittently closed entrance located on the south coast of New South Wales. This estuary is surrounded by the Eurobodalla National Park.
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 Meringo Creek was completed over the 2021–22 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 fair with:
- algae abundance graded poor (D)
- 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 Meringo Creek since 2014. This table shows the water quality grades for this estuary over that time.
| Year | Algae | Water clarity | Overall grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014-15 | E | C | D |
| 2018-19 | D | C | C |
| 2019-20 | E | C | D |
| 2020-21 | D | B | C |
Physical characteristics
| Estuary type | Back-dune lagoon |
|---|---|
| Latitude (ºS) | –35.98 |
| Longitude (ºE) | 150.15 |
| Catchment area (km2) | 5.3 |
| Estuary area (km2) | 0.1 |
| Estuary volume (ML) | 23.6 |
| Average depth (m) | 0.3 |
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
Almost 20% is used for urban development at Meringo. Over half of the catchment remains forested, including some of Eurobodalla National Park.
National and marine parks
- Eurobodalla National Park is the largest conservation area in the Meringo Creek catchment.
- This estuary is a sanctuary zone as part of 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.
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 Meringo Creek estuary
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 provide an important protected environment for salt-tolerant plants like sea grasses and mangroves.
Read more about the biodiversity in our estuaries.