Myall Broadwater is located on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. It is classed as a lake which has an entrance permanently connecting it to the sea via the Myall River and Port Stephens.
Myall Broadwater receives water flowing downstream from the Myall River. A separate channel connects it to the larger Myall Lake. Tidal influence extends up the Myall River from Port Stephens in the south.
Water quality
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 2 sites on a monthly basis over summer in Myall Broadwater as part of a collaborative program with MidCoast Council.
The most recent sampling was completed over the 2023–24 summer. The results of the monitoring program, including a detailed water quality report card for Myall Broadwater, are available on the MidCoast Council website.
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: Lake
No physical data is available for this estuary.
This system is part of the myall river estuary system, estuary data can be found on the Myall River webpage.
Water depth and survey data
Bathymetric and coastal topography data for this estuary are available in our data portal.
Land use
Myall Broadwater is surrounded by a large expanse of remnant bushland. Upstream in the Myall River valley land use has been changed considerably to agriculture and rural residential development. However, as an entire catchment, it remains relatively undisturbed.
National and marine parks
- Myall Lakes National Park is the largest conservation area within the Myall River catchment and is also one of the busiest national parks in New South Wales.
- This estuary forms part of the Port Stephens–Great Rivers Marine Park.
Community involvement
- Karuah and Great Lake Landcare is an umbrella group for natural resource management groups and volunteers in the greater Myall Lakes region and helps coordinate environmental projects such as improving catchment water quality, monitoring sea grass and pest animal and weed control.
Local government management
Local councils manage estuaries within their area. Where an estuary is attached to a marine park, marine park management teams are responsible for ensuring compliance with marine park zoning.
MidCoast Council manages this estuary, which is located in Port Stephens Great Lakes Marine Park.
Threatened species
Myall Broadwater catchment supports habitat for threatened species such as the yellow-bellied glider.
Find out more about the biodiversity in our estuaries.