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Nullica River

Our water quality monitoring program has shown the Nullica River estuary to have good water quality. Find out more about the estuary and its unique features.

Nullica River is located on the south coast of New South Wales. It is classed as a lagoon with an intermittently closed entrance.

This estuary flows into Nullica Bay, which forms part of Twofold Bay south of Eden. Most of the catchment is forestry land.

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 Nullica 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.

B

Algae

B

Water clarity

B

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 data

Physical characteristics

Estuary typeLagoon
Latitude (ºS)–37.09
Longitude (ºE)149.87
Catchment area (km2)54.8
Estuary area (km2)0.3
Estuary volume (ML)176.1
Average depth (m)0.6

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 Nullica River is relatively undisturbed, with 95% currently forested, most of which is managed by Forestry Corporation. A small amount of the lower catchment around Nullica and Boydtown is cleared for grazing and rural residential properties.

Get involved

National and marine parks

Community involvement

Aerial view of the Nullica River winding through a dense forest with mountains in the background. A bridge crosses over a section of the river, and a sandy beach area is visible at the river’s bend.

Aerial view of Nullica 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

The forests around Nullica River estuary provide a stronghold for the critically endangered smoky mouse.

Find out more about the biodiversity in our estuaries.