Wattamolla Creek estuary is located on the south coast of New South Wales between Sydney and Wollongong. It is classed as a small creek.
Situated within the Royal National Park, this estuary attracts a lot of visitors to an adjacent picnic area. Other recreational activities include swimming, fishing, snorkelling and bushwalking.
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 located between Taree and Wollongong every 3 years. The most recent sampling in Wattamolla Lagoon was completed over the 2007–08 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 quality
Overall grade
The report card shows the condition of the estuary was excellent with:
- algae abundance graded excellent (A)
- water clarity graded excellent (A)
- overall estuary health graded excellent (A).
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 (ºS) | –34.14 |
| Longitude (ºE) | 151.12 |
| Catchment area (km2) | 8 |
| Estuary area (km2) | 0.03 |
| Estuary volume (ML) | 8.2 |
| Average depth (m) | 0.2 |
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
Apart from a road, a few fire trails and a picnic area, this catchment remains as undisturbed bushland protected within the Royal National Park.
National and marine parks
- This catchment is situated within Royal National Park.
- This estuary does not flow into a marine park.
Citizen science projects
- The Royal National Park Environmental Education Centre facilitates environmental education in and around this estuary, such as hands-on fieldwork excursions for school groups.
Aerial view of Wattamolla Creek estuary.
Local government management
Local councils manage estuaries within their area unless the estuary is attached to a marine park. Sutherland Shire Council manages this estuary.
Threatened species
This catchment provides a stronghold for the vulnerable Camfield’s stringybark.
Read more about the biodiversity in our estuaries.