Glenelg Hopkins Catchment Management Authority - GHCMA

Estuaries are where rivers meet the sea; a mixing place of seawater and freshwater that flows from the catchment.

They are dynamic, ever changing environments that are not quite fresh and not quite marine providing important habitat and areas of social, cultural and economic significance.

There are eight estuaries within the Glenelg Hopkins region. Six of these estuaries are seasonally closed, while two, the Moyne estuary and the Fawthrop Lagoon, are maintained permanently open through engineering works.

Estuary facts and figures

Glenelg

Listed under the Heritage Rivers Act 1992 and is a nationally important wetland

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Catchment area: 11,998 km2

River length: 500 km

Estuary length: 70 km

 

Surry 

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Catchment area: 370 km2

River length: 50 km

Estuary length: 10 km

 

 

 

Fitzroy

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Catchment area: 1,520 km2

River length: 55 km

Estuary length: 13 km

 

 

Eumeralla/Yambuk Lake

Yambuk Lake is listed as a nationally important wetland

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Catchment area: 910 km2

River length: 90 km

Estuary length: 7.8 km

 

 

Moyne

Catchment area: 831 km2

River length: 47 km

Estuary length: 6 km

 

 

 

Merri, including Rutledges Cutting

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Lower Merri River Wetlands, including Kellys and Saltwater Swamps, is listed as a nationally important wetland.

Catchment area: 1,000 km2

River length: 96 km

Estuary length (combined): 4.25 km

 

 

Hopkins

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Catchment area: 10,096 km2

River length: 259 km

Estuary length: 9.5 km

 

 

 

 

Fawthrop Lagoon (Portland area)

Catchment area: 342 km2

River length: 18 km

Estuary length: 9 km