Deep River (Western Australia)
Encyclopedia
Deep River is a river located in the Great Southern region of Western Australia
.
The river is under tidal
influence for the last 6 kilometres (4 mi) of its length.
Although generally shallow the Deep River has depths of up to 6.5 metres (21 ft) in places.
The Deep River is one of the few perennial rivers in Western Australia although 80% of its discharge occurs in winter and spring.
The rivers water quality
is very good, fresh and low in nutrient
s. The majority of the catchment of the Deep River is not cleared. The silt and clay content can be high during the winter period.
The Deep River begins just west of Lake Muir about 50 km from the coast on the edge of the Yilgarn Plateau. It flows through a valley between granite hills then wanders across the coastal plain finally entering the Nornalup Inlet
on the western side.
The two tributaries
of the Deep River are the Weld River
and Croea Brook.
Some features of the river include wide unobstructed pools interspersed with rapids such as Rowell’s Pool and two waterfalls, Fernhook Falls and Gladstone Falls.
The Deep River flows through forested areas of National Park including the Walpole-Nornalup National Park
before discharging into the Nornalup Inlet
.
Originally sighted in 1831 by Captaian Thomas Bannister
, he river was not named until 1841 by the Colonial Secretary, Peter Brown. It had been known as the Frankland River by sealers that operated in the area. The explorer W.N. Clark named it West River on his charts but Brown later decided on the current name.
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
The river is under tidal
Tide
Tides are the rise and fall of sea levels caused by the combined effects of the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun and the rotation of the Earth....
influence for the last 6 kilometres (4 mi) of its length.
Although generally shallow the Deep River has depths of up to 6.5 metres (21 ft) in places.
The Deep River is one of the few perennial rivers in Western Australia although 80% of its discharge occurs in winter and spring.
The rivers water quality
Water quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
is very good, fresh and low in nutrient
Nutrient
A nutrient is a chemical that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment. They are used to build and repair tissues, regulate body processes and are converted to and used as energy...
s. The majority of the catchment of the Deep River is not cleared. The silt and clay content can be high during the winter period.
The Deep River begins just west of Lake Muir about 50 km from the coast on the edge of the Yilgarn Plateau. It flows through a valley between granite hills then wanders across the coastal plain finally entering the Nornalup Inlet
Nornalup Inlet
Nornalup Inlet is an estuarine body of water on the south coast of the South West of Australia, approximately from Perth.It is approximately in extent, and up to deep...
on the western side.
The two tributaries
Tributary
A tributary or affluent is a stream or river that flows into a main stem river or a lake. A tributary does not flow directly into a sea or ocean...
of the Deep River are the Weld River
Weld River
Weld River is a river in the South West region of Western Australia.The river rises below Mount Burnside in the Lake Muir State forest. The river flows in a southerly direction through the Shannon National Park until it flows into the Deep River, of which it is a tributary.The water quality of the...
and Croea Brook.
Some features of the river include wide unobstructed pools interspersed with rapids such as Rowell’s Pool and two waterfalls, Fernhook Falls and Gladstone Falls.
The Deep River flows through forested areas of National Park including the Walpole-Nornalup National Park
Walpole-Nornalup National Park
Walpole-Nornalup National Park is a national park in the South West region of Western Australia , 355 km south of Perth. It is famous for its towering Karri and Tingle trees. Red Tingle trees are unique to the Walpole area.-Tourism:...
before discharging into the Nornalup Inlet
Nornalup Inlet
Nornalup Inlet is an estuarine body of water on the south coast of the South West of Australia, approximately from Perth.It is approximately in extent, and up to deep...
.
Originally sighted in 1831 by Captaian Thomas Bannister
Thomas Bannister
Thomas Bannister was a soldier and explorer in Western Australia. He was born in Steyning, Sussex in 1799, and arrived in Western Australia in 1829, age 30, with the rank of Captain aboard the Atwick with 3 servants from London, England...
, he river was not named until 1841 by the Colonial Secretary, Peter Brown. It had been known as the Frankland River by sealers that operated in the area. The explorer W.N. Clark named it West River on his charts but Brown later decided on the current name.