Fitzgerald River (Western Australia)
Encyclopedia
The Fitzgerald River is a river
in the Great Southern region of Western Australia
.
Surveyor General John Septimus Roe
discovered and named the river during expedition
s in the area in 1848 after the governor
of Western Australia of the day, Charles Fitzgerald.
The river rises near the Lake Magenta
Nature Reserve about 300 m above sea level then flows in a southerly direction through farmland until it reaches the Fitzgerald River National Park
. The headwaters are in a salt lake area where much of the land has been cleared for agricultural purposes, it is estimated that 40% of the catchment
has been cleared.
Once the river enters the National Park it is flowing through unspoilt bush and has cut magnificent gorges into the plateau
of spongolite
.
Some of the tributaries
of the river include Sussetta River, Jacup Creek, Tertup Creek, Tooartup Creek and Martin Creek.
The river discharges into Fitzgerald Inlet which covers a total area of 10.8 km² (4 sq mi), the central basin and barriers have an area of 6.5 km² (3 sq mi) and the delta areas have an area of 3.8 km² (1 sq mi). The inlet a very shallow estuary
, has some fringing vegetation and is wave dominated.
The inlet, surrounding marshes and lower portion of the river are a DIWA-listed wetland
. The area is a drought refuge
for the Chestnut Teal
and is a good example of a naturally saline river with an undisturbed coastal lagoon.
A 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) vegetated sandbar exists between the wetlands and the ocean. The sandbar is breached for a few weeks most years following high rain events.
The river is saline
, but was probably saline before land clearing, given that it rises in an area of slat lakes and spongelite would release salts as it is weathered.
The river's flow is variable being negligible in dry years, very low under normal conditions but able to flow strongly after substantial rainfall in the area.
River
A river is a natural watercourse, usually freshwater, flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river. In a few cases, a river simply flows into the ground or dries up completely before reaching another body of water. Small rivers may also be called by several other names, including...
in the Great Southern region of Western Australia
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...
.
Surveyor General John Septimus Roe
John Septimus Roe
John Septimus Roe was the first Surveyor-General of Western Australia. He was a renowned explorer, and a Member of Western Australia's Legislative and Executive Councils for nearly 40 years.-Early life:...
discovered and named the river during expedition
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
s in the area in 1848 after the governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
of Western Australia of the day, Charles Fitzgerald.
The river rises near the Lake Magenta
Lake Magenta
Lake Magenta is an ephemeral salt lake in the Wheatbelt area of Western Australia.The lake is located approximately North East of Jerramungup and approximately West of Ravensthorpe....
Nature Reserve about 300 m above sea level then flows in a southerly direction through farmland until it reaches the Fitzgerald River National Park
Fitzgerald River National Park
Fitzgerald River National Park is a national park in Western Australia , southeast of Perth, in the Shire of Ravensthorpe and the Shire of Jerramungup....
. The headwaters are in a salt lake area where much of the land has been cleared for agricultural purposes, it is estimated that 40% of the catchment
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
has been cleared.
Once the river enters the National Park it is flowing through unspoilt bush and has cut magnificent gorges into the plateau
Plateau
In geology and earth science, a plateau , also called a high plain or tableland, is an area of highland, usually consisting of relatively flat terrain. A highly eroded plateau is called a dissected plateau...
of spongolite
Spongolite
Spongolite is a stone made almost entirely from fossilised sponges. It is light and porous.The silica spicules fossilised with the sponges makes the material hazardous to handle by being highly abrasive...
.
Some of the 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 river include Sussetta River, Jacup Creek, Tertup Creek, Tooartup Creek and Martin Creek.
The river discharges into Fitzgerald Inlet which covers a total area of 10.8 km² (4 sq mi), the central basin and barriers have an area of 6.5 km² (3 sq mi) and the delta areas have an area of 3.8 km² (1 sq mi). The inlet a very shallow estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
, has some fringing vegetation and is wave dominated.
The inlet, surrounding marshes and lower portion of the river are a DIWA-listed wetland
A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia
A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia is a list of wetlands of national importance to Australia. Intended to augment the list of wetlands of international importance under the Ramsar Convention, it was formerly published in report form, but is now essentially an online publication...
. The area is a drought refuge
Drought refuge
A drought refuge is a site that provides permanent fresh water or moist conditions for plants and animals, acting as a refuge habitat when surrounding areas are affected by drought and allowing ecosystems and core species populations to survive until the drought breaks...
for the Chestnut Teal
Chestnut Teal
The Chestnut Teal is a dabbling duck found in southern Australia. It is protected under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974.-Description:The Chestnut Teal is darker and a slightly bigger bird than the Grey Teal....
and is a good example of a naturally saline river with an undisturbed coastal lagoon.
A 1 kilometre (0.621372736649807 mi) vegetated sandbar exists between the wetlands and the ocean. The sandbar is breached for a few weeks most years following high rain events.
The river is saline
Saline water
Saline water is a general term for water that contains a significant concentration of dissolved salts . The concentration is usually expressed in parts per million of salt....
, but was probably saline before land clearing, given that it rises in an area of slat lakes and spongelite would release salts as it is weathered.
The river's flow is variable being negligible in dry years, very low under normal conditions but able to flow strongly after substantial rainfall in the area.