Westernport East Rivers & Creeks
This area includes:
Bass River
The Bass River begins near Poowong and flows through Glen Forbes and Bass before joining Western Port, north of San Remo. The catchment is predominantly rural. The river has pockets of good condition as well as sites of significant geological, Aboriginal and European heritage. The river is also valued for fishing. The lower reaches of the Bass River include a saltmarsh community that is important for bird and fish populations. Key risks to river health include:
- stock access; and
- weed infestations
Sediment contributions from Bass River pose a risk to the health of the highly valued Western Port.
French and Phillip Islands
The small creeks of French Island are isolated from the mainland and many provide important references. The upper section of creeks on French Island are ecologically healthy. Whilst there is no formal IRC data for Phillip Island, studies have shown that some of the creeks on Phillip Island are in poor to moderate condition. Risks to the creeks on French Island include stock access whilst the creeks on Phillip Island are subjected to degrading factors such as:
- water quality issues
- lack of streamside vegetation; and
- weeds
Lang Lang River
The headwaters of the Lang Lang River are situated in the Strzelecki Ranges near Poowong. Major rivers and creeks in this catchment include O’Mahony, Minnieburn, Pheasant, Adams and Red Bluff creeks and the Little Lang Lang River. The Lang Lang River catchment has undergone significant changes over the last two centuries. Prior to European settlement, it was densely forested and contained a series of swamps with thick tea-tree scrub, which formed part of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp area. Much of the forest and swampland has now been cleared, with agriculture land use covering most of the area. Environmental values are moderate to low, with the middle reaches of the Lang Lang River and some sections of smaller rivers and creeks, such as Minnieburn, Adams and Red Bluff creeks, tending to be in better condition. Significant fauna to be recorded include native fish, platypus, frogs, swamp Antechinus and the Giant Gippsland Earthworm. Significant vegetation includes native orchids and the Strzelecki Gum. Fishing and European heritage are of social value, particularly in the Lang Lang River. Risks include:
- lack of streamside vegetation
- stock access
- changes to natural stream flows
- water quality (including sediment to Western Port); and
- barriers to fish and other migratory aquatic life.
Melbourne Water has developed the Index of River Condition (IRC) program to provide an overall integrated measure of the environmental condition of rivers. To find out more about the health of these rivers and creeks visit Melbourne Water’s website or request Healthy Waterways Waterwatch data.
