Rivers & Wetlands

Rivers

River flows within the region reflect rainfall patterns but are also affected by river regulation. Natural flows peaks from December to April and are low to negligible from May to November. At this time many smaller tributaries cease flowing. In general, flows are dominated by large cyclone or monsoon driven events. There are pronounced annual fluctuations and variability from year to year. High flows may be followed by extended dry periods. The catchments that drain the wetter coastal ranges i.e. the Upper Burdekin and the Bowen-Broken contribute more flow relative to their area than semi arid inland basins such as the Belyando-Suttor.

Major river systems in the BDT region include:

• Burdekin
• • Bowen-Broken
  • Belyando-Suttor
  • Upper Burdekin
  • Cape
• Haughton, Barrattas ect Lower Burdekin Floodplain
• Ross, Black & Coastal Plains
• Don

Wetlands

No less than twenty one of the Burdekin Dry Tropics’ wetlands are listed in the Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia . BDTNRM is funding programs to improve our understanding of tropical water systems, to protect and restore degraded water bodies and wetlands, to increase the efficiency of water use and to ascertain the values of waterways and water bodies in the region.

Most significant Wetlands in the BDT catchments include:

Burdekin River

• Bowen-Broken
• • Birralee - Pelican Creek Aggregation (DIWA Ref No. QLD198)
  • Broken River, Urannah Creek & Massey Creek Aggregation (DIWA Ref No. QLD199)
  • Burdekin-Bowen Junction and Blue Valley Weir Aggregation (DIWA Ref No. QLD205)
• Belyando-Suttor
• • Lake Dalrymple [Burdekin River Dam] (DIWA Ref No. QLD006)
  • Doongmabulla Springs (DIWA Ref No. QLD081)
• Upper Burdekin
• • Great Basalt Wall (DIWA Ref No. QLD086)
  • Lake Lucy Wetlands (DIWA Ref No. QLD089)
  • Minnamoolka Area (DIWA Ref No. QLD091)
  • Poison Lake (DIWA Ref No. QLD092)
  • Valley of Lagoons (DIWA Ref No. QLD095)
  • Wairuna Lake (DIWA Ref No. QLD096)
  • Walters Plains Lake (DIWA Ref No. QLD097)Cape
  • Cauckingburra Swamp (DIWA Ref No. QLD080)
• Coastal Floodplain
• • Burdekin Delta Aggregation (DIWA Ref No. QLD004)
  • Southern Upstart Bay (DIWA Ref No. QLD009)

Haughton, Barrattas ect Lower Burdekin Floodplain

• The Serpentine Aggregation (DIWA Ref No. QLD206)
• Bowling Green Bay (DIWA Ref No. QLD002)
• Haughton Balancing Storage Aggregation (DIWA Ref No. QLD200)

Ross, Black Rivers & Coastal Plains

• Burdekin-Townsville Coastal Aggregation (DIWA Ref No. QLD005)
• Ross River Reservoir (DIWA Ref No. QLD008)

Don River

• Abbot Point (DIWA Ref No. QLD001)