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Estuaries
An estuary is a partially enclosed body of water that forms where rivers or creeks meet the ocean, and fresh water mixes with the salty water of the sea. Estuaries are places of transition from salt water to fresh water ... part sea ... part waterway ... part land, and are widely recognised as the planet's most valuable ecosystems.
Estuaries provide a rich diversity of habitats, and are often the breeding and nursery ground for fish and shellfish that are commonly captured. Estuaries are also very popular places for people to live, with many of Australia's larger cities located near estuaries.
Estuaries are an important feature of the NSW coastal zone and come in all shapes and sizes. They are often known by other names including lakes, lagoons, bays, inlets and habours. The three types of estuary are drowned river valleys, barrier estuaries, and coastal lagoons.
In Pittwater, the two estuaries that form the northern and southern borders are:
Within the Pittwater Waterway are two particularly ecologically important areas estuarine wetland areas at:
Find out more about Estuaries as a Vegetation Community, and also about Seagrasses.
Pittwater Estuary Management Plan
Council has moved to strengthen its management of Pittwater’s coastal and foreshore areas by adopting the Pittwater Estuary Management Plan. The Plan sets out how the Council will manage the Pittwater waterway and its surroundings in the future.
Please see related links to view maps and best practice guidelines.
Updated: 28 Nov 2011
Related Links
- Best Practice Guidelines
- Pittwater Estuary Management Plan sub-plan maps
- NSW Department of Natural Resources - Estuaries
- Fishing Bag and Size Limits - NSW Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries
- Newstreams Fish Habitat Newsletter