The Rivers and Creeks System
The Yarra River at Warburton
Every year, we make about 100 million visits to our rivers and creeks, and about one third of Melbourne’s population choose to live within a kilometre of a waterway. Yet what we see when we visit our local river or creek is only part of its story.
A changing landscape
Significant changes have occurred around the rivers and creeks in the Port Phillip and Westernport region as the land around them has been modified for agricultural and urban use.
Despite this, some 87% of the region's waterways are natural. These waterways support native plants and animals, and we need to understand them in order to protect their values.
How our rivers and creeks work
- As it rains, the water runs across the land or soaks into the ground.
- Water running across the ground (surface water) collects in creeks, which then flow into larger rivers.
- Water flows slowly through the soil and rocks (ground water) into the base of rivers, providing a steady flow of water into rivers even after rain has stopped.
- Plants grow in and along the rivers and creeks, providing habitat for native animals and insects.
- Plants stabilise the waterway bed and banks, preventing erosion and improving water quality by filtering the water.
To understand more about how rivers and creeks work, please visit the River Landscapes website, managed by Land and Water Australia, Australian Government.
Threats to our waterways
The most significant threats to waterway health include:
- changes in land use
- loss of vegetation
- changes to waterway flow
- poor water quality
- erosion of creek beds and banks
- barriers to fish movement
- invasion by weeds and introduced fish.
Challenges for the future
Re-establishing healthy rivers and creeks, vegetated with native plants and with more abundant wildlife, is our key challenge for the future.
More information about how we work to improve our rivers and creeks can be found on the Improving our rivers and creeks page.
Land clearing and development alter the water balance as the land is concreted over and native plants removed. This increases run-off, reducing water quality and changing natural flows. We manage regional wetlands that help to control these water quality issues, filtering stormwater to reduce pollution.
More information on wetlands and their role is found on the Wetlands – what are they? page.