Warrego River
| Warrego | |
|---|---|
Cunnamulla | |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Mount Ka Ka Mundi, Carnarvon Range |
| • location | east of Tambo, Queensland |
| • coordinates | 25°03′22″S 147°28′49″E / 25.05611°S 147.48028°E |
| • elevation | 625 m (2,051 ft) |
| Mouth | Darling River |
• location | near Bourke, New South Wales |
• coordinates | 30°24′13″S 145°20′54″E / 30.40361°S 145.34833°E |
• elevation | 98 m (322 ft) |
| Length | 1,380 km (860 mi) |
| Basin size | 69,290 km2 (26,750 sq mi) |
| Discharge | |
| • average | 8 m3/s (280 cu ft/s) |
| Basin features | |
| River system | Darling River catchment, Murray–Darling basin |
| Tributaries | |
| • right | Nive River, Langlo River |
| Reservoirs | Dillalah Waterhole, Ten Mile Waterhole, Lower Lila Dam, Six Mile Dam, Turtle Waterhole, and Boera Dam |
| [3] | |
The Warrego River is an intermittent river that is part of the Darling catchment within the Murray–Darling basin, which is located in South West Queensland and in the Orana region of New South Wales, Australia. The Warrego River is the northernmost tributary of the Darling River.[4]
Course and features
The river rises from below Mount Ka Ka Mundi in the
course. The river flows through a series of reservoirs, including the Dillalah Waterhole, Ten Mile Waterhole, Lower Lila Dam, Six Mile Dam, Turtle Waterhole, and Boera Dam.[3]
The towns of
Wyandra and Cunnamulla
are located on the banks of the river.
Inflows
Most of the basin of the Warrego is too dry for
La Niña
events.
Outflows
Below Wyandra the river forms a series of outflowing creeks and anabranches. During floods, the Widgeegoara, Kudnapper and Noorama Creeks allow water to channel into Nebine Creek, a tributary of the Culgoa River.[5] Cuttaburra Creek connects the Warrego to the Paroo River via a distribution system that flows through channels, floodways and wetlands.[5] The Irrara Creek anabranch flows into Kerribree Creek which continues into a number of wetlands before filling Utah Lake.[5]
Flooding
When La Niña occurs, flooding is usual along the Warrego: major floods associated with La Niña events occurred in 1950, 1954 to 1956, 1971, 1973, 1998 and 2008. Oddly, the most destructive flood ever recorded on the river took place in the absence of La Niña. In April 1990, as a result of two extremely strong troughs in the easterlies, over 400 millimetres (16 in) of rain fell in Cunnamulla in two weeks, being more than the annual rainfall in over 60 percent of years. The river, along with most tributaries of the Darling, reached near-record levels and the towns of Augathella and Charleville were devastated.[citation needed] At Charleville a river height peak of 8.54 metres (28.0 ft) was recorded.[6]
Fauna
The Warrego River is one of a few rivers where silver perch breed naturally.[4] Golden perch and murray cod are also found in the river.
Australian Bush Heritage Fund in 2001, with the 590 square kilometres (230 sq mi) property set aside for the protection of threatened species of birds and animals.[citation needed
]
Etymology
The name Warrego is an
Bidyara language, believed to mean "bad";[1] and is also an Aboriginal term meaning "river of sand".[2]
Two warships of the Royal Australian Navy have been named HMAS Warrego after the river. The Warrego Highway draws its name from the river.
Cultural Heritage
Blackall as well as the properties of Nive Downs and Mount Tabor.[7]
Bollon and west towards Thargomindah.[8]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Warrego River". Geographical Names Register (GNR) of NSW. Geographical Names Board of New South Wales. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ a b "Warrego River – Things To See and Do – Queensland Holidays". Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 8 July 2005.
- ^ a b "Map of Warrego River". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022. Retrieved 3 February 2013.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-86513-134-4.
- ^ a b c "WISE Basins: Warrego River". NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service. 5 June 2006. Archived from the original on 13 July 2009. Retrieved 22 September 2009.
- ^ "Flood Warning System for the Warrego River". Bureau of Meteorology. Archived from the original on 15 October 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2009.
- ^ "Bidjara". State Library of Queensland. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 15 January 2020.
- ^ "Gunya". State Library of Queensland. 21 January 2020. Archived from the original on 4 February 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
External links
- "Barwon, Darling and Far Western catchments" (map). Office of Environment and Heritage. Government of New South Wales.
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