Callala Creek

Our water quality monitoring program has shown Callala Creek to have poor water quality. Find out more about the estuary and its unique features.

Callala Creek is an estuarine creek with an intermittently closed entrance. The creek flows into Jervis Bay on the south coast of New South Wales and the estuary is part of the Jervis Bay Marine Park. 

Estuary health and features

Water quality

As part of our water quality monitoring program we assess the water quality and ecosystem health of an estuary using a range of relevant indicators. We sample a subset of the estuaries between Wollongong and the Victorian border every 3 years. The most recent sampling in Callala Creek was completed over the 2011–12 summer when 2 sites were sampled on a monthly basis.

Callala Creek water quality report card for algae and water clarity showing colour-coded ratings (red, orange, yellow, light green and dark green, which represent very poor, poor, fair, good and excellent, respectively). Algae is rated 'fair' and water clarity is rated 'poor' giving an overall rating of 'poor' or 'D'.

This report card represents 2 water quality indicators that we routinely measure: the amount of algae present and water clarity. Low levels of these 2 indicators equate with good water quality.

The report card shows the condition of the estuary was poor with:

  • algae abundance graded fair (C)
  • water clarity graded poor (D)
  • overall estuary health graded poor (D).

Find out more about our estuary report cards and what each grade means. Read our sampling, data analysis and reporting protocols and find out how we calculate these grades.

Physical characteristics

Estuary type: Creek

Entrance
location 		Latitude (ºS) –35.01
Longitude (ºE) 150.72
Catchment area (km2) 19.8
Estuary area (km2) 0.006
Estuary volume (ML) 0.9
Average depth (m) 0.1
Notes: km2 = square kilometres; m = metres; ML = megalitres.

Water depth and survey data

Bathymetric and coastal topography data for this estuary are available in our data portal.

Land use

The catchment of Callala Creek is moderately disturbed. About 15% of the catchment is used for urban development associated with Callala Beach, and the rest of the catchment is forested.

National and marine parks

Chinamans Beach, Jervis Bay National Park with Point Perpendicular in the distance

Citizen science projects

  • The Budawang Coast Nature Map is an online data platform the community can use to record and identify biodiversity. Data collected is used to map the distribution of native plant and animal species from Moruya up almost to Kiama.

Community involvement

  • Shoalhaven City Council’s Bushcare webpage provides links to a range of active groups in and around this catchment.
  • The Shoalhaven Landcare Association represents a range of volunteer groups working in and around the Callala Creek.

Local government management

Local councils manage estuaries within their area unless the estuary is attached to a marine park. Callala Creek estuary is managed by Shoalhaven City Council and the NSW Department of Primary Industries as part of the Jervis Bay Marine Park.