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Saltwater Creek (Eden)

Our water quality monitoring program has shown Saltwater Creek (Eden) to have good water quality. Find out more about the estuary and its unique features.

Saltwater Creek is located on the south coast of New South Wales. It is classed as a creek with an intermittently closed entrance.

The lower estuary meets the sea adjacent at the north end of a beach. The entrance to Woodburn Creek estuary is located at the south end of the beach.

Water quality report card

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 Saltwater Creek (Eden) Lake was completed over the 2014–15 summer, when 2 sites were sampled on a monthly basis.

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.

C

Algae

B

Water clarity

B

Overall grade

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

  • algae abundance graded fair (C)
  • water clarity graded good (B)
  • overall estuary health graded good (B).

Grades for algae, water clarity and overall are represented as: 

  • A – excellent 
  • B – good 
  • C – fair 
  • D – poor 
  • E – very poor.

Go to estuary report cards to find out what each grade means, read our sampling, data analysis and reporting protocols, and find out how we calculate these grades.

Aerial view of Saltwater Creek in Eden, featuring a curved sandy beach bordering a clear blue bay with waves gently lapping at the shore. The creek winds through dense green forest before meeting the ocean, creating a striking natural landscape with lush forest, sandy beach, and vibrant blue water.

Aerial view of Saltwater Creek estuary.

Local government management

Local councils manage estuaries within their area unless the estuary is attached to a marine park. Bega Valley Shire Council manages this estuary.

Threatened species

The catchment around Saltwater Creek estuary supports habitat for the endangered striated fieldwren.

Read more about the biodiversity in our estuaries.