Don River (Queensland)
Coordinates: 19°57′51″S 148°13′25″E / 19.96417°S 148.22361°E
| Don River | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Clarke Ranges |
| Mouth | Coral Sea near Bowen |
| Length | 60 km (37 mi) |
| Source elevation | 250 m (820 ft) |
| Basin area | 1,200 km2 (460 sq mi) |
The Don River is a short river in North Queensland which empties into the Coral Sea near Bowen, Queensland. It is not to be confused to the Don River in Central Queensland which is a tributary of the Fitzroy River.
The source of the river is in the Clarke Ranges, west of Proserpine. The river runs about 60 kilometres (37 mi) in a northerly direction to its mouth falling about 250 metres (820 ft) over its length. Over its length it drains about 1,200 square kilometres (460 sq mi).[1]
High salinity levels have been recorded at the mouth of the river.[2] Land use in the upper catchment is mostly beef cattle production with crops grown in the richer soils downstream.[1]
Flooding
The highest recorded flood was in 1970 when the river reached 7.25 m at the Bowen Pumping Station.[1] The river delta is particularly vulnerable to flooding during cyclones.[2]
Management concerns were raised after floods in February 2008. Deposits of sand which have raised the riverbed considerably were attributed to the flooding.[3] Approval to dredge sand has already been granted by the state government however only about half of that has been removed in recent years. A flood in 2008 lead the Whitsunday Regional Council to create a channel so that similar flooding could be avoided.[4]
A management plan for the river was established late in 2008. It included measures to encourage further sand extraction.[5]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Flood Warning System For The Don River". Bureau of Meteorology. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Water resources - Overview - Queensland: Groundwater Management Unit: Don River". Australian Natural Resources Atlas. Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ↑ "Bowen council seeks approval to dredge Don River". ABC News Online (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 21 February 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ↑ "Hope for channel to stop Don River flooding". ABC News Online (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 12 January 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
- ↑ "Govt to invest $1.4m in Don River flood prevention". ABC Tropical North (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 3 September 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
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