State of the Yarra
The Yarra catchment
The Yarra catchment covers 4078 square kilometres to the north and east of Melbourne. The forested upper reaches of the river - the source of most of the city’s precious, high quality drinking water - are in good condition, but water quality declines downstream because of agricultural and urban run-off.
Much of the middle and lower reaches has been cleared for agriculture or urban development, but significant areas have been created as parkland for community use. About 21 per cent of the catchment retains its natural vegetation, 57 per cent is agricultural and 22 per cent is urbanised.
How the Yarra River shapes up today
Water quality in the Upper Yarra (upstream of Yarra Junction) is classified as excellent and moderate in rural sections. However, in the Middle Yarra (from Warrandyte to Dights Falls, Collingwood), and the Lower Yarra (downstream of Dights Falls), water quality is moderate to poor.
This deterioration in water quality as the river flows through the city is a result of agricultural and urban run-off, and the accumulation of all the activities affecting water quality upstream.
Despite this, the Lower Yarra is in the healthiest condition it’s been for over a century, and compares well to other urban rivers around the world, thanks to a major, co-ordinated effort to clean it up by various agencies and the highly valued community groups who take an active interest in the care of their local waterways.
Rivers and creeks in the Yarra catchment are home to many different species of frogs, and platypus have been sighted at Kew just 10 kilometres from the city.
Murray Cod, the Common Galaxia minnow, eels and graylings can also be found under the surface.
