Upper Yarra River (source)
You live in the Upper Yarra River (source) area of the Yarra Catchment.
Use the links on the left to find out about river health, rainfall and river level data and councils and community groups in your area.
Upper Yarra River (source) Overview
The Upper Yarra River contains the section of Yarra River upstream of Warrandyte, including major tributaries such as the Don River. The headwaters of many tributaries arise in protected forests and are of excellent environmental condition, provide high quality drinking water for Melbourne and sustain a diversity of flora and fauna including the Mt Donna Buang stonefly. The Yarra River between Warburton and Warrandyte is a Victorian Heritage River. In addition to its environmental value, this section of the river also has high social values. The protected catchments are highly valued by the people of Melbourne and the river attracts many visitors.
The Yarra River retains many environmental values but a number of risks persist including poor water quality, poor quality of streamside zone vegetation and stock access, and change in flow from natural.
Community Groups
- Don Valley District Landcare Group
- Friends of Four Mile Creek
- Friends of the Yarra Valley Parklands
www.yvfriends.org.au
grahampatterson@connexus.net.au
Graham Patterson, Tel: 9432 0163 - Warburton Yarra River Reserves Committee
To find details of your local Friends, Landcare or other community group, please contact the Port Phillip and Westernport Catchment Management Authority (http://www.ppwcma.vic.gov.au), your local council or Melbourne Water.
Councils
- Yarra Ranges
www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/
P O Box 105,
Anderson Street,
Lilydale, Vic 3140
Tel: 1300 368333
Rainfall and River Levels
Melbourne Water maintains 4 automated rainfall and river level monitoring stations in the Upper Yarra River (source) area. Click on the map below to see the latest information.
| Latest Daily Totals for O'Shannassy Reservoir | More information... (Including hourly updates) |
| Flow | 29.152 Ml/day (30 Jul 2010) |
| Level | 0.068 m (30 Jul 2010) |
| Rainfall | 0.00 mm (24 hours to 9AM 30 Jul 2010) |
| Latest Daily Totals for Upper Yarra Dam | More information... (Including hourly updates) |
| Flow | 0.000 Ml/day (30 Jul 2010) |
| Level | 44.897 m (30 Jul 2010) |
| Rainfall | 0.00 mm (24 hours to 9AM 30 Jul 2010) |
| Latest Daily Totals for Yarra River downstream Doctors Creek | More information... (Including hourly updates) |
| Flow | 11.756 Ml/day (30 Jul 2010) |
| Level | 0.188 m (30 Jul 2010) |
| Latest Daily Totals for Poley Tower | More information... (Including hourly updates) |
| Rainfall | 0.00 mm (24 hours to 9AM 30 Jul 2010) |
The Yarra catchment covers 4078 square kilometres. Average annual rainfall in the catchment ranges from 615mm at Burnley, near Melbourne, to 1080mm at Upper Yarra Reservoir near Warburton, contributing to higher flows during Winter and Spring. Although the Yarra River is not large by Australian standards, it is a very productive catchment as it generates the fourth highest yield of water per hectare of catchment in Victoria.
Disclaimer
While all due skill and attention has been taken in collecting, validating and providing the attached data, Melbourne Water shall not be liable in anyway for loss of any kind including damages, costs, interest, loss of profits or special loss or damage, arising from any error, inaccuracy, incompleteness or other defect in this information. In utilising this information the recipient acknowledges that Melbourne Water makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of this information.
River Health
The Index of River Condition (IRC) for the Upper Yarra River (source) area is shown below.
The IRC is designed to provide an overall integrated measure of the environmental condition of rivers. It is based on the Index of Stream Condition (ISC) developed by the Department of Sustainability and Environment for rural rivers and creeks. The ISC has been modified to account for the urban rivers and creeks in Melbourne Water's operating area.
The Upper Yarra River (source) area is in the Yarra Basin and within the Yarra Catchment.
Current Condition : Excellent
Significance : Very High
Social Value : Very High
| Water quality |
Aquatic life |
Habitat and stability |
Vegetation | Flow | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent |  |
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| Good | |||||
| Moderate | |||||
| Poor | |||||
| Very Poor |
More information on Index of River Condition
The Upper Yarra River (source) area consists of the Reaches listed below.
Please select a Reach to view the Index of River Condition for that Reach.
Reach :
Armstrong Creek is a natural Reach in the Yarra Basin and within the Yarra Catchment.
The latest Index of River Condition data for the Armstrong Creek Reach is for the 5 years to 30th June, 2004 and was compiled by Melbourne Water.
| Hydrology : | 9 |
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| Physical Form : | 10 |
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| Streamside Zone : | 10 |
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| Water Quality : | 10 |
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| Aquatic Life : | 9 |
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IRC Score : 47 |
IRC Rating : Excellent |
| 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Very Poor | Poor | Moderate | Good | Excellent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Big Pats Creek and Mississippi Creek is a natural Reach in the Yarra Basin and within the Yarra Catchment.
The latest Index of River Condition data for the Big Pats Creek and Mississippi Creek Reach is for the 5 years to 30th June, 2004 and was compiled by Melbourne Water.
| Hydrology : | 10 |
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| Physical Form : | 10 |
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| Streamside Zone : | 10 |
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| Water Quality : | 10 |
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| Aquatic Life : | 9 |
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IRC Score : 48 |
IRC Rating : Excellent |
| 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Very Poor | Poor | Moderate | Good | Excellent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Crooked Creek and Muddy Creek Upper Yarra Tribs is a natural Reach in the Yarra Basin and within the Yarra Catchment.
The latest Index of River Condition data for the Crooked Creek and Muddy Creek Upper Yarra Tribs Reach is for the 5 years to 30th June, 2004 and was compiled by Melbourne Water.
| Hydrology : | 7 |
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| Physical Form : | 10 |
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| Streamside Zone : | 9 |
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| Water Quality : | 8 |
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| Aquatic Life : | 10 |
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IRC Score : 42 |
IRC Rating : Excellent |
| 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Very Poor | Poor | Moderate | Good | Excellent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
McMahons Creek is a natural Reach in the Yarra Basin and within the Yarra Catchment.
The latest Index of River Condition data for the McMahons Creek Reach is for the 5 years to 30th June, 2004 and was compiled by Melbourne Water.
| Hydrology : | 10 |
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| Physical Form : | 10 |
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| Streamside Zone : | 10 |
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| Water Quality : | 10 |
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| Aquatic Life : | 9 |
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IRC Score : 48 |
IRC Rating : Excellent |
| 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Very Poor | Poor | Moderate | Good | Excellent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
O'Shannassy River is a natural Reach in the Yarra Basin and within the Yarra Catchment.
The latest Index of River Condition data for the O'Shannassy River Reach is for the 5 years to 30th June, 2004 and was compiled by Melbourne Water.
| Hydrology : | 10 |
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| Physical Form : | 10 |
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| Streamside Zone : | 10 |
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| Water Quality : | 10 |
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| Aquatic Life : | 9 |
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IRC Score : 48 |
IRC Rating : Excellent |
| 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Very Poor | Poor | Moderate | Good | Excellent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Starvation Creek is a natural Reach in the Yarra Basin and within the Yarra Catchment.
The latest Index of River Condition data for the Starvation Creek Reach is for the 5 years to 30th June, 2004 and was compiled by Melbourne Water.
| Hydrology : | 10 |
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| Physical Form : | 9 |
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| Streamside Zone : | 10 |
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| Water Quality : | 10 |
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| Aquatic Life : | 9 |
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IRC Score : 47 |
IRC Rating : Excellent |
| 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Very Poor | Poor | Moderate | Good | Excellent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Upper Yarra River (along Warburton Hwy) is a natural Reach in the Yarra Basin and within the Yarra Catchment.
The latest Index of River Condition data for the Upper Yarra River (along Warburton Hwy) Reach is for the 5 years to 30th June, 2004 and was compiled by Melbourne Water.
| Hydrology : | 9 |
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| Physical Form : | 9 |
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| Streamside Zone : | 5 |
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| Water Quality : | 9 |
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| Aquatic Life : | 9 |
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IRC Score : 37 |
IRC Rating : Good |
| 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Very Poor | Poor | Moderate | Good | Excellent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Upper Yarra River (source) is a natural Reach in the Yarra Basin and within the Yarra Catchment.
The latest Index of River Condition data for the Upper Yarra River (source) Reach is for the 5 years to 30th June, 2004 and was compiled by Melbourne Water.
| Hydrology : | 10 |
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| Physical Form : | 10 |
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| Streamside Zone : | 10 |
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| Water Quality : | 10 |
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| Aquatic Life : | 9 |
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IRC Score : 49 |
IRC Rating : Excellent |
| 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Very Poor | Poor | Moderate | Good | Excellent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Walsh Creek and Clear Creek is a natural Reach in the Yarra Basin and within the Yarra Catchment.
The latest Index of River Condition data for the Walsh Creek and Clear Creek Reach is for the 5 years to 30th June, 2004 and was compiled by Melbourne Water.
| Hydrology : | 10 |
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| Physical Form : | 10 |
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| Streamside Zone : | 10 |
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| Water Quality : | 10 |
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| Aquatic Life : | 9 |
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IRC Score : 48 |
IRC Rating : Excellent |
| 10 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Very Poor | Poor | Moderate | Good | Excellent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other River Health Data
- Yarra Fact File
- EPA Yarra Watch website
- Melbourne Water Social & Environment Report
- Melbourne's Rivers & Creeks Report (PDF 1376.4 kb)
- Draft Port Phillip and Westernport Regional River Health Strategy (PDF 861.8 kb)
- 2004 Waterway Water Quality Data Fact sheet (PDF 2407 kb)
- Victorian Water Resource Data Warehouse
