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Don River (North Queensland)

Coordinates: 19°57′51″S 148°13′25″E / 19.96417°S 148.22361°E / -19.96417; 148.22361
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19°57′51″S 148°13′25″E / 19.96417°S 148.22361°E / -19.96417; 148.22361

Don River
Physical characteristics
MouthCoral Sea near Bowen
Length60 km (37 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. ^ a b c "Flood Warning System For The Don River". Bureau of Meteorology. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  2. ^ a b "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.
  3. ^ "Bowen council seeks approval to dredge Don River". ABC News Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 February 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  4. ^ "Hope for channel to stop Don River flooding". ABC News Online. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 12 January 2009. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  5. ^ "Govt to invest $1.4m in Don River flood prevention". ABC Tropical North. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 3 September 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2011.