Peel - Harvey Estuary
Physical
| Ocean opening | Dual permanently open (natural & artificial -Dawesville Cut ,1994) |
| Estuary surface area | 134 km² |
| Catchment area | 9556 km² |
| Catchment: estuary ratio | 71 |
| Mean annual rainfall | 850 mm/yr |
| Mean annual discharge | 398 GL/year (1997-2007) |
| Catchment cleared | 59% |
| Urban landuse | 9% |
| Agricultural landuse | 51% |
Socio-economic
| City/town | Mandurah |
| Population | 100000 |
| Population growth rate | 3.4% pa |
| People per estuary area | 746 |
| Shipping trade | none |
| Commercial fishing | 11 licences |
| Recreation/tourism | Fishing, boating, crabbing, dolphin and bird watching |
The Peel Region is known for its natural beauty and opportunities for waterside living. The Ramsar-listed Peel-Harvey estuary is the largest and most diverse estuarine complex in south-western Australia. It is a key destination for tourism and recreation, particularly popular for boating, fishing and crabbing.
The Peel-Harvey estuary suffered ecological collapse in the 1970s-80s due to nutrient enrichment. This resulted in the engineering solution of the Dawesville Cut in 1994, constructed at a cost of $76 million. Unfortunately the estuary is again suffering from pressures that threaten the natural values and lifestyle of the region.
For the Peel-Harvey estuary, Healthy Estuaries WA is:
- Funding Peel-Harvey Catchment Council to co-deliver on-ground actions, resulting in evidence-based long term management strategies for the Peel-Harvey estuary and catchment
- Reducing the nutrient runoff from farms while supporting farm productivity in partnership with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Peel-Harvey Catchment Council and farmers.
- Working with catchment groups to restore stream function to improve water quality at priority sites
- Trialling new materials to treat soil and waterways.