Bennett Brook (Australia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bennett Brook |
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|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Gnangara Mound, Stormwater from surrounding urban area Whiteman Park 31°49′05″S 115°55′08″E / 31.818°S 115.919°E |
| River mouth | Swan River Border of Eden Hill and Caversham 31°53′38″S 115°57′36″E / 31.894°S 115.960°E |
| Length | 13 kilometres (8.1 mi) |
| Basin features | |
| Basin size | 217 square kilometres (84 sq mi) |
Bennett Brook is a small river, or stream, located in Western Australia. It starts in a special park called Whiteman Park and flows for about 13 kilometres (8 miles). The brook then joins the much larger Swan River. It's an important waterway for the local environment and the animals that live there.
Contents
About Bennett Brook
Bennett Brook has a "catchment area" of about 217 square kilometres. This is the total area of land where all the rain and water eventually flows into the brook.
Where the Water Comes From
About half of this area is covered by Whiteman Park and a large pine tree plantation. The other half is made up of towns and suburbs. These include Ballajura, Beechboro, Bennett Springs, Kiara, Lockridge, Malaga, Morley, and Noranda.
How the Water Flows
The smaller streams that feed into Bennett Brook from the west have been changed a lot by people. Some even flow underground now. The streams coming from the north are mostly still natural.
In the upper parts of the brook, water only flows during certain months, usually from August to November. This is because water is pumped from the Gnangara Mound (a large underground water source), which lowers the natural water level.
However, closer to the Swan River, the brook flows all year round. In these areas, more water flows than would naturally. This is because of "surface runoff" from roads and houses in the urban areas. When it rains, water quickly runs off hard surfaces and into the brook.
Animals of Bennett Brook
Many interesting animals live in and around Bennett Brook. Here are some of them:
- Chelodina oblonga – This is a type of turtle with a very long neck.
- Westralunio carteri – A special kind of freshwater mussel that lives in the water.
- Isoodon obesulus – Also known as a Quenda, this is a small, shy marsupial.
- Trichosurus vulpecula – The Brush-tailed possum is a common marsupial often seen at night.
- Hydromys chrysogaster – This is an Australian water rat, a native rodent that loves to swim.
How Bennett Brook Got Its Name
Bennett Brook was named after a woman called Matilda Bennett. She was the wife of John Septimus Roe, who was an important early explorer and surveyor in Western Australia.
