Deua River facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Deua River
A large pool on the Deua River, the freshwater reaches of the Moruya River, during a period of higher flows.
Other name(s)	Moruya River
Country	Australia
State	New South Wales
Region	South East Corner (IBRA), South Coast
Local government area	Eurobodalla
Physical characteristics
Main source	Badja Range, Great Dividing Range within Deua National Park southeast of Bendethera Mountain 641 m (2,103 ft)
River mouth	confluence with the Moruya River near Kiora 7 m (23 ft)
Length	139 km (86 mi)
Basin features
River system	Moruya River catchment
National park	Deua NP

The Deua River is an important river located on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. It is the main river that flows all year round in the Moruya River area. The lower part of the Deua River is also known as the Moruya River.

Where the River Starts and Flows

The Deua River begins high up in the Great Dividing Range. It starts about 5 kilometers (3 miles) southeast of Bendethera Mountain. This area is part of the Badja Range, inside Deua National Park. The park is known for its rugged and thickly forested mountains.

The river flows in many directions, almost making a full circle. It travels south, west, north, northeast, south-southeast, and then east. Along its journey, fourteen smaller streams join it. Finally, it becomes the Moruya River near a place called Kiora. The river drops 634 meters (2,080 feet) over its 139-kilometer (86-mile) path.

Deua River vs. Moruya River

It can be a bit confusing! The upper part of the river, where the water is fresh, is called the Deua River. As it gets closer to the ocean, the water becomes a mix of fresh and saltwater. This lower part, which is affected by the tides, is known as the Moruya River.

The Deua River naturally has periods of very low water flow. This is because its upper part might be in a "rain shadow" area. This means it gets less rain. Also, people use a lot of water from the river and underground sources. This water is used for watering fruit crops in nearby valleys during summer. This can make the river flow even lower.

Araluen Valley and Gold Mining

The small village of Araluen is located in the valley of Araluen Creek. This creek joins the Deua River about halfway along its course. The name 'Araluen' comes from a local Aboriginal language. It means 'water lily' or 'place of the water lilies'. When Europeans first arrived, Araluen was described as a wide valley with large natural ponds filled with water lilies. Sadly, these ponds are no longer there today.

In the late 1800s, there was a lot of gold mining in the Araluen Valley. This mining caused a lot of damage to the natural landscape. It washed huge amounts of sand and gravel into Araluen Creek and then into the Deua River. This problem is called "sand-slugging" or "sand siltation." It means the riverbed became filled with sand. Even today, new gold mines in the river's upper areas are a concern. People worry about their environmental impact.

Amazing River Life

Even with the sand problems, the Deua River is full of life! It has a wide variety of plants and animals, which is called being "bio-diverse." The river is home to a very important group of the endangered fish called the Australian grayling. This might be the best population of these fish in all of New South Wales!

Many other native freshwater fish also live here. These include Cox's gudgeon, congolli, Australian smelt, and different types of Galaxiids. Beyond fish, the river supports healthy populations of other animals. You can find Platypus, beautiful Azure kingfishers, and Eastern water dragons.

How Gold Mining Changed the River

Historical records show how quickly the Deua and Moruya Rivers changed. This happened after gold mining, especially "sluicing," began in Araluen Creek in the 1860s. Sluicing uses water to wash away soil and find gold. This process brought tons of sand into the river. The damage from this gold mining is expected to last for thousands of years. It will take a very long time for all the extra sand to wash out to sea.

Here are some old reports that describe the changes:

• In 1871, people noticed the Moruya River was very shallow. They said it was filled with "silt washed down from the Araluen diggings by the floods." Just 16 years before, large boats could be built and launched there. But by 1871, the river was barely a foot deep in some places.
• By 1873, a report mentioned that the "increase of silt in the river of late years has been somewhat remarkable." It was believed that "thousands of tons of sand are washed down each flood" from the Araluen goldfields. This sand even created a sand-bank that made it impossible for a ferry to cross the river.
• In 1874, another report confirmed that the river was "silting up." It said that "each fresh [flood] bringing down from the Araluen thousands of tons of sand." The Moruya River had become like a giant drain for the gold miners. This made river crossings dangerous and caused problems for local travel.
• By 1900, the problem was still severe. A letter to the editor stated that before gold was found in Araluen, the Moruya River was deep enough for boats to reach the town. But by 1900, boats couldn't get within ten miles of the town. The river had become so shallow that farmlands that used to be safe from floods were now easily flooded. This made the land much less valuable for growing crops.

These accounts show how much the gold mining industry changed the natural environment of the Deua and Moruya Rivers.