Moona Moona Creek is classed as a creek with an entrance that is intermittently open and closed to the ocean. Moona Moona Creek flows into Jervis Bay and is part of the Jervis Bay Marine Park.
Water quality report card
As part of our water quality monitoring program we assess the water quality and ecosystem health of an estuary using a range of relevant indicators. We sample a subset of the estuaries between Wollongong and the Victorian border every 3 years. The most recent sampling in Moona Moona Creek was completed over the 2023–24 summer, when 2 sites were sampled on a monthly basis.
This report card represents 2 water quality indicators that we routinely measure: the amount of algae present and water clarity. Low levels of these 2 indicators equate with good water quality. The numerical scores for these 2 indicators are averaged to give the overall grade.
Algae
Water clarity
Overall grade
The report card shows the condition of the estuary was good with:
- algae abundance graded good (B)
- water clarity graded good (B)
- overall estuary health graded good (B).
Grades for algae, water clarity and overall are represented as:
- A – excellent
- B – good
- C – fair
- D – poor
- E – very poor.
Go to estuary report cards to find out what each grade means, read our sampling, data analysis and reporting protocols, and find out how we calculate these grades.
We have monitored water quality in Moona Moona Creek since 2011. This table shows the water quality grades for this estuary over that time.
| Year | Algae | Water clarity | Overall grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | B | B | B |
| 2011–12 | B | B | B |
Physical characteristics
| Estuary type | Creek |
|---|---|
| Latitude (ºS) | –35.05 |
| Longitude (ºE) | 150.68 |
| Catchment area (km2) | 28.6 |
| Estuary area (km2) | 0.1 |
| Estuary volume (ML) | 58.2 |
| Average depth (m) | 0.4 |
Notes: km2 = square kilometres; m = metres; ML = megalitres.
Water depth and survey data
Bathymetric and coastal topography data for this estuary are available in our data portal.
Land use
The catchment of Moona Moona Creek is moderately disturbed. Around 70% of the catchment is forested, some of which is within Jervis Bay National Park. Urban and rural residential areas form 20% of the catchment and include the towns of Tomerong, Huskisson and Vincentia.
- Jervis Bay National Park is the largest conservation area in the Moona Moona Creek catchment.
- The Moona Moona Creek estuary is located in the Jervis Bay Marine Park. The entrance of the estuary is included in the habitat protection zone for the marine park.
Community involvement
- Shoalhaven City Council’s Bushcare webpage provides links to a range of active groups in and around this catchment.
Aerial view of Moona Moona Creek estuary.
Local government management
Local councils manage estuaries within their area. Where an estuary is attached to a marine park, marine park management teams are responsible for ensuring compliance with marine park zoning.
Shoalhaven City Council manages this estuary, which is located in Jervis Bay Marine Park.
Threatened species
The catchment area of Moona Moona Creek contains the biconvex paperbark tree, a threatened species found only in New South Wales.
Read more about the biodiversity in our estuaries.