Myall Broadwater

We collaborate with local government to monitor the condition of Myall Broadwater. Find out more about the Myall Broadwater estuary and its unique features.

Myall Broadwater is located on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. It is classed as a lake which has an entrance permanently connecting it to the sea via the Myall River and Port Stephens.

Myall Broadwater receives water flowing downstream from the Myall River. A separate channel that connects it to the larger Myall Lake. Tidal influence extends up the Myall River from Port Stephens in the south.

Estuary health and features

Water quality

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 2 sites on a monthly basis over summer in Myall Broadwater as part of a collaborative program with MidCoast Council.

The most recent sampling was completed over the 2021–22 summer. The results of the monitoring program, including a detailed water quality report card for Myall Broadwater, are available on the MidCoast Council website.

Find out more about our estuary report cards and what each grade means. Read our sampling, data analysis and reporting protocols and find out how we calculate these grades.

Physical characteristics

Estuary type: Lake

No physical data is available for this estuary.

Water depth and survey data

Bathymetric and coastal topography data for this estuary are available in our data portal.

Land use

Myall Broadwater is surrounded by a large expanse of remnant bushland. Upstream in the Myall River valley land use has been changed considerably to agriculture and rural residential development. However, as an entire catchment, it remains relatively undisturbed.

National and marine parks

Community involvement

  • Karuah and Great Lake Landcare is an umbrella group for natural resource management groups and volunteers in the greater Myall Lakes region, and helps coordinate environmental projects such as improving catchment water quality, monitoring sea grass and pest animal and weed control.

Local government management

Local councils manage estuaries within their area unless the estuary is attached to a marine park. MidCoast Council manage this estuary. Information about this estuary, including water quality report cards, can be found on the council’s Myall Lakes webpage.