Clyde River (New South Wales)
The Clyde River (Dhurga: Bhundoo) is an open intermediate tide dominated drowned valley estuary, or perennial river that flows into the Tasman Sea, located in the South Coast region of New South Wales, Australia, on land traditionally occupied by the Walbunja people from the Yuin nation. Course and features. The Clyde River rises below Kangaroo Hill in the Budawang Range, part of the Great Dividing Range, within Budawang National Park, south of the locality of Sassafras, and flows generally southwards parallel to the east coast, joined by nine tributaries including the Bimberamala, Yadboro, and Buckenbowra  rivers, before turning east and reaching its mouth of the Tasman Sea at Batemans Bay. The river descends over its course. The lower reaches of the Clyde River form a substantial estuary up to from its mouth which is navigable by small vessels to Nelligen, with a tidal ebb of up to . The coastal estuary covers a catchment area of and contains approximately of water over an estimated surface area of ; and at an average depth of . The river is one of the last major rivers in eastern Australia that has not been dammed. Porters Creek, a tributary of one  of the Clyde's tributaries, Pigeon House Creek, is dammed by the Porters Creek Dam, which supplies water to coastal towns. In its upper reaches, the river forms within the Budawang National Park; while in its lower reaches, the river flows through the Clyde River National Park. Water quality of the basin is very good. The upper catchment is heavily timbered (state forests and national parks); there is a small amount of logging in the Yadboro State Forest. There are no polluting industries in its catchment, nor any sewage outflows, and thus the river has a reputation for the cleanest , least polluted waters of any major river in eastern Australia. Etymology. The Walbunja name for the river, "Bhundoo", means "Deep Water". The river was given the name "Clyde River" after the River Clyde in Glasgow, Scotland, by Lieutenant Robert Johnston, who navigated the river aboard the cutter "Snapper" on 1 December 1821. Crossings. The river crossings, from its headwaters to its river mouth, include: External links.