View source for Culgoa River

{{Short description|River in Queensland, Australia}}
{{about|the river in Australia|other uses|Culgoa (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Culgoa
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = [[Australian Aboriginal languages|Aboriginal]]: "running through, returning"<ref name=ips>{{cite web |url=http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/documents/heritage/indigenous_place_names.pdf |title=Indigenous place names |publisher=[[Ipswich City Council]] |access-date=27 January 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130124235512/http://www.ipswich.qld.gov.au/documents/heritage/indigenous_place_names.pdf |archive-date=24 January 2013 }}</ref>
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = 
| image_size         = 
| image_caption      = 
| map                = 
| map_size           = 250
| map_caption        = 
| pushpin_map        = Australia New South Wales
| pushpin_map_size   = 250
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of Culgoa River [[river mouth|mouth]] in New South Wales
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[Australia]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[States and territories of Australia|States]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Queensland]], [[New South Wales]]
| subdivision_type3  = Region
| subdivision_name3  = [[South West Queensland]], [[Orana, New South Wales|Orana]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = 
| subdivision_name5  = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|489|km|mi|abbr=on}} 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= 
| discharge1_min     = 
| discharge1_avg     = 
| discharge1_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = [[Balonne River]]
| source1_location   = near [[Dirranbandi]]
| source1_coordinates= 
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|187|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth              = [[confluence]] with the [[Barwon River (New South Wales)|Barwon River]] to form the [[Darling River]]
| mouth_location     = north–west of [[Bourke, New South Wales|Bourke]]
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|29|57|29|S|146|18|28|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|109|m|abbr=on}}
| progression        = 
| river_system       = [[Darling River]] catchment,<br/>[[Murray–Darling basin]]
| basin_size         = 
| tributaries_left   = [[Balonne River]], [[Birrie River]]
| tributaries_right  = 
| custom_label       = [[National park]]s
| custom_data        = {{unbulleted list|{{nowrap|[[Culgoa Floodplain National Park]]}}|[[Culgoa National Park]]}}
| extra              = <ref name=bonzle>{{cite web|url=http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=211306&cmd=sp|title=Map of Culgoa River|work=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia|access-date=27 January 2013|archive-date=29 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210429231721/http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=211306&cmd=sp|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=gnb>{{NSW GNR|id=JPYbwprXuj |title=Culgoa River|date=28 November 1980|access-date=27 January 2013}}</ref>
}}

The '''Culgoa River''' is a [[river]] that is part of the [[Darling River|Darling]] catchment within the [[Murray–Darling basin]] and is located in [[South West Queensland]].

==Course and features==
The river is a continuation of the western branch of the [[Balonne River]] in southern Queensland, near [[Dirranbandi]], and flows generally south-west across parts of the [[Darling Riverine Plains]], joined by ten [[tributary|tributaries]], including the [[Balonne River|Balonne]] and [[Birrie River|Birrie]] rivers, before forming its [[confluence]] with the [[Darling River]] near [[Bourke, New South Wales|Bourke]]; descending {{convert|78|m}} over its {{convert|489|km|adj=on}} [[Watercourse|course]].

[[Cubbie Station]], located on the Culgoa River,<ref name="age1">{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/environment/water-resource-hope-on-sale-of-cubbie-station-20090817-enpd.html |title=Water resource hope on sale of Cubbie Station |author=Ker, Peter |access-date=7 December 2009 |date=18 August 2009 |work=The Age}}</ref> is situated adjacent to a large diversion channel which permits the farm, under [[water right|licence]] to store {{convert|460000|ML}} of river water.<ref name="abcpm">{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2012/s3592905.htm |format=transcript |title=Cubbie Station: a dozen rival expressions of interest ignored |author=Long, Stephen |work=PM |publisher=ABC News |location=Australia |date=18 September 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013 |archive-date=14 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714072508/https://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2012/s3592905.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> According to downstream farmers in 2008, large cotton farms, such as Cubbie Station, have reduced the traditional flow of the Culgoa River by one third.<ref name="aus1">{{cite news |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/farmers-in-fight-over-floodwaters/story-e6frg6oo-1111115385726?from=public_rss |title= Farmers in fight over floodwaters |author=Roberts, Greg |access-date=7 December 2009 |date=24 January 2008 |work=The Australian}}</ref> By 2009, downstream farmers were claiming that due to upstream water entitlements on the Culgoa River, since 2000, the Lower Balonne floodplain had not received enough water to flood the plains. Prior to the granting of these rights, the Lower Balonne River flooded every two or three years; impacting the sustainability of flora, fauna, birdlife, and economic returns from grazing livestock and cropping.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/water-grab-preventing-floods-and-taking-toll-on-trees/story-e6frg6no-1225763644635 |title=Water grab preventing floods and taking toll on trees |author=Elks, Sarah |access-date=7 December 2009 |date=19 August 2009 |work=The Australian}}</ref>

Little Culgoa Creek, an [[anabranch]] of the Culgoa River, leaves the river near [[Goodooga]] and returns to the river near Brenda Gate.<ref>{{NSW GNR|id=anIOBKWATR |title=Little Culgoa Creek|date=13 March 1981|access-date=27 January 2013}}</ref> The river flows through the [[Culgoa Floodplain National Park]] and the [[Culgoa National Park]], located respectively north and south of the border between Queensland and New South Wales, west of Goodooga.

==Etymology==
Culgoa is an [[Australian Aboriginal languages|Aboriginal]] word meaning "running through" or "returning".<ref name=ips/>

==See also==
{{stack|{{Portal|Water|Environment|Queensland|New South Wales}}}}
* {{HMAS|Culgoa|K408}}
* {{Section link|List of rivers of Australia|Queensland}}
* [[Rivers of New South Wales]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cite web|url=http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/ieo/FarWest/maplg.htm|title=Barwon, Darling and Far Western catchments|format=map|work=Office of Environment and Heritage|publisher=[[Government of New South Wales]]}}
* {{cite book |url=http://download.mdba.gov.au/Condamine-Balonne-region.pdf |chapter=Lower Balonne River Floodplain System |title=Guide to the proposed Basin Plan: Technical background: Part II: Appendix B: Hydrologic indicator sites |publisher=[[Murray–Darling Basin Authority]] |pages=499–520 |access-date=27 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409113739/http://download.mdba.gov.au/Condamine-Balonne-region.pdf |archive-date=9 April 2013 |url-status=dead }}

{{Rivers of New South Wales |state=autocollapse}}
{{Rivers of Queensland}}
{{Rivers of the Darling River catchment |state=autocollapse}}
{{Rivers of the Murray–Darling basin|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Rivers of Queensland]]
[[Category:Tributaries of the Darling River]]
[[Category:South West Queensland]]
[[Category:Shire of Balonne]]
[[Category:Brewarrina Shire]]
[[Category:Bourke Shire]]