Serpentine River (Western Australia) Explained

Serpentine River
Map:
Wikidata:yes
Zoom:9
Frame-Height:300
Stroke-Width:2
Point:none
Stroke-Color:
  1. 0000FF
Id:Q2273885
Source1 Location:Bowerling Hill
Subdivision Type1:Country
Subdivision Name1:Australia
Length:1110NaN0
Source1 Elevation:3130NaN0[1]
Mouth Elevation:sea level

The Serpentine River is a river in the South West region of Western Australia. It is known as Waangaamaap Bilya to the Indigenous Bindjareb people, who met, lived and fished there before British settlement.[2]

The river rises in the Darling Scarp below Bowerling Hill and flows westward crossing Albany Highway north of North Bannister. The river continues northwest through the Youarling State Forest then the Serpentine National Park. The river flows through Serpentine Dam then flows over Serpentine Falls just south of Jarrahdale as it comes off the Scarp and onto the Swan Coastal Plain. The river continues west and crosses the South Western Highway then flows past the town of Serpentine. The river then veers south and continues until it discharges into the Peel Inlet near Mandurah.

The upper reaches of the river flow into Serpentine Dam, which provides drinking water to the Perth metropolitan area.

The only tributary to the Serpentine River is Big Brook. Additionally, the Peel Main Drain discharges into the Serpentine River at Karnup.[3] The river also flows through Kerulup Pool, Lake Amarillo and Goegrup Lake.

The river is known to have toxic algal blooms, last occurring in 2007. Algal blooms usually occur after hot weather and in the upper reaches of the river.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bonzle Digital Atlas - Map of Serpentine River, WA. 2006. 23 November 2008.
  2. Web site: Respecting the Serpentine River: Experts discuss the cultural and environmental significance of Mandurah’s icon waterway. 2019. 26 September 2022.
  3. UBD Gregory's . 2016 . Perth . UBD Street Directory 2016 Perth & Surrounds . 2016 . 1:19,000 . St Leonards, New South Wales . . 389–497 . 978 0 7319 3006 7.
  4. Web site: ABCNews - Serpentine River algae may damage health WA. 2007. 27 November 2008.