Help protect our Rivermouth

Most people visit the Rivermouth for the views, the beach, the river or the waves. But there's another feature quietly doing an important job behind the scenes - the sandbar

Far from being just a stretch of sand between the river and ocean, the sandbar is an important part of the Margaret River's natural cycle and helps support the health of the entire river ecosystem.

Throughout the year, the Rivermouth naturally opens and closes as river flows, rainfall and ocean conditions change. When the sandbar is closed, freshwater pools form in the lower reaches of the river, creating valuable habitat for fish, turtles, aquatic plants and many other species.

These freshwater areas provide important refuge for wildlife, particularly as conditions become warmer and drier heading into summer.

Many people are surprised to learn that changes to the sandbar can affect water levels throughout the lower river. When water levels drop artificially, the amount of available habitat for wildlife can be reduced and water temperatures can rise, placing additional stress on the ecosystem, particularly over summer and autumn when water levels are naturally at their lowest.

While some people may be tempted to help the river flow by creating a channel through the sandbar, the Rivermouth is a naturally changing environment and is healthiest when these processes are allowed to occur on their own.

Like many natural systems, the Rivermouth works best when nature is allowed to take its course. The shifting sandbar, changing water levels and seasonal cycles all play an important role in maintaining the unique environment that makes the Margaret River so special.

Visiting the Rivermouth this summer? Leave the sandbar undisturbed and help protect the wildlife and freshwater habitats that make this special place unique.

Understanding how the river works is one of the simplest ways we can all help protect it for future generations.