King River (Great Southern, Western Australia)

King River
Upper King River Bridge South Coast Highway near Albany, Western Australia
Country	Australia
Basin
Main source	East of Redmond 72 metres (236 ft)[1]
River mouth	Oyster Harbour sea level
Basin size	402 km^2 (155 sq mi)[2]
Physical characteristics
Length	27 kilometres (17 mi)
Discharge	Average rate: 1.08 m^3/s (34,000 ML/a; 38 cu ft/s)

The King River is a river in the Great Southern region of Western Australia.

The river rises east of the town of Redmond and then flows for approximately 27 kilometres (17 mi) and along with the Kalgan River drains into Oyster Harbour and finally King George Sound north east of Albany.

The river was named after an early explorer of the Australian and Patagonian coasts, Phillip Parker King, by Thomas Braidwood Wilson while exploring the region in December 1829.^[3] The estuarine zone of the river is from the mouth to 7 kilometres (4 mi) upstream to where Mill Brook joins the river.

The land along the river is estimated as being 83% cleared yet the water quality is generally healthy fresh water. The salinity level of the King River at discharge is 800 mg/L.^[4]

Tributaries

The main tributary of the King River is Mill Brook which joins the King about 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) north-west of the Upper King Bridge.

References

1. "Map of King River, WA". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Digital Atlas Pty Limited. Retrieved 30 May 2016.
2. "South Coast River Care - King River". 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2007.
3. Western Australian Land Information Authority. "History of river names". Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 4 August 2008.
4. "South Coast River Care - King River". 2007. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 5 June 2007.

Further reading

• Muirden, Peter: Pen, Luke and Marnie Leybourne (2003) Stream and catchment hydrology in South West Western Australia Perth, W.A. Dept. of Environment. Department of Environment river restoration, 1442-6919 ; report no. RR19 ISBN 1-920849-24-6
• Pen, Luke J.(1999) Managing our rivers : a guide to the nature and management of the streams of south-west Western Australia (editor, June Hutchison) East Perth, W.A. : Water and Rivers Commission. ISBN 0-7309-7450-2

Coordinates: 34°56′44.69″S 117°56′14.47″E / 34.9457472°S 117.9373528°E