Nogoa River
{{Short description|River in Queensland, Australia}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox river
| name = Nogoa
| name_native =
| name_native_lang =
| name_other =
| name_etymology =
| image = StateLibQld 1 15522 Railway bridge in Emerald during a flood, 1918.jpg
| image_size = 320
| image_caption = Railway bridge in {{QLDcity|Emerald}} during a flood, 1918
| map =
| map_size =
| map_caption =
| pushpin_map = Australia Queensland
| pushpin_map_size =
| pushpin_map_caption= Location of Nogoa River mouth in Queensland
| subdivision_type1 = Country
| subdivision_name1 = Australia
| subdivision_type2 = State
| subdivision_name2 = Queensland
| subdivision_type3 = Region
| subdivision_name3 = Central Queensland
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| subdivision_type5 = City
| subdivision_name5 = {{QLDcity|Emerald}}
| length = {{convert|569|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min =
| width_avg =
| width_max =
| depth_min =
| depth_avg =
| depth_max =
| discharge1_location=
| discharge1_min =
| discharge1_avg =
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| source1 = Carnarvon Range
| source1_location = Carnarvon National Park
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|24|51|38|S|147|00|16|E|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation = {{convert|501|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth = confluence with Comet River, forming the Mackenzie River
| mouth_location = north of {{QLDcity|Comet}}
| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|23|33|21|S|148|32|11|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation = {{convert|144|m|abbr=on}}
| progression =
| river_system = Fitzroy River basin
| basin_size = {{convert|27690|km2|abbr=on}}{{cite web |url=http://wetlandinfo.ehp.qld.gov.au/wetlands/facts-maps/sub-basin-nogoa-river/ |title=Nogoa River drainage sub-basin |access-date=21 November 2015 |work=WetlandInfo |publisher=Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Queensland Government }}
| tributaries_left =
| tributaries_right =
| custom_label = National parks
| custom_data = Carnarvon National Park, Minerva Hills National Park, Peak Range National Park, Snake Range National Park
}}
The Nogoa River is a river in Central Queensland, Australia.
Course and features
The river rises on the Carnarvon Range, part of the Great Dividing Range, in the Carnarvon National Park and flows in a generally north easterly direction towards {{QLDcity|Emerald}}. From source to mouth, the Nogoa River is joined by 29 minor tributaries. North of {{QLDcity|Comet}} the river forms confluence with the Comet River to form the Mackenzie River. The Nogoa descends {{convert|361|m}} over its {{convert|569|km|adj=on}} course. The river is crossed by the Gregory and Capricorn Highways at Emerald.
The river has a catchment area of {{convert|27690|km2}} draining parts of the Minerva Hills, Peak Range, Snake Range national parks. Of this area, {{convert|271|km}} is riverine wetlands.
The reservoir created by Queensland's second largest dam,{{cite press release |url=http://www.sunwater.com.au/about-sunwater/media-room/latest-news/latest-news/2008/fairbairn-dam-performed-well-during-emeralds-major-flood-event |title=Fairbairn Dam performed well during Emerald’s major flood event |publisher=SunWater |date=4 February 2008 |access-date=21 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122182039/http://www.sunwater.com.au/about-sunwater/media-room/latest-news/latest-news/2008/fairbairn-dam-performed-well-during-emeralds-major-flood-event |archive-date=22 November 2015 |url-status=dead }} Lake Maraboon was formed when the Fairbairn Dam was built on the river in 1972. The dam and a network of channels along the Nogoa River supplies water for the Emerald Irrigation Area.{{cite web |url=http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/overview/qld/swma-nogoa-mackenzie.html |title=Water resources - Overview - Queensland - Basin & Surface Water Management Area: Nogoa / Mackenzie |access-date=20 May 2009 |work=Australian Natural Resources Atlas |publisher=Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090622152137/http://www.anra.gov.au/topics/water/overview/qld/swma-nogoa-mackenzie.html |archive-date=22 June 2009 |df=dmy-all }}
Sir Thomas Mitchell was the first European explorer to discover the river on 19 July 1846.{{cite QPN|24444|Nogoa River|access-date=19 November 2015}}
=Major flooding events=
In January 2008, the Nogoa River reached record flood levels. During the flood, water levels in the Fairbairn Dam rapidly exceeded 100%.{{cite news |title=Drought-stricken Fairbairn Dam overflows|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/19/2142199.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080122114107/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/01/19/2142199.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=22 January 2008 |access-date=20 January 2008 |date=19 January 2008 }} Within a week inundations had caused severe disruptions to graziers, crops growers and to residents of Emerald when waters broke its banks. The Nogoa peaked at {{convert|15.4|m|ft|abbr=on}} in Emerald on the night of January 22 2008, causing more than 2500 people to be evacuated.{{cite web |url=http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/is-rockhampton-next-to-flood/2008/01/22/1200764254902.html?page=fullpage |title=Is Rockhampton next to flood? |author=Casey, Scott |access-date=20 May 2009 |date=23 January 2008 |work=The Brisbane Times }} The unprecedented floods washed through the Ensham coal mine, temporarily halting operations in two out of six coal pits, reducing output to less than 50% and rendering a huge dragline defunct after it had been submerged.{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23592899-3102,00.html |title=Central Highlands dragline a costly rust bucket |author=Morley, Peter |access-date=20 May 2009 |date=26 April 2008 |work=The Courier-Mail |publisher=Queensland Newspapers |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080427050129/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23592899-3102,00.html |archive-date=27 April 2008 }}
In December 2010 - January 2011 the river was impacted by major flooding at Emerald{{cite web |url=http://www.centralhighlands.qld.gov.au/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=9cd744ae-9657-465a-a054-ad5571324793&groupId=381737 |author1=Cuff, Chris |author2=Rasmussen, Cecily |author3=Geochemical and Hydrobiological Solutions Pty Ltd |title=Section B: Fairbairn Dam – Emerald: Urban Flood Plain Analysis |work=Flood Management Analysis |publisher=Central Highlands Regional Council |date=12 December 2011 |access-date=21 November 2015 }} and in the Nogoa's upper catchment.{{cite web |url=http://www.centralhighlands.qld.gov.au/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=26ce3222-c704-4d2b-b8fb-6a1e10cf68f7&groupId=381737 |author1=Cuff, Chris |author2=Rasmussen, Cecily |author3=Geochemical and Hydrobiological Solutions Pty Ltd |title=Section A: Upper Nogoa – Fairbairn Dam Catchment Assessment and Evaluation |work=Flood Management Analysis |publisher=Central Highlands Regional Council |date=12 December 2011 |access-date=21 November 2015 }}
Cultural Heritage
The traditional owners include the Gayiri people who occupied the area for tens of thousands of years before European colonisation began in the nineteenth century. The Gayiri (Kairi, Khararya) language region takes in the landscape of the Central Highlands Regional Council, including Emerald and Nogoa River.{{Cite SLQ-CC-BY|url=https://maps.slq.qld.gov.au/iyil/view/60|title=Gayiri|author=|date=|website=Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages map|access-date=5 February 2020}}
See also
{{stack|{{Portal|Queensland|Water|Environment}}}}
- {{Section link|List of rivers of Australia|Queensland}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Rivers of Queensland}}