Donate a tree Donate a tree Become a Member Become a Member Renew a Membership Renew a Membership Landcare Nursery Landcare Nursery

Stream orders

Have you ever wondered what stream order your local creek or river belongs to? It’s a common question we receive, and understanding stream orders is essential for water management, planning, and conservation efforts.

What is Stream Order?

Stream order is a classification system used to define the hierarchy of streams within a catchment. The system starts with the smallest streams, known as first-order streams, which have no tributaries. When two first-order streams join, they form a second-order stream. Similarly, two second-order streams join to form a third-order stream, and so on. If streams of differing orders meet, the order does not increase—for instance, a first-order stream joining a second-order stream remains a second-order stream.

Why is Stream Order Important?

Stream orders help describe the size and scale of waterways. This information is valuable for understanding water flow, sediment transport, and the ecological significance of the stream or river in its landscape. its is also used to:

  • Determine licensing and approval requirements: The Water Management (General) Regulation 2018 uses stream order to determine which watercourses require licensing and approval. 
  • Identify potential fish habitat: Streams of third order and above are more likely to have valuable fish habitat. 
  • Determine buffer distances: The non-clearing buffer around a water body changes based on the stream order. 

How Do You Find the Stream Order of Your Creek or River?

The Department of Planning, Industry, and Environment (DPIE) has provided resources to help determine stream order for waterways in NSW:

  1. Fact Sheet
    Learn the basics of determining stream order by referring to the DPIE’s Determining Strahler Stream Order Fact Sheet. This document offers a straightforward explanation and practical steps.
  2. Interactive Mapping Tool
    You can use the ArcGIS Interactive Map to identify the stream order of your waterway. Simply zoom in on your location, adjust the visible layers (you may need to toggle some layers off for clarity), and find your creek or river to determine its order.

Understanding the stream order of your local waterway is an excellent step toward appreciating and managing our vital natural resources.



Latest News

Bendemeer Students Join the TreeTroff Biodiversity Project

Bendemeer Students Join the TreeTroff Biodiversity Project

This week, I had the pleasure of visiting Bendemeer Primary School to talk to Years 3 to 6 students and their teacher, Mrs Doak about the exciting TreeTroff in Schools program. We explored the origins of the project, what it means for their school, and even selected the best location and tree for the installation — a great step forward in bringing the program to life at Bendemeer.

The TreeTroff project is part of the Koalas and Others 2025: A Schoolyard and Community Biodiversity Project, coordinated by the Warrumbungle National Park Environmental Education Centre (WNPEEC). It's an innovative citizen science initiative that helps schools monitor local biodiversity using cameras and data collection tools. Students gain valuable digital, scientific, and communication skills as they analyse images, record data, and prepare scientific reports each semester to share with other participating schools across the region.

The project provides long-term data that supports conservation efforts and is of interest to universities and government agencies.

We're looking forward to seeing Bendemeer students actively engaging in this hands-on conservation science and sharing their findings with schools across the state.

Help achieve more sustainable and resilient rural landscapes

Help achieve more sustainable and resilient rural landscapes

Have you undertaken native revegetation on your farm in the past?

Researchers from Western Sydney University, the University of Tasmania and their collaborators want to hear about the outcomes. We invite you to participate in our study by completing a brief on-line survey, site visit and interview. Eight lucky survey participants will receive prizes valued at over $1000 and an opportunity to share and learn from other land managers interested in ensuring sustainable and resilient rural landscapes around Australia.



If you have any queries about this study, please contact e.sumner@westernsydney.edu.au or call 0497 784 310. This study is funded by the National Environmental Science Program and the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Explore the Heart of the Macdonald River – Past, Present & Future

Join us for a special community event celebrating the Macdonald River — its rich history, vital ecology, and the people working to protect it. This is a chance to connect with your local landscape, learn from passionate experts, and hear how you can be part of the ongoing efforts to care for this important waterway.

Local historians Anne and Winston Doak will share stories of the river’s past — from early settlement to recent restoration efforts — while ecologists Dr. Lou Streeting and Martin Dillon will highlight the river’s role in supporting native wildlife, including endangered species like the Bell’s turtle. Their work in the region spans decades, involving everything from nest protection and hatchling releases to landholder collaboration and education.

Whether you’ve lived by the river all your life or are new to the area, this event is a great way to better understand the natural systems that support our community and how we can protect them. You’ll hear about past and ongoing efforts to restore the riverbanks and improve habitat, as well as future opportunities to get involved with the Macdonald River Restoration Landcare Group — including tree planting days and working bees.

Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be provided. Come along, bring a friend, and be inspired by the stories of resilience, collaboration and care that flow through the heart of our river.

 

Show More

Our members often say that when you become part of Landcare, you’re not just joining a group, you’re becoming part of a family. The concept is so compatible with Australian culture it’s hard not to get involved! By becoming a TRLA member, you’ll be supporting our work, learning new skills, becoming part of the solution, and helping to make a difference for the future.

LEARN MORE LEARN MORE

together we can make a difference

funding support

Did you know (TRLA) run an Annual Small Grants program for Landcare activities connected to the Tamworth region.

Volunteer Landcare and Grassroots Community groups can apply up to $2,500 for activities that meet an objective of TRLA’s strategic plan with eight successful projects being awarded funds from across the region.

APPLY NOW APPLY NOW