Editing Avon River (Western Australia)

{{For|other rivers called Avon|River Avon (disambiguation){{!}}River Avon}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox river
| name               = Avon
| name_native        = 
| name_native_lang   = 
| name_other         = 
| name_etymology     = 
<!---------------------- IMAGE & MAP -->
| image              = Avon vally gnangarra-36.jpg
| image_size         = 280
| image_caption      = Avon River flowing through the [[Avon Valley National Park]]
| map                = Avon River.png
| map_size           = 
| map_caption        = Location of the Avon River and its catchment area
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_map_size   = 
| pushpin_map_caption= 
<!---------------------- LOCATION -->
| subdivision_type1  = Country
| subdivision_name1  = [[Australia]]
| subdivision_type2  = State
| subdivision_name2  = [[Western Australia]]
| subdivision_type3  = Region
| subdivision_name3  = [[Wheatbelt (Western Australia)|Wheatbelt]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| subdivision_type5  = 
| subdivision_name5  = 
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length             = {{convert|240|km|mi|abbr=on}} 
| width_min          = 
| width_avg          = 
| width_max          = 
| depth_min          = 
| depth_avg          = 
| depth_max          = 
| discharge1_location= [[mouth (river)|mouth]]
| discharge1_min     = 
| discharge1_avg     = {{convert|10|m3/s|cuft/s|abbr=on}}
| discharge1_max     = 
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1            = [[surface runoff]]
| source1_location   = East of [[Pingelly, Western Australia|Pingelly]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|32|44|52|S|117|28|0|E|display=inline}}
| source1_elevation  = {{convert|269|m|abbr=on}}
| mouth              = confluence with [[Wooroloo Brook]] to form the [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]]
| mouth_location     = below Mount Mambup
| mouth_coordinates  = {{coord|31|44|34|S|116|4|4|E|display=inline,title}}
| mouth_elevation    = {{convert|29|m|abbr=on}}
| progression        = 
| river_system       = [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]]
| basin_size         = {{convert|125000|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left   = [[Dale River (Western Australia)|Dale River]]
| tributaries_right  = [[Mackie River]], [[Mortlock River]], [[Brockman River]]
| custom_label       = [[National park]]
| custom_data        = [[Avon Valley National Park]]
| extra              = 
}}

The '''Avon River''' is a river in Western Australia. A [[tributary]] of the [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]], the Avon flows {{convert|240|km}}<ref name=bonzle/> from source to mouth, with a catchment area of {{convert|125000|km2}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://slwa.wa.gov.au/swan_river/community_icon/the_swan-avon_river_and_its_catchments|title=The Swan-Avon Catchments|work=Describing the Swan River|publisher=[[State Library of Western Australia]]|date=23 November 2010}}</ref>

==Avon catchment area==
[[Lake Yealering]] in the [[Shire of Wickepin]] is the point of origin for the upper Avon River, and the catchment size above the confluence with the Salt River at [[Yenyening Lakes]] is {{convert|91500|km2}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au/about-us/our-region/avon-region/ |title=Avon Region - Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management - Leading natural resource management (NRM) endeavours - Avon River Basin |access-date=2010-11-28 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110219122804/http://www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au/about-us/our-region/avon-region/ |archive-date=19 February 2011 |df=dmy }}</ref>

The basin covers much of the [[Wheatbelt (Western Australia)|Western Australian wheatbelt]]<ref>Western Australia.(2008) Dept. of Water. ''Managing waterways in the Avon wheatbelt: field guide'' Perth, W.A. Dept. of Water – "This is an Avon Catchment Council project delivered by the Department of Water and funded with investment from the state and Australian governments through the [[Natural Heritage Trust]] and the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality." "June 2008" http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/record=b2561801~S2 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308192311/http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/record=b2561801~S2 |date=8 March 2012 }} – Also available as an electronic version via the Internet. {{ISBN|978-1-921468-75-9}}</ref> and extends beyond that in some areas near almost-always-dry Lake Moore in the northeast, water is received regularly from only the extreme western edge of the basin. Indeed, until an abnormally wet year in 1963 it was not realised that the northeastern part of the basin beyond [[Wongan Hills, Western Australia|Wongan Hills]] ever drained water into the river. Under present climatic conditions, it is almost impossible to produce [[runoff (water)|runoff]] from anywhere outside the extreme west of the basin because the amount of rain required to fall before runoff would begin is as high or higher than the mean annual rainfall. The river has three main sub-catchments: catchments for the Mortlock, Yilgarn, and [[Lockhart River, Western Australia|Lockhart]] rivers.

The river flows past [[County Peak]], creating a picturesque view from the top.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.beverleywa.com/naturalattractions.html|title=Natural attractions in Beverley|website=Beverley, WA|access-date=19 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202732724 |title=Tourist Road at County Peak |newspaper=[[The Beverley Times]] |volume=62 |issue=22 |location=Western Australia |date=10 June 1966 |access-date=23 October 2017 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

===Course and features===
Thirty creeks and rivers flow into the Avon; some of the larger tributaries include the [[Dale River (Western Australia)|Dale River]], [[Brockman River]], [[Mortlock River]] and the [[Mackie River]].<ref name=bonzle>{{cite web|url=http://www.bonzle.com/c/a?a=p&p=211728&cmd=sp|work=Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia|title=Map of Avon River, WA|year=2011|access-date=17 September 2011}}</ref> Most of these watercourses are [[ephemeral]] and only flow after rain in winter and spring.

Some permanent pools exist along the course of the river including [[Burlong Pool, Western Australia|Burlong Pool]], Robins Pool, Long Pool, Cobblers Pool and Jimperding Pool.

The Avon River Valley is the third and final route for the [[Eastern Railway (Western Australia)|Eastern Railway]] line through the [[Darling Scarp]] between [[Midland, Western Australia|Midland]] and [[Northam, Western Australia|Northam]], having been constructed in the 1960s.

It is the site of an annual [[whitewater]] boating event, the [[Avon Descent]].

==Soils==
Due to the extraordinary age of the [[soil]]s in the basin (which is on the extremely ancient [[Yilgarn craton]]), the rooting density of native flora is very high and its average specific discharge is probably the lowest of any basin of comparable size in the world. The extreme age of the soils also means that, at least after clearing for agriculture, almost all rivers in the basin have salinities above 0.3% (one-tenth that of the oceans and eight times that necessary to qualify as "fresh" water) and some much more than that.

Passing through some of the oldest settled European agricultural areas in Western Australia, the catchment area has extensive [[soil salinity]] issues, which have attracted governmental programmes to alleviate the loss of agricultural lands.  Catchment groups that oversee projects in the tributary parts of the river have had considerable support and funding from commercial and non-governmental sources as well.

==See also==
{{Portal|Western Australia}}
* [[List of watercourses in Western Australia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Harris, T. F. W. (1996) ''The Avon : an introduction'' Perth, W.A.: Water and Rivers Commission {{ISBN|0-7309-6989-4}}

==External links==
* http://www.wheatbeltnrm.org.au/ – formerly the ''Avon Catchment Council'' – known now as the ''Wheatbelt Natural Resource Management Inc.''

{{Rivers of Western Australia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Avon River (Western Australia)| ]]
[[Category:Swan River (Western Australia)]]