The Little Swanport estuary

A photograph from the mouth looking towards the river entrance provides an overview of the topography of the Little Swanport estuary (Figure 10.1). A lack of urban development but intensive clearing to the water's edge is obvious, as is the oyster racking between the entrance bar and Ram Island. The river entrance, north of the Duck Islands, is very small compared with the broad intertidal shallows of the estuary. The area shown in Figure 10.1 is commonly referred to as the Little Swanport estuary, although saline waters regularly penetrate several km up Little Swanport River. Because of the lack of development, other than agriculture and aquaculture, this estuary is considered by many to be picturesque and serene.