Construction at Koolatah Crossing, Sept 2025

New bridge across the Mitchell at Koolatah, Oct 2025

Welcome.

Overview

The Mitchell River Watershed Management Group was formed after a conference on watershed management hosted by the Kowanyama Aboriginal community in 1990. Since then it has grown into an independent, not-for-profit organisation working in partnership with local communities and stakeholders towards:

  • a balanced approach to the use of the catchment resources; and
  • sustainable and integrated management of the Mitchell River catchment area.

The catchment has an area of 72,000 square kilometres (larger than Tasmania) from above the Coral Sea to the Gulf of Carpentaria across four very diverse bioregions from the Wet Tropics to the Gulf Plains.

Map of the Mitchell River Watershed

Our watershed is comprised of five main river catchments: the Lynd, the Walsh, the Mitchell, the Palmer, and the Alice.

Headlines

2025 Mitchell River Forum

This year the Mitchell River Forum will feature a line up of local leaders offering research reports, project updates, and briefings relevant to sustainable management in the catchment. Biosecurity will be a central focus, particularly in light of the projected impacts of Bird Flu. Water will again be a theme, with particular focus on the review of the Mitchell River Water Plan.

Join us from 09.00 for a 09.30 start at the Geraghty Park Hall in Julatten, on Saturday 11 October. The speakers program will conclude at 12.30 followed by a networking lunch.

2024 Annual General Meeting and Mitchell River Forum

Mitchell River Forum was an opportunity to highlight changes and challenges across the catchment

What can growers expect from long-term changes to regional rainfall? Can renewable energy projects cause more environmental harm than good? How much will the water cost from the proposed Lakeland Irrigation Scheme? And...are you ready to start running your farm machinery on pyrolised banana bags?

 

 

Special projects

Abattoir Swamp     Sentinel network