Stanley River (Queensland)

Infobox_River
river_name = Stanley River

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image_size =
caption = Stanley River downstream from the Somerset Dam
origin = Blackall Range
mouth = confluence with the Brisbane River
basin_countries = Australia
length =
elevation =
mouth_elevation =
discharge =
watershed = 1330 km² [cite book |title=Strategic Guide to Resource Management in South East Queensland |last=South East Queensland Regional Strategy Group |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2000 |publisher= |location= |isbn=0734517408 |pages=100 ]

The Stanley River in Queensland is the main tributary of the Brisbane River. The Stanley River valley extends roughly 35 km westwards from the area south of Maleny to Kilcoy before veering southwards.

It is dammed by the Somerset Dam built 7 km upstream from its confluence with the Brisbane River. The dam was the principle water supply for Brisbane for some fifty years until the construction of the Wivenhoe Dam was completed, forming Lake Wivenhoe.

History

Before either dam was built the Stanley and Brisbane Rivers were both prone to flooding. Despite warnings instigated by Henry Somerset who saw flash flooding in the upper reaches of the Stanley River valley, the 1893 Black February floods caused severe flooding downstream in Brisbane and other towns such as Fernvale.

The river once marked the north-west boundary of the defunct County of Stanley.

Flora and fauna

Riparian vegetation around the Lake Somerset area have been almost completely cleared for grazing. In the upper reaches bushland remains mostly intact although wildlife corridors have been fragmented and fish stocks reduced.

The Gastric-brooding frog is a recently extinct frog that was discovered in only three catchments, the Mary River, Mooloolah and Stanley Rivers.

ee also

*List of rivers of Australia

References