Sedimentation of the Tamar estuary has been an issue of long standing contention within the community for both public amenity and environmental reasons. Tidal movement of sediment within the estuary as well as sediment transport to the estuary from the upstream river systems, are contributing factors to the supply of sediment in the upper Tamar estuary.

The aim of the Tamar Catchment Sediment Modelling Project was to develop a sediment model to quantify the amount of sediment entering the Tamar estuary from the North and South Esk River systems and to identify the area in the catchment where this was originating from.

Identifying the area in the catchment that sediment is sourced from enables the TEER Program, NRM North and our partners to target on-ground works in the upper catchment area to help minimise sediment and nutrient input into the river systems. 

This project has been closely linked with the development of the Launceston City Council's report into the "Upper Tamar River Sediment Evaluation Study" which was undertaken to review the potential solutions for removing the historic accumulation of sediment within the upper Tamar estuary.

A copy of the Tamar Estuary and Esk Rivers Catchment WaterCAST Model: Final Report is available to download here.