Capertee River Subcatchment

The Great Dividing Range separates the Hawkesbury Nepean from the Central West catchment near the town of Rylstone.

Large sandstone cliffs rim the valley while the valley floor is largely shale. Approximately 50% of the subcatchment lies within the Wollemi National Park and Gardens of Stone National Park, part of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.

The valley floor has had a long history of grazing and the waterways are generally highly degraded in these settled areas.

The valley contains a very rare river category, the "Meandering Lateral", found in Capertee River, Red Rock Creek and Coco Creeks, which is of high environmental significance.

Riverbank erosion and bed incision in the valley has been a major contributor of high sediment loads degrading the Colo River downstream that flows through Wollemi National Park. Reducing this sediment input is a high priority. Large volumes of sediment are also being contributed as a result of gully and sheet erosion in the valley. Willows are invading the waterways and salinity is also a significant threat, promoting erosion and degrading water quality.

Significant community based environment activity occurs in the valley and a large project has been initiated to restore habitat for the Regent Honeyeater.