The bioregions of Desert Uplands, Brigalow Belt South, Mitchell Grass Downs, Mulga Lands, Channel Country and Simpson/Strzelecki Dunefields are represented in this catchment.

Cooper’s Creek represents the coming together of two rivers, the Thomson and the Barcoo both of which rise on the western side of the Great Dividing Range. After joining, the system spreads into an enormous area of braided channels – part of the Channel Country. If rainfall to the north has been high enough, flows will eventually reach Lake Eyre.

The Cooper’s Creek catchment has a high rural population density in the north but this decreases markedly from north to south as rainfall decreases. The most extensive land use across the catchment is pastoral. Other uses include Aboriginal, mining, petroleum, tourism, and National Parks.

The population and variety of land use the area supports today is putting a far greater demand on its resource base than it has ever had to cope with before. In line with this, the need for careful management of the area’s natural resources is growing.

If the flows from the north have been large enough, the water finally makes its way to Lake Eyre as long as 9 or 10 months after it has fallen as rain.