NB: There is only coastal evidence of occupation for 6,000 years in this area due to the rise in sea level. Earlier evidence of Aboriginal settlement is now under the ocean near the edge of the current continental shelf.
Rocky Dam is located at Dunoon in the upper reaches of the Richmond River Catchment. It is on the southern rim of the ancient Wollumbin shield volcano. Igneous basalt and rhyolite rock formed by lava flows from the volcano have influenced its vegetation communities.
Warm temperate rainforest (dry sclerophyll) is found in the catchment on brown soils and sub –tropical rainforest grows on the nutrient rich red soils. There are 26 species of plants and 33 species of animals in the catchment that are classed as rare or threatened.
Rocky Creek Dam contains 14,000 mega litres of water when full and supplies water to Lismore, Evans Head, Byron Bay and Brunswick Heads. Ballina‘s water supply comes from Emigrant Creek Dam.