The Tambo/ Nicholson catchment includes the Nicholson and Tambo River. The Nicholson River is 72.5kms in length and flows from the forested upland areas to the estuarine reach where the Nicholson River enters the Gippsland Lakes. The entire upper catchment of the Nicholson River is public land managed as State Forest.

The Tambo River catchment flows from the Great Dividing Range to The Gippsland Lakes, flowing through small towns along the way including Swifts Creek, Ensay, Bruthen and Swan Reach. Major tributaries in the Tambo catchment include the Timbarra River, Little River, Swifts Creek, Wilkinsons Creek, Haunted Stream, Scrubby Creek, Deep, Dirty Hollow and Bridle Creeks. There are also several streams that flow directly into the Gippsland Lakes in this catchment including Salt, Mississippi, Maringa and Slaughterhouse Creeks.

Above: Introduced fish habitat in the lower Tambo River