The traditional custodians of the land surrounding the Cotter River are the Aboriginal people of the Ngunnawal clan. The river was named in honour of Garrett Cotter, an Irish-born convict who was transported to Australia for "the term of his natural life". Cotter was banished from Lake George to the western side of the Murrumbidgee River in 1832. He built a house near the headwaters of the river that was later to bear his name. Cotter was granted a ticket-of-leave in 1843; given a conditional pardon in 1846 that gave him freedom of movement, except in Britain and Ireland; and later lived in Michelago. When the Government surveyor, Charles Scrivener, recommended Canberra as the best site for Australia's national capital, water catchment was a significant consideration. Some were reserved within the ACT as the catchment area of the Cotter River. The catchment area was calculated to support a planned population of 100,000.
Dams
There are three reservoirs on the river, the Corin, Bendora and Cotter Dams which supply water to Canberra, known as the Cotter River System. Most of the Cotter catchment is in the Namadgi National Park.
Recreation
The Cotter Dam, like other dams and reservoirs within the Cotter Catchment supply domestic drinking water and is therefore closed to recreational watercraft use. The Cotter River Reserve located at the base of the dam wall is a very popular picnic area. The reserve has amenities such as barbecue facilities and tables. There are a number of areas that are suitable for swimming when there is sufficient water flowing in the river. There is also a short term camping site which can accommodate a very limited number of caravans and tents. The Cotter Road, ACT tourist route 5, begins as a side road off Adelaide Avenue in the suburb of Deakin. The scenic drive stretches from the centre of Canberra past the suburbs of Curtin, Holder and Duffy, in between Stromlo Forest and Narrabundah Hill Pine Plantation, and past Casuarina Sands into the Cotter Avenue river area. The Cotter Road and the adjoining winding Brindabella Road are well known to motorcyclists, many of whom ride there in the evening after work or on weekends. The Cotter Hotel, which stood near the children's swings alongside the river, was burned down in the 2003 bushfires. It was a well known meeting place amongst motorcyclists on weekends. The upper section of the Cotter River is also popular with white water kayakers, and features a fast flowing yet scenic grade 3 section. However the river requires high rainfalls for it to flow at a minimum level. There has been a push by local white water paddlers to kayak this section before the dam is completed down stream as it raise the level of the lake drowning the section. Below the dam are also kayaking opportunities. Located near the top picnic area the 'Cotter Play Wave' is the only one in the area and creates playboating opportunities formed by a small weir, however again it requires high flows. From the play wave it is possible to paddle to the confluence of the Murrumbidgee River. Caution is advised as it is prone to strainers formed by trees, weirs and man made objects.
