EstuaryWatch Data Portal
Overview
Estuary name | Wreck Creek |
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CMA | West Gippsland CMA |
Description |
Wreck Creek is a small intermittently closing and opening estuarine lagoon located on the western edge of Inverloch. From the coast the estuary follows Cape Paterson - Inverloch Road towards the Inverloch RACV resort, for approximately 800 metres, before the creek becomes fresh. The creek has two main branches, one that begins well above the RACV resort (including the resorts wetlands) and the other flows out of farmland through the residential area to the north. For the majority of the year two branches of the creek are mostly dry (apart from a few ponds and billabongs that have been sighted on private property upstream). These creeks begin to flow during wet times (winter / spring), and for the majority of the time the main habitat available to biota is the estuarine lagoon itself. |
Estuary Values |
Plant communities / species (Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs) and Bioregional Conservation Significance in Victoria);
Fish identified during sampling in January 2017
Significant bird species (Conservation Status Victoria);
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Estuary Threats |
Threats to estuary health include;
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Data | Site observations |
Status | Active |
Monitor group | WGCMA Estuary Management Group |
Document | Values_and_threats_content_for_EstuaryWatch_Website.pdf |
Sites
Site details | Options |
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Wr1 Surf Parade Bridge InverlochActive Physico-Chemical 26-05-2016 - 21-02-2024Centre culvert on the downstream (ocean) side of Surf Parade Bridge |
Observations 89 |
WrGB Wreck Creek Gauge Board SiteActive Gauge BoardThe Gauge board is located on the eastern downstream side of the Surf Parade Bridge, right alongside the bridge itself. |
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WrMC Wreck Creek Mouth Condition SiteActive Mouth Condition 06-04-2017 - 15-04-2021Wreck Creek Mouth Condition Monitoring Site, located at the end of the Wreck Creek access path opposite 178 Surf Parade Inverloch. |
Observations 69 |
WrMC2 Wreck Creek Mouth Opening Number Two (western end)Active Mouth Condition 14-07-2020 - 21-02-2024In April 2020, following a large storm surge event, a new opening was formed at Wreck Creek. There are now two locations where the creek can flow out to sea. This site will be monitored in conjunction with the mouth condition monitoring site established several years ago (further east). |
Observations 55 |
Wrp1 Wreck Creek Photopoint SiteActive Photopoint 07-04-2017 - 14-06-2022Site located at end of beach access path opposite 178 Surf Parade Inverloch. Site located on grassy mound (site of proposed Fluker Post). |
Photos 222 |
Wrp2 Wreck Creek Photopoint Site TwoActive Photopoint 01-06-2020 - 14-03-2024Wreck Creek West end Opening |
Photos 180 |
Recent Events
Event Details |
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02-08-2019 Estuary Entrance Opening Estuary mouth naturally opened |
14-07-2019 Estuary Entrance Closure Large ocean swells closed the mouth of Wreck again following an opening 2 days prior. Being a very small catchment, creek flows were not significant enough to over power the ocean. |
12-07-2019 Estuary Entrance Opening Wreck Creek was artificially opened @ 2.03m AHD. With the sand berm height at approximately 2.4m AHD (i.e. the height of the lowest house), and significant rainfall forecasted over the weekend, an opening was required. Given the lower dissolved oxygen levels in the bottom waters a shallow opening was completed. |
27-05-2019 Estuary Entrance Opening Wreck was artificially opened at 2.0m AHD following a significant increase in water level height from 1.5m AHD on the 24th of May 2019 to 2.0m AHD @ 5:30pm on the 27th of May 2019. The water level increase was a result of rainfall (~30mm) during this period on a previously wetted down catchment. Following the opening this area experienced 70mm of rain over the next 4 days.
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27-05-2019 Unusual/Extraordinary occurrence! Eel migration took place prior to the scheduled opening that occurred at 9:30pm the same night. This migration took place during a large tide and ocean swell that allowed for the crossing of the sand bar. |
Estuary Snapshots
The EstuaryWatch snapshots provide a summary of estuary condition on a particular day. For all EstuaryWatch Snapshots, photopoint photos and a longitudinal water quality profile from the estuary mouth to the inland extent is displayed. Read more
Winter 2019
Autumn 2019
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