Overview

Estuary name Powlett River Estuary
CMA West Gippsland CMA
Description

The Powlett River Estuary is approximately 8km in length with a catchment area of 67.77km2. There are a number of bridges, roads and carparks in the area, that provide access to the estuary.

Estuary Values
  • significant bird species such as the Australasian Shoveler (Anas rhynchotis) Status- Vulnerable (Adv list), Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) Status- Endangered (Adv list) and the Royal Spoonbill (Platalea regia) Status- Near Threatened (Adv list).
  • Swampy Riparian Woodland- Endangered
  • Swamp Scrub- Endangered
  • Coastal Tussock Saltmarsh- Vulnerable
  • Wet Saltmarsh Herbland-Depleted
  • Estuarine Wetland-Depleted
  • Coast Banksia Woodland-Vulnerable
  • a significant fish species that exists on the Powlett River estuary is the Australian Grayling.
  • non-motor boating
  • picnics
  • swimming
  • walking
  • bird watching
  • coastal middens
  • water supply
Estuary Threats
  • pest animals and plants
  • degraded water quality
  • bank instability
  • disturbance of acid sulphate soils
  • livestock access
  • altered marine exchange
  • rural drainage and drain clearing
  • litter
  • channelisation of the river channel
  • trampling and bank erosion associated with pedestrian access
Data Site observations
Status Active
Monitor group
Document Powlett_River_EMP_section1.pdf
Document Powlett_River_EMP_section2.pdf
Document WGCMA_PowlettRiver_EMP_summary.pdf
Document WGCMA_PowlettRiver_Threats.pdf
Document WGCMA_PowlettRiver_Values.pdf

Map

Sites

Site details Options

Po1 Site one (Estuary Mouth)

Inactive Physico-Chemical 31-03-2010 - 09-06-2013

Middle of the estuary directly opposite the Powlett River Caravan Park and Mouth of the Powlett Carpark (site accessed in kayak).

Observations 5

Po2 Site two (Mouth of Powlett Road Bridge)

Active Physico-Chemical 13-03-2010 - 08-02-2024
Ocean side of Mouth of Powlett Road Bridge, in between the 6th and 7th reflector when coming from the Kilcunda side of bridge (approx halfway).
Observations 224

Po3 Site three (Bridge Creek)

Inactive Physico-Chemical 31-03-2010 - 14-04-2012

Monitoring is conducted from a kayak at the point where Bridge Creek (tributary) meets the Powlett River.

Observations 13

Po4 Site four (Old Town Drain)

Inactive Physico-Chemical 29-11-2010 - 14-04-2012

Site located in the middle of the river, directly opposite the old fence found on the upstream side of the old town drain.

Observations 8

Po5 Site five (Daly Bridge)

Active Physico-Chemical 01-04-2010 - 08-02-2024
Pedestrian bridge located at the end of Daly Street. This bridge crosses the Powlett River, and is part of the Kilcunda Rail Trail.
Observations 171

Po6 Site six (Fishing Hole)

Inactive Physico-Chemical 05-04-2010 - 01-07-2014

Second bend in river inland of Bass Hwy Bridge.

Observations 32

PoGB Powlett River Water Level Gauge Board

Active Gauge Board
This sites water level monitoring gauge board is located on the western river bank beside the Mouth of Powlett Road Bridge (downstream side).

PoMC Powlett River Mouth Condition Observation Site

Active Mouth Condition 13-03-2010 - 08-02-2024
Rocky platform located on eastern side of the river mouth.
Observations 253

Pop1 Powlett River Photopoint Site One

Active Photopoint 16-12-2012 - 09-02-2024

Sand dune located on the eastern side of the river, approx 70 metres from ocean waters edge.

Photos 739

Recent Events

Event Details
04-06-2019 Estuary Entrance Opening

The mouth of the Powlett River Estuary was opened @ 2.42m AHD following good late autumn / early winter rainfall, which generated some consistent river flows. With a sand berm height of 2.87m AHD the estuary mouth was a long way off naturally opening, so an artificial opening was required to alleviate the inundation of surrounding farmland.

 

 

04-06-2019 12:05
04-06-2019 12:05
View all events

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

Full and partial estuary snapshots displayed below View full snapshots only

Autumn 2020


Summer 2020


Spring 2019


Winter 2019


Autumn 2019


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