102 results found (Displaying 1 - 50)
Date Details
30-09-2021 Weather Event

Heavy overnight rain in the hills caused flooding on the Barham River Rd upstream of Conns Lane. Mt Sabine recorded 97mm but only 17 mm fell in Marengo.

The estuary height at 08.45 was 1.915m AHD.

At 17.00 the water level had fallen only slightly.

01/10/2021 at noon the estuary height was 1.4mAHD. Significant sediment had been deposited.

An area of vegetation that had become established in recent years inside the river mouth on the SW side was swept away.

The SE storm had removed sand from the beach lowering the beach profile by nearly 2 metres just SW of the GOR bridge. This allowed the sea to erode the old dunes in that area.

Phil Lawson
01-05-2020 Weather Event

A rain event got the estuary height to 1.50mAHD at 15.45 on the 01/05/2020. The strong river flow cleared out sand  and at 15.00 on the 06/05/2020 the estuary height had fallen to 0.60mAHD. The lowest for the year.

Phil Lawson
03-04-2020 Estuary Entrance Opening

West winds prior to 09.30 on the 01/04/2020 when the Barham river mouth is closed. The estuary height is 1.24m, the berm clearance is 0.1m and there is a light E breeze.

On the 02/04/2020 at 16.00 the estuary height is 1.34m. An artificial opening has been attempted.

On 03/04/2020 at 10.00 the river mouth is newly opened and the estuary height is 1.42m AHD.

On the 08/04/2020 at 17.30  the estuary height is 0.78m which is the first observation below 0.80m this year. Sand carting NE to SW across the river mouth for dune replenishment has meant on return there has been plentiful sand in and around the river mouth. In the last 12 years the highest base estuary height for an extended period had been 0.73mAHD and that was noticeably unusual.

Regular rainfall this 2019/20 season has kept the Barham river streamflow healthy discouraging river mouth closures.

Phil Lawson
20-01-2020 Estuary Entrance Opening

On the 17/01/2020 at 15.30 the Barham river mouth is closed. The sea conditions are smooth to slight and the estuary height is 0.92mAHD.

18/01/2020 at 09.30 there is slight to moderate messy seas caused by an E wind. Estuary height is 1.0m.

19/01/2020 at 10.00 there is a moderate SE wind, berm clearance of 0.1m and the estuary height is1.04m.

20/01/2020 at 08.45 the river mouth is open and the estuary height is 0.90mAHD

Phil Lawson
13-01-2020 Estuary Entrance Opening

On the 11/01/2020 there was strong SW winds. At 17.00 on the 12/01/2020 the Barham river mouth is closed, the estuary height is 1.02mAHD and the wind has abatted.

13/01/2020 at 10.50 the river mouth is open and the estuary height is 1.04mAHD.

Before and after the the Barham river mouth closure the base estuary height was 0.8mAHD or above.

Phil Lawson
03-05-2019 Estuary Entrance Opening

24-04-2019 at 10.00 the Barham River mouth is closed. Seas are smooth and the Estuary height is 1.28m.

30-04-2019 at 17.00 the river mouth has remained closed and the Estuary height is now !.82m.

02-05-2019 at 10.30 the Estuary height is now 1.895m.

03-05-2019 at 10.45 there has been a natural river mouth opening and the estuary height has fallen to 0.96m.

Phil Lawson
10-04-2019 Estuary Entrance Opening

09-04-2019 11.00 the Barham River mouth is closed and the estuary height is 1.54m. The wind is a fresh Westerly and the seas are rough. High tide is at 14.30. At 17.00 the estuary height is 1.64m and the berm clearance is 0.15m.

10-04-2019 at 09.00 the river mouth has naturally opened and the estuary height has fallen to 1.34m.

Phil Lawson
23-03-2019 Estuary Entrance Opening

14/03/2019 at 16.30 the Barham river mouth is closed. Seas are slight and the estuary height is 1.51m.  The closure would have happened 4 to 6 days prior to this date.

15/03/2019 the estuary height is 1.55m and the berm clearance is 0.25m.

20/03/2019 at noon the estuary height is 1.64m.

22/03/2019 at 14.30 the estuary height is 1.92m. Seas are slight and it is a light E wind. At 17.50 the estuary height is 1.935m and there is an artificial opening but at this time  it is not working, there is no flow out. Berm clearance is less than 0.1m. Reports of greater rainfall totals in the hills than on the coast.

23/03/2019, the river mouth is open into slight seas and a fresh  N wind. The estuary height is 0.7m.

Photos taken when the Estuary height is 1.935m.

Phil Lawson
02-03-2019 Estuary Entrance Opening

23/02/2019 at 12.30 the Barham river mouth is closed and the estuary height is 1.03m.

27/02/2019 at 10.30 the estuary height is1.21m, the berm clearance is 0.1m and the Paradise river gauge is low and at 0.177m.

01/03/2019 at 17.30 the estuary height is 1.30m.

02/03/2019 at 09.15 the river mouth is open to smooth seas with a fresh N wind. The estuary height is 0.82m.

Low river flows have been a dominant factor in this seasons river mouth closures to this date.

Phil Lawson
20-02-2019 Estuary Entrance Opening

09/02/2019 at 09.30 the Barham river mouth has closed. Slight seas and a fresh to strong SW wind. The estuary height is 1.1m.

11/02/2019 the estuary height is 1.40m but the berm clearance is minimal.

12/02/2019 at 18.30 the estuary height is 1.52m. Berm clearance is 0.25m. Sea conditions are moderate to rough.

17/02/2019 at 09.45 the estuary height is 1.80m and the berm clearance is 0.1m.

18/02/2019 at noon the estuary height is 1.81m and there is a failed artificial river mouth opening. The Paradise river flow gauge is at 0.190m.

19/02/2019 the estuary height is1.82m.

20/02/2019 at 09.45 the river mouth is open into slight seas with a moderate W wind. The estuary height is 0.91m.

Phil Lawson
08-02-2019 Estuary Entrance Opening

15/01/1019 at 10.00 the Barham river mouth is closed, seas are slight aand a light E breeze. Berm has minimal clearance. The estuary height is 0.83m. The Paradise river gauge is 0.202m.

23/01/2019 the estuary height is 1.08m and the river gauge is 0..188m.

28/01/2019 at 17.30 the river mouth is closed but with zero berm clearance. Estuary height is 1.34m.

29/01/2019 there are moderate seas.

31/01/2019 the estuary height is 1.45m.

07/02/2019 the estuary height is 1.575m.

08/02/2019 at  18.30  the river mouth has opened into smooth seas and the estuary height is 1.538m.

Phil Lawson
14-12-2018 Estuary Entrance Opening

13/12/2018 at 18.15 the Barham river mouth is closed, seas are slight and a gentle NW breeze. Berm clearance is 0.1m and the estuary height is 1.02m.

14/12/2018 at 14.45 the river mouth is just open. Flow is out into rough seas and a strong Easterly wind.The Estuary height is 1.44m.

Later at 18.15 the river mouth is still open but estuary height is 1.48m. Tide is going out.

13/12/2018 at 08.30 the Paradise river flow gauge is at 0.228m. On 14/12/2018 at 11.15 the river gauge is at 0.30m.

Phil Lawson
12-12-2018 Estuary Entrance Opening

09/12/2018 the Barham river mouth is closed, a light breeze and slight seas. The estuary height is 0.98m. The Paradise river flow gauge is at 0.23m.

11/12/2018 the river mouth is closed and the estuary height is 1.20m.

12/12/2018 at 15.00 the river mouth is open, water flowing out to smooth seas. The estuary height is 0.96m.

Phil Lawson
03-12-2018 Estuary Entrance Opening

At 13.00 the Barham river mouth is closed with minimal berm clearance. The seas are rough with gale force West winds. The estuary height is approximately 1.25 m.

The following day, the 04/12/2018 the river mouth is open and the estuary height is 1.12m.

Even against moderate river flow the strong Westerly weather has made this the 3rd short term river mouth closure for the new season.

The chances of a closure may have been increased by dune replenishment works. Sand from the harbour [NE of the river mouth] has been trucked to the SW of the river mouth to rebuild the dune supporting the Great Ocean Road. That area of the dune is vulnerable to SE storms especially.  Of note the sand from the harbour has tested as being 50% fine sand while the original dune in that area was 30% fine sand. There may be an increase in the amount of sand travelling past the river mouth, West to East.

Phil Lawson
23-11-2018 Estuary Entrance Opening

At 09.45 the Barham river mouth is closed and the estuary height is 1.11m. The West wind is strong and the sea is moderate. The Paradise river gauge is at 0.29m. There has been 14mm of rain in the last 48 hours but there is no sediment in the river flow. At 14.00 the estuary height is approximately 1.2m.

The following day, 24/11/2018 the river mouth is open and the estuary height is 1.1m.

Phil Lawson
07-11-2018 Estuary Entrance Opening

The Barham river mouth is closed with minimal berm clearance. The estuary height is approximately 1.2m. Days of strong West/NthWest winds with rough seas has pushed sand into the river mouth. The Paradise river gauge is at 0.24m.

On the 08/11/2018 the river mouth is open and the flow is out.

Phil Lawson
04-05-2018 Estuary Entrance Opening

30/04/2018 at 11.00 the estuary level is at 0.84m. The river mouth is closed with rough seas with a smooth swell entering the estuary over the berm. The river flow gauge is at 0.163; quite low.

01/05/2018 at 13.45 the estuary height is 1.02m. Seas are moderate.

04/05/2018 at 8.30 the river mouth is just closed with the berm clearance zero. The estuary height has peaked at 1.21m. Seas are smooth.

This is the last river mouth closure for the season. There was a total of 5 river mouth closures for the season.

Phil Lawson
16-04-2018 Estuary Entrance Opening

31/03/2018 at 16.00 the Barham river mouth has closed. The sea is smooth. The estuary height is 0.9m.

02/04/2018 at 17.40 the Paradise River Gauge is at 0.168m [fairly low]. The estuary height is 1.18m and the sea is smooth. The berm clearance is 0.23m.

07/04/2018 at 09.30 the estuary height is 1.42m. An artificial opening of the river mouth has failed; closed by the following high tide. The berm clearance is below 0.3m.

12/04/2018 at 10.00 the estuary height is 1.53m, there is a moderate sea and moderate west wind. The berm has not been topped by waves since 07/04/2018.

14/04/2018 at 10.00 the estuary height is 1.58m. Seas are slight but there is a strong West wind.

15/04/2018 at 11.15 the estuary height is 1.92m. Gales and the rough seas  are crossing the berm in all areas without established vegetation.

15/04/2018 at 15.40 the estuary height is 1.98m and the berm clearance is 0.1m. Weather conditions are calmer. The Paradise river gauge after rain is at 0.37m but with little sediment in the water.

16/04/2018 at 07.30 the estuary height is 1.7m, sea conditions are moderate to rough.The river mouth looks as if it has had an early morning natural opening. From fine debris lines it seems to have reached a peak estuary water height of 2.1m before the RM opening.        The Paradise river gauge is at 0.32m.   At 12.30 the estuary height is 1.2m.

 

Phil Lawson
23-03-2018 Estuary Entrance Opening

04/03/2018 at 18.00 the River mouth is closed, the sea is smooth and the estuary water height is 1.04m. The river flow is very low, below 0.15 at the Paradise river gauge. The high tide and low river flow appear to be the main contributors to the river mouth closure.

13/03/2018 at 11.30 the estuary water height has reached 1.26m.

The 19th, 20th and  21st of March seas are rough.

22/03/12018 at 08.15 the estuary height is 1.64 and the berm clearance is just under 0.2m. At 1.6m the estuary water starts to spread out into the backwater.

23/03/2018 at 09.00 the estuary height is 1.642m. The overnight high tide had covered an approved attempt at an artificial opening. The berm clearance is 0.23m.

23/03/2018 at 10.00 An approved artificial opening is being dug out again to protect a couple of camp sites which were not needed or used on the weekend.

23/03/2018 at 03.15 the river mouth is open and the estuary height is 1.32m.The artificial river mouth openings are being approved at lower and lower estuary water heights.

Phil Lawson
22-02-2018 Estuary Entrance Opening

15/02/2018 at 11.00 the River Mouth is closed and the estuary height is 1.09m. There is and has been strong West winds, and rough seas that were the main causal factor of the river mouth closure.

By the 19th the estuary height is 1.42m.

22/02/2018 at 11.15 the estuary height is 1.535m. The river mouth has just been opened illegally by a member of the Public. I estimate that a natural opening would occur at 1.7m or below.

23/02/2018 at 09.15 the estuary height is 1.01m.

Phil Lawson
27-01-2018 Estuary Entrance Opening

24/01/18 at 09.00 the river mouth is closed. It is calm with light winds but I am sure there was moderate seas during the night. The estuary height is only 0.88m. The Paradise river flow gauge is at 0.165.

On Friday the 26th the estuary height is 1.1m.

27/01/2018 at 09.00 the river mouth has naturally opened and the estuary height is 0.92. This is the first multiple day river mouth closure of the season.

Phil Lawson
28-05-2017 Water level

28/05/2017 at 13.39 the predicted high tide is 1.32mAHD. At 13.40 at the harbour the tide reading is 1.49mAHD [2.43mCD]. There is fresh NWW winds and the barometer is 1006.3.  A large swell with the high tide is backing up and filling the estuary. At 13.45 the estuary height is 1.44mAHD.

Rose Herben
04-04-2017 Estuary Entrance Opening

On the 30/03/2017 at 11.35 the river mouth is closed and the estuary height is 1.57m. A strong West wind and rough seas. The berm clearance is 0.2m.

For the next 3 days the seas remain moderate to rough and there is a large inflow of seawater into the estuary at high tide.

 High tides contributed to the closing of the river mouth and the inflow of seawater into the estuary. My tide readings were:  31/03/2017 at 15.20 harbour reading 1.06mAHD [2.0mCD].  02/04/2017 at 15.30 the harbour tide was 0.96mAHD [1.90mCD] and at 16.00 the tide reading was 1.06mAHD [2.0mCD] and at that time some waves are just crossing the berm at the river mouth and the estuary height is 1.967mAHD.

On 03/04//2017 at 09.20 the estuary height is 1.979m and the berm clearance is approximately 0.2m. At 17.50 there has been a failed attempt at artificially opening the river mouth.The moderate seas and high tide was sufficiently strong to sand up the artificial opening. At 18.00 the estuary height is 1.98m.

On 04/04/2017 at 08.10 the estuary height is 1.982m. At 13.10 the river mouth is closed.

On 05/04/2017 the river mouth has been successfully artificially opened.

Phil Lawson
03-04-2017 Estuary Entrance Opening

Barham River estuary was artificially opened to the sea.  Water level was 1.96m AHD.

 

 

rherben
22-03-2017 Estuary Entrance Opening

On 15/03/2017 at 09:00 the Barham river mouth is closed and the estuary height is1.03m AHD. Seas are slight and there is a fresh Northerly.

On 19/03/2017 at 11:45 the estuary height is 1.295m AHD ,the river mouth is closed with a berm clearance of 0.18m. The Paradise river gauge is at 0.17m AHD, the lowest I've seen it this season.

On 21/03/2017 at 17:45 the estuary height is 1.48m AHD, the river mouth is closed the sea is rough and the SE wind is fresh. There has been significant rain, 32mm at Marengo by 14.10 and another 12mm by 06.00. However the river flow is still only moderate, the runoff into the river has been low.

On 22/03/2017 at 08:45 the river mouth is open, the seas are moderate and the wind is a fresh SE. The estuary height is 1.0m AHD. There has been another 20mm of rain overnight [64mm in 24hours] and the Paradise river gauge is at 0.52m AHD. The river flow likely peaked at 0.55m AHD and sediment is moderate in the strong flow.

By 15:30 on the 22nd the strong river flow has scoured out sand inside the river mouth and the estuary height is below 0.5m AHD. At or near the minimum height achievable  with the rock shelf inside the river mouth.

plawson
11-03-2017 Estuary Entrance Opening

On 02/03/2017 at 09.00 the Barham river mouth is closed and the estuary height is 0.92m AHD.

The estuary height had not fallen below 0.84m AHD since the last river mouth closure.

On 06/03/2017 at 10.30 the estuary height is 1.22m AHD and the berm clearance is 0.25m AHD.

There has been dominant easterly weather and the rocks outside the River mouth are heavily exposed.

On 09/03/2017 at 14.15 the estuary height is 1.365m AHD.

On 11/03/2017 at 09.00 the river mouth has naturally opened and the estuary height is 0.84m AHD. The next day the height is 0.76m AHD.

plawson
20-02-2017 Estuary Entrance Opening

12/02/2017 at 16.45. The Barham River mouth has closed, the estuary height is 0.92m. The sea condition is slight but there is a strong West wind.

13/02/2017 the sea condition is moderate to rough.

15/02/2017 at 15.45. The sea is smooth and the estuary height is1.38m. The Paradise river gauge is at 0.21m.

18/02/2017 at 17.00. Sea conditions are moderate, waves are crossing the berm into the estuary and building up the berm.

19/02/2017 at 10.50. There has been overnight rain and the estuary height is 1.60m and the berm clearance is 0.1m.

20/02/2017 at 10.40. The river mouth is open and the estuary height is 0.96m.

At 1.60m depth the channels in the estuary backwaters are inundated.

plawson
03-02-2017 Estuary Entrance Opening

01-02-2017 10:00 is the first observed river mouth closure since May 2016. Since that time there has been good rainfall but no flood events were the Barham River has broken its banks.

Good river flows have kept the river mouth open.

01-02-2017 at 11.15 the estuary height is 1.12m, the river mouth is closed and sea conditions are slight.

02-02-2017 at13.20 the estuary height is 1.20m, the river mouth is closed, sea conditions are slight and the berm clearance is 0.15m. This day at 12.45 the Paradise River Gauge is at o.18m. On the 17-01-2017 it was at 0.20m.

03-02-2017 at 10.15 the river mouth is open, sea conditions are smooth and the estuary height is 1.24m. The main contributing factor causing the river mouth closure was clearly the high predicted tides following the New Moon.

 

plawson
12-05-2016 Weather Event
At 09.55 on the 12/05/2016 the estuary water height is at 1.19m. The river mouth is open, the flow is out and there is moderate sea conditions.
At 15.15 waves are entering the river mouth. The wind is a strong Westerly and the estuary height is 1.45m.
The high tide at 16.10 in the Harbour is at 1.36mAHD.
At 16.21 the estuary height is 1.57m and at !6.44 it is at 1.60m.
A similar pattern but with a lower high tide and smaller seas occurred on the 12/05/2016 and the estuary water height peaked at 1.56m at 17.20.
A pattern I have noticed in past years with Westerly winds, moderate sea conditions and an open river mouth. The estuary water height will be raised approximately 0.2metres above the high tide peak in the Harbour. Phil Lawson
11-05-2016 Weather Event
AT 13.20 on the 11/05/2016 the estuary water height is 1.22m. The rver mouth is open and there are moderate seas entering the estuary.
At 15.05 the estuary is at 1.66m. At 15.10 the tide level in the Harbour is 1.55mAHD. The wind is a strong Westerly.
At 15.40 the high tide level in the Harbour is 1.67m AHD.
At 16.40 the estuary water height is 1.81m.
At 16.43 the estuary water height is a 1.76m and dropping. Phil Lawson
10-05-2016 Weather Event
On Monday 09/05/2016 the Barham river mouth is closed, the estuary water height is 1.30m. The berm clearance is 0.2m and the seas are slight.
At 07.50 on Tuesday 10/05/2016 the river mouth is just open and the estuary height is 1.66m. the seas are slight and the tide is low. The paradise river gauge is at 0.406 and the flow has very light sediment.
At 14.45 the estuary height is 1.58m; waves are coming in the open river mouth and the seas have become moderaate.
At 14.50 the tide height in the Harbour is1.57mAHD [2.51m CD].
At 15.47 the tide is receding and the estuary height is 1.66m.
The estuary height was recorded as only 0.1 of a metre higher than the tide peak. Phil Lawson
05-05-2016 Weather Event
For 2 days leading to the 05/05/2016 rough seas had been having a dynamic affect at the Barham river mouth. The river mouth was closing and opening with swell and tides. The estuary water height ranged between 1.2m and 1.41m.
The largest swell I observed during that weather event was at 9.40 on the 05/05/2016. The estuary water height was 1.31m, the river mouth was open and the flow was both in and out with the swell entering the estuary. Phil Lawson
30-04-2016 Estuary Entrance Opening
Artificial estuary opening. 1.81m AHD. Rose Herben
11-04-2016 Estuary Entrance Closure
On the 09/04/2016 at 9.30 the Barham river mouth is open and the estuary water height is 0.95m.
On the 11/04/2016 at 10.30 the river mouth is closed and the estuary water height is 1.28m.
On the 12/04/2016 moderate to rough swell is crossing wide areas of the berm including opposite the GOR bridge [BmP2]. There is seaweed 100m up the estuary from swell crossing the berm.
13/04/2016 the estuary water height is 1.46m and the berm clearance is 0.52m.
!6/04/2016 the estuary is at 1.605m and the river flow is low; the paradise river gauge is at 0.175m.
25/04/2016 the estuary height is 1.75m. Phil Lawson
08-04-2016 Estuary Entrance Opening
On the 01/04/2016 the estuary water height was 1.25m and the berm clearance was 0.2m. On the 08/04/2016 the river mouth is open and the estuary water level is 0.96 m. Rose Herben
26-03-2016 Estuary Entrance Closure
The estuary water level fell to 0.92m before the river mouth closure on the 26/03/2016. Rose Herben
18-03-2016 Estuary Entrance Opening
The estuary water height was 1.435m with minimal berm clearance on the 18/03/2016. The river mouth then opened overnight. Rose Herben
10-03-2016 Estuary Entrance Closure
The estuary water height fell to 1.01m AHD before the river mouth closure on 10/03/2016. Rose Herben
26-02-2016 Estuary Entrance Opening
On the 26/02/2016 the river mouth naturally opened with the estuary water height at 1.64m AHD. Rose Herben
12-02-2016 Unusual/Extraordinary occurrence!
Large mats of green brown algae in the estuary were first recorded in the middle of February. There are no previous recording of a similar algal bloom. Rose Herben
11-02-2016 Estuary Entrance Closure
The estuary water height fell to 0.85m AHD before the river mouth closed on 11/02/2016. Rose Herben
03-02-2016 Estuary Entrance Opening
The estuary water height was 1.64m AHD with minimal berm clearance on the 03/02/2016. Rose Herben
12-01-2016 Estuary Entrance Closure
Estuary entrance closure. 0.87m AHD. Rose Herben
06-01-2016 Estuary Entrance Opening
Natural estuary opening. 1.38m AHD. Rose Herben
25-12-2015 Estuary Entrance Opening
Natural estuary opening. 1.448m AHD. Rose Herben
11-12-2015 Estuary Entrance Closure
Estuary entrance closure. 0.98m AHD. Rose Herben
08-12-2015 Estuary Entrance Opening
23/11/2015 at 09.40 the river mouth is closed and the estuary height is 0.93m. Moderate seas and moderate westerly breeze.
27/11/2015 the estuary height is 1.505 and the berm clearance at the river mouth is 0.25m.
29/11/2015 the estuary height is 1.618 and the berm clearance is 0.27m. The berm AHD height did not increase after this date.
The river flow gauge read 0.19 on the 30/11/2015 and 0.18 on the 09/12/2015.
The peak water height for the estuary was 1.777m at 13.50 on Tuesday 08/12/2015.
The estuary was subject to an artificial opening on Tuesday afternoon.
The estuary water height was settled at 0.87m at 20.00 0n 10/12/2015.
The river mouth opening on the 08/12/2015 was an artificial opening and it was opened well North East of where it would have opened naturally; [at the lowest point of the berm]. The next 6 river mouth closures and natural openings all continued to happen 60 metres North East of past river mouth openings. The artificial opening at a high part of the berm had changed the location of the lowest part of the berm during subsquent river mouth closures. A consequence was the estuary water level remained slightly higher when the river mouth was open. Phil Lawson
06-12-2015 Estuary Entrance Opening
A failed artificial river mouth opening attempt. The estuary water level was 1.755m and the berm clearance at its lowest point was 0.13m. Rose Herben
28-11-2015 Estuary Entrance Closure
Estuary entrance closure 1.08m AHD. Rose Herben
23-11-2015 Estuary Entrance Closure
Thought to let you know the Barham RM has been closed since 23/11 and this morning is at 1.705m estuary water height. Berm clearance is 0.18 so a natural opening is likely at 1.885m. On Sunday the 29th the estuary height was 1.618 and the berm clearance 0.27m; so the berm has not been getting higher and the estuary water height is going up slowly. Rose Herben
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