EstuaryWatch Data Portal

Gauge under bridge still so dirty that any depth below 1.5m is completely covered with slime/dirt

Once again the depth gauge under the bridge was so dirty that we have only been able to "guessomite" the height.

Depth measurer so dirty could only estimate water level

Water gauge under bridge still too dirty to read - so this field shows zero.

Water level under bridge unable to be measured as the markings were covered in mud for any measurement >1m.   This has been reported to GORCPA

1.   The weather was so calm that we couldn't define which direction the wind was coming from!

2.   As mentioned in previous data portal entries, though I enter the correct date and time of each photo, after saving the file and then viewing, every single time the dates have reverted to the date/time the files were uploaded to the portal.

Therefore the data sheets date/time need to be referred instead.

Water gauge at bridge needs cleaning - measurement was approximated in this visit.

Tourists once again questioned us about the sign indicating the river water was not suitable for swimming.

Water gauge had been cleaned

Water level meter was so dirty we were unable to take any measurements.   We have reported on this several times, and requested that we be given a contact name/tel no. of the person responsible at GORCC to this is carried out on a regular.   I shall give the contact to Uric Orr who has offered to monitor the situation for us to ensure the meaurements are clear prior to each visit.

1.  Gauge under bridge needs cleaning, hard to read measurements.

2.  River nearly perched as seaweed was piled up at the narrow mouth.

Saw shoals of fish 10-15cm under bridge, unfortunately unable to identify them.

Error found in Data Sheet after it was scanned.   Low tide shown as 2.06 (am) should have been 2.06 pm (24 hr clock not used on Internet Lorne Tide Times).

I incorrectly added the site number Ep4-4 into the Data Sheet Photopoint field and could not delete it.

Once again the date and time of the photo points wasn't saved after data entry.  On review these had reverted to date and time of when photos/form were downloaded to USB.   This has happened for several months now.   Don't know what the ramifications for data analysis will be.

Deidre - Please note that there is still a problem with the software as although I carefully enter the date/time each photo was taken and then save, when I go into view, the dates all revert to the day/time I entered the data!

However in Edit mode the date/time is correct!

Deidre.   I don't know why I have never noticed this before but I see that though I change the date on all the photos to the day/time when photo is taken it seems to revert to the date/time when photos were uploaded into the portal in the view window.  This also applies to the data sheet uploaded.   Tho on the portal the date is correct.  Then when I go into Edit to change things the dates look correct.

Is their an explanation for this?

The water gauge under the bridge is still dirty (as it was last month).  We could only estimate water height.

Saw some water birds for the first time for months. 1 cormorant and 2 herons.

One heron resting in reeds - first time we have seen any wild life for some months.

Omission on Data Sheet.  Just noticed when I reviewed this scan that I had omitted to enter the number of photos taken at each sight.   Apologies.   However the number taken is as usual.

Problem!  First time I tried to upload data sheet .pdf file it was unsuccessful. So I tried a second time.   However I now find there are 2 copies and I don't know how to delete one!

Please note there were very high winds and stormy conditions and yet the Beaufort scale table on the data sheet's B.No 1, only went up to 5 (Fresh Breeze) so when I came to enter the data into Estuary Watch and I noticed the Beaufort Scale allowed for more severe conditions I up graded the scale.   So please be aware that scanned sheet will not truly reflect either B Scale or Sea State readings.

Can I suggest that when the Data Sheet is updated next time both Table 1 and 2 be adjusted?   At the same time  Photopoint Site table needs to include at least another line as there are more than 2 sites on the Erskine River.

Allow please note that I am still unsure whether I am entering the correct times for the High and Low Tides - perhaps we could talk about that when we next catch up?

River flowing very slightly towards sea.   Wind gusting a bit in fact by the time we got to EP4 it had really dropped all together.

The gauge under the bridge is still very dirty.

Gauge under bridge is so dirty that water level reading is almost obscured, so this is an estimate only. Tree branches obstructing view of scale as well.

Water level measurer was partially obscured by branches.   Levels could therefore be a few centimetres off.

I should have mentioned at our meeting that the form needs to have the Photopoint Site increased by one line to include space for EP4 photos.

Photos were recovered and have now been uploaded to June observations.

• Pelican spotted upstream of the Swing Bridge.
• Calm conditions for 2-3 days.
• Three water samples monitored for salinity.  Seawater sample= 35.5ppt Great Ocean Road Pedestrian Bridge sample= 0.5ppt Swing Bridge sample= 2.3ppt
• This data was recorded by Lorne P-12 College

1.   The depth guage on the bridge was so dirty that we had difficulty in getting accurate measurements.

2.    Don has asked me to pass on to you that he has noticed that when he takes a compass measurement on the swing bridge with the compass directly over the iron railing there is a difference of 20 degrees to when he steps back a couple of paces.

The large tree on the seaward side of the Erskine River bridge lying over the river where it had been dumped after it was felled, is likely to dam up the river after a downfall and cause flooding to the camp site.   I would suggest GORC be asked to cut it up if not remove it all together.

Once again the wind was swirling so when we reached Observation P4 it was coming from the SW 4.

1.  Saw 3 cormorants swimming out to sea

2.   Watched tide turning at site EP4 - very pretty with clear blue water penetrating the muddy river water in a distinct arch.

3.   Wind direction was constantly changes.

Included additional photo to show mud plume and sediment on storm water drain from Great Ocean Road on estuary side of bridge.

Wind was swirling in all directions during the course of the time it took to complete the exercise.

Between 12.45 and13.30 the weather conditions worsen considerably, by the time we reached the EP4 sight it was raining and misty, with seas rising to BSN4.

Under bridge marker muddy

WIND WAS SWIRLING IN ALL DIRECTIONS

• 5mm of rain overnight (unofficial)
• lot of rubbish washed down overnight
• 0.4m of berm undercut on the north side
• wrack and debris washed up where last weeks high tides reached

• Erskine perched in photo Ep1 but later opened with rising tide. Proposed Ep4, four photos at 11:51.
• North bank undercut by 0.36m.
• Lorne Sculpture Biennale 2014.