EstuaryWatch Data Portal

Sea state very variable over previous 2 weeks from flat calm to Rough

Cannot measure water level due to lower gauge beng obscured by bushes

River mouth was closed until previous day. River level quite high and overflowng banks prior to this.

Lower water level marker is still completely obscured by overgrown bushes. Level we;ll below the bottom of higher marker (< 2m) though quite high and over banks in campground.

Wind and sea state very variable over last 2 weeks - easterlies predominant varying from still to quite strong winds. Sea state from flat calm to very rough.

Observed someone digging small channel to open berm (but they gave up before completing this). Following day, 22nd March, the river mouth had burst through the berm and was fully open agin.

Wind mode last 2 weeks - very variable in both direction and strength from strong eaterly to calm sw

Water level below all measurement markers

Apologies about no tidal data - forgot to complete on day and can't locate retrospectively from weather/tide apps

Water level below height markers

Good to see that access to water level marker has been cleared - thank you

Water level was well below the bottom of the marker today

Sea state has been very variable over last 2 weeks

Unable to measure water levels due to overgrown tress on riverbank.

We will be away for next watch but will do an assessment around 21 October when we are back

Unable to access water level markers due to overgrown tree

Unable to complete Mode for physical condition - very variable over last 2 weeks from completely still and calm to some days of very strong winds

At Bmp2 the platform was under water. Mode for wind and sea state was not assessed as conditions have been highly variable over the last 2 weeks.

This was a training session.One wide angle 16:9 Bmp3 photo taken to replace two 4:3 images

Water level assessment reading river height gauges could not be completed because of over-growing vegetation.

Rain last 48 hrs = 0 mm; Atmos. pressure = 1011 hPa.

Rained continuously during monitoring period!

Heavy wind and wave surges pushed water across the berm opposite the BmP2 observation site. These inflows temporarily raised the estuary water level by up to 2 cm.  

Rain past 48 hrs = 1.4 mm; Atm. Press. = 1012 hPa

Mouth opening continues to shift south.

Rain past 48 hrs = 14.6 mm; Atm. Press = 1009 hPa.

River mouth has moved Southwards. Although no tidal influence was observed, dark water stains on the estuary bank indicated that there was tidal intrusion during the 1.8 m high tide of the previous night.

No rain past 48 hrs; Atm press = 1024 hPa.

Rainfall past 48 hrs = 0.8 mm; Atm. Press = 1015 hPa

Tidal influence would have been greater at 04:18 hrs when the predicted tide height was 2.03 m. 

Rainfall past 48 hrs = 0.8 mm; Atm. press. = 1030 hPa.

River level observed to be slowly dropping after recent rains. 

Rainfall past 48 hrs = 1.6 mm; Atm. press = 1023.5 hPa.

There is an ongoing build-up of sediment and debris at the river gauge. (See photo.)  River height readings may not be possible during dry months.  

Question for Estuarywatch co-ordinator: Vegetation growth has progressively obscured our vision of the river mouth from Photopoint BmP3. (See photo BmP3-3). Other viewpoints have advantages, and may deserve consideration. (See, for example, photo BmP2-5.)  

1.8 mm rain past 48 hrs; atm. press. = 1027 hPa

Rain past 48 hrs = 8 mm; Atm. pressure = 1024 hPa

School holidays: Visitors with dogs frequent estuary vicinity. 

Rainfall past 48 hrs = 1 mm; Atm. press. = 1006.2 hPa

Estuary water level high, accompanied by considerable width.

Note the river levels observed at BmP2 were not steady, but showed short term fluctuations within the range 1.16 to 1.23 m, according to wave action at the river mouth.  

19 mm rain during past 48 hrs; atmospheric pressure = 1019 hPa.

At GOR bridge observation point BmP2, a developing sand berm was observed spreading across the river towards the fishing platform. 

Rain past 48 hrs = 0 mm;  Atm Press = 1024 hPa.

Holiday makers enjoying perfect weather.

Rain past 48 hrs = 0.4 mm; Atm Press. = 1018.2 hPa

Solid berm across mouth, which has been closed for 10 days. 

River has flooded above its banks.

Recent rain in watershed today raised river height 3 cm from 12:15 to 15:00 hrs.

No rain during past 48 hrs; Atmos pressure = 1014 hPa. 

At mouth, river has cut through sand berm deposits.

0 mm rain during past 48 hrs; Atm press = 1010.1 hPa

River mouth characterized by meandering channel; rocks exposed where river enters ocean. 

Rainfall past 48 hrs = 0;  Atmospheric pressure = 1007.5 hPA.

Wide build-up of sand at mouth narrows mouth and river passage. 

Observed decrease in water level between 14:00 & 17:15 is more likely due to drawdown of river after the mouth opening in the prior 24 hrs, rather than to tidal influence. No upstream influence was observed at high tide. 

Vegetation growth over the years on the bank below the BmP3 observation point is starting to obscure vision of the estuary on the inland side. (e.g., compare image BmP3-3 with past images from the same data point taken in Dec 2012.)

Rain past 48 hrs = 0 mm;  Atm press = 1022 hPa

Narrow opening at mouth, with large exposed expanse of sand, even at high tide.  Rocks well-exposed on NE side of mouth. 

Rainfall last 48 hours 0.0mm,  Air Pressure 1023.6 hPa

Rainfall past 48 hrs = 0.2 mm; Atmos pressure = 997.7 hPa.

River mouth wide and relatively deep. 

Water level at gauge showed periodic fluctuations (within a range of 0.06 m), due to the surge and ebb of surf at the river mouth.

Rainfall past 48 hrs = 10.8 mm

Atm pressure = 1017.8 hPa

Due to recent rains there is downriver flow, but this is opposed by the high tide, resulting in small net change of river height at the estuary during the time we were monitoring. 

Rain past 48 hrs = 0; Atm pressure = 1014.6 hPa

Rain past 48 hrs = 0.2 mm; Atm press = 1024 hPa

Rain past 24 hrs = 0; Atm press = 1008.6 hPa

Car park at Barham bridge is now clear of roadworks materials.

Flock of about 100 terns on berm south of mouth.

Rain past 48 hr = 2 mm; Atm. press = 1025.4 hPa

River level high - banks flooded at bridge. At low tide mouth would be closed, but at full tide (14:30) storm surge waves breach over the berm at the river mouth and move up the river. 

Terns and gulls sheltering on land-ward side of dune build-up at mouth. 

Photo note: BmP3_1 & _BmP3_2 are simple crops of BmP3_pan, made using garden-variety photo app.  

Rain past 48 hrs = 4.5 mm; Atmos Pressure = 1013.7 hPa

As of 1/1/2018, car park has been cleared and graded with crushed rock.

Sand deposited at mouth has produced high water levels in estuary, with the small berm just washed over at high tide. At other times, the mouth is closed. 

Starting with the next sampling, photographs BmP3-1 and BmP3-2 will not be uploaded.  Panoramic photo BmP3-3 includes all information contained in BmP3-1 and BmP3-2, and moreover, is easier to interpret.

No rain previous 48 hrs; atm pressure = 1015 hPa.

Roadworks adjacent to monitoring point BpM2 have been completed and parking area restored.

Rainfall past 48 hrs < 1 mm; Atmospheric pressure = 1015 hPa.

Location and shape of mouth has altered considerably since last monitoring visit. 

Rain past 48 hrs = 0; Atm. press. = 1008.9 hPa.

Water level not readable on gauge due to mud bank deposits. Judged to be < 0.5 m. At finish of observations the level was still below 0.5 m, but was estimated to have risen by 1-2 cm.

Observed wetting of sandbanks near the photopoint, presumed to be due to the previous high tide, supports the existence of tidal influence.

Access to monitoring point BmP2 is considerably impeded by untended vegetation growth and by stockpiles for ongoing road construction. New season's growth also hinders access along the foot track leading to BmP3.

Rain during past 48 hrs = 0.4 mm; atm press = 1004.6 hPa

Car park at Barham bridge closed to traffic owing to use by roadwork plants and for storage of roadwork materials. Significant roadworks still in progress.

4.0 mm rain during past 48 hrs; Atm. press = 1026 hPa.

Carpark at bridge continues to be used as base for ongoing drain and roadworks. Rolls of coir matting have been laid around the area to restrict run-off into the estuary. (See pix.)

Due to heavy rain in catchment over the past week, river mouth is wide with consistent outflow.

Rainfall past 48 hrs = 1 mm; Atmospheric pressure = 1008.6 hPa

Heavy winds previous day; large ocean swells. 

Carpark at bridge observation point BmP2 is being intensively used for the storage of excavator plant machinery and gravel for ongoing drainage and sewage works. It appears that this work will continue for some months. See added photo attached.

Rain past 48 hrs = 11.6 mm; rain past week > 20 mm.

Air press. = 1029.4 hPa.

Rain during past week has raised river level above normal. Strong outward flow at mouth.

Rainfall past 48 hrs = 2.6 mm; Atmos. press - 1022.2 hPa.

High tide 11:45

Very still atmosphere. A stretch of mechanically-dumped sand was observed, placed to consolidate the beach of Mounts Bay in the vicinity of Marengo.

The condition of the car park at the bridge opposite the campground is in poor condition. Added to previous debris-dumps from the campground, there now exists a large mulch pile to further restrict parking and public access.

Rainfall past 48 hrs = 4.2 mm; Atmos. pressure = 1024.5 hPa.

Rain overnight has raised river level. Completely still atmosphere, overcast, grey, & smokey due to ongoing forestry controlled burn at Gellibrand.

Rainfall past 48 hr = 1.4 mm; Atmos. Press = 1009.5 hPa.

Otherwise closed, the mouth opens at peak high tides with small waves moving over the sand bar for a short distance upstream. No outward flow observed. Estuary is wide and relatively high due to the mouth closure when tide is not at peak.

Rainfall last 48 hours 0 mm;  Atmospheric Pressure 1012.1hPa.  River level higher than expected.  Open mouth was wide and shallow.  There would be an exposed sand bar at low tide.  New vegetation growth 30 metres upstream of river mouth.  Large flocks of gulls and terns resting on berm edge upstream of river mouth.

Rain last 48 hrs = 0 mm; atmos press = 1018 hPa.

Moderate high tide and smooth ocean so little wave action at mouth; wide strand on beach.

Estuary mouth narrow and shallow.

Water stain along river bank suggests tidal influence during previous (midnight) higher tide.

Rain past 48 hrs = 6.8 mm; Atm press = 1007.9 hPa

Following overnight rain, river height was observed to drop slightly during monitoring period.

Sand bank at bridge fishing platform is well established and vegetated with grass

Rainfall past 48 hrs = 2.4 mm

Atmos pressure = 1024.1 hPa

Sand has accumulated and spread horizontally, widening the berm at the open river mouth.

Rainfall past 48 hrs = 27.6 mm; atmos pressure = 100.6.6 hPa.

Rainfall past 48 hrs < 2 mm.  

Air pressure = 1017.8 hPa.

Large flock of terns on berm south of estuary mouth.

Rainfall past 48 hrs = 3 mm; atmospheric pressure = 1022.2 hPa.

Air Pressure 993.9 hPa

Rainfall last 48 hours 19.8 mm

High Tide plus swell causing overflow banks at bridge (BmP2) fishing platforms flooded.

Wide and deep mouth channel

Brush pile at bridge car park has been burnt, but dumping continues.

Rainfall in last 48 hours 7.8 mm Atmospheric Pressure 1000.0 hPa.

A combination of a higher tide than usual and steady rains in the river catchment are responsible for the high river depth reading.

Rain fall last 48 hours Air Pressure 1022.5 hPa
The mouth was open at High Tide, allowing incoming waves to enter the river, and gently flow upstream for approx. 30 metres. At low tide the river mouth would be CLOSED. Probably there is no outward flow of the river, hence the high water level reading.