EstuaryWatch Data Portal

Blue-green algae is present along the edge of the estuary.

Hach Multifunction meter did not register one of the probes when tested.  We tested with one probe in the functioning side of the meter, then connected the other probe into the functioning port.

Thanks for re-securing the upper section of the Height Gauge

However, the lower section of the Height Gauge is covered by coral, and could not be read.

I have scaled the height on my computer

the great variety of weathers occurring over the past weeks has made it impossible to give a Mode weather report.

The photos of the height gauge show that the height gauge is coming adrift from the bridge pylon, and needs to be re-secured.

Height gauge top section is coming away from bridge.

Curdies River estuary closed on Friday 3 Feb 2023

The Height Gauge on the Bridge at Peterborough needs repair. The top half of the gauge is coming adrift.  See attached photo.

We are using our last container of calibration Solution for the Hach Meter.  Additional supplies will be required soon.

Adam Nash participated in our monitoring session, but I was not able to list him on the website as a participant.  Could you please modify the list of "Samplers" to include our new members, and to delete those names of people that we have not heard from for several years.

Height Gauge readings could not be read from the Gauge because of 'gunk' and coral on the normally underwater areas.  Readings will be scaled from photographs taken.

Sea has been coming over the Berm in recent days, including last night.

Thick sludge thick with blue-green algea is on parts of the river surface.

Algae is throughout all levels of the water at the test site, and elsewhere.

Done as a training session to introduce Adam Nash and Priscilla Hough-davies to the procedures of monitoring.

Bad blue-green algae present in the river.

Very unpleasant odour.  Caravan Park has few customers, Dean says they arrive, smell the odour, have a look at the river and cancel their booking.

Local residents have organised a meeting at the Dory Street Boat Ramp at 10.00am on Sunday next to highlight the problem.

The local eel catcher has put a video on facebook of his trip down the river, showing large numbers of dead fish near the banks.  He plans to do another video next Saturday. It has been publicised on the Port Campbell Beacon website, and on the "Peterborough Press" facebook page.

Sorry about the photo upside down.  I tried to rotate it, but could not. You may have better luck.  If not, I can send you the photo.

We could not measure the berm height because we could not see the horizon or the pole

The Photos were taken because a ful;l monitoring session was not possible a/c COVID restrictions.

The rainbow in photos CUP1-3 and 4 was a bonus

I undertook this Mouth Condition Monitoring mainly because at the popular swimming hole :"The Men's Pool", shown in photo CUP1-4, one of the rocks surrounding the pool broke in half some years ago and slowly moved away from the other half.

This rock has further broken up a few days ago

These photos were taken because no photos were taken during the monitoring session on 3/8/21

Photo point site photos were not taken during this monitoring session, neither was the height gauge read,

I plan to take photos and read the height gauge later in the week
.

Photos taken after major rain when the river was on the verge of closing.

It is now running out strongly despite strong Southerly winds.

River height has climbed from 0.10 metres to 1.35 meters (on the on-line height record) in four days.

Opening of the river is continuing

The Estuary was artificially opened on the afternoon of 28/5/21

Photos taken during the monitoring session were blurred because thr camera was  on the wrong setting. The photos were re-taken later in the day.

As I was doing the observation alone. I was unable to measure the Berm height above the river or the sea.

Chemical testing of the estuary was not carried out because of COVID restrictions

Sally Loveridge also attended.

Height Gauge reading at start of monitoring was scaled, as the gauge was unreadable.

The LaquaTwin pH meter did not appear to be operating properly, as I have reported previously.  When calibrated, both pH 4 and ph 7 tests gave a reading of 7.1   Is it possible that the test chemicals were incorrectly labled?

Observation taken because of advice that the Curdies is to be artificially opened today

Boggy Creek monitoring site was not undertaken this month because the monitoring site was under water.

Boggy Creek monitoring was not visited today, because the high river level prevented access to the monitoring site.

Monitoring of the Boggy Creek site was not undertaken because the monitoring site was under water

Height Gauge on bridge pylon is dirty and thus difficult to read.  It needs to be scrubbed or replaced if accurate readings are to be obtained.

The river is close to closing.   A strong southerly wind will close it.

The river closed on 6th November 2019

We used the last of our chemicals to calibrate the multi-function meter, and will be unable to re-calibrate this meter until more chemicals are provided.  When we attended at Simpson recently, we were promised that our chemicals would be replenished, and we gave all our spare bottles to staff at the function for refilling

The Curdies River closed on 6th July 2019, and re-opened naturally on 10th July 2019

Sorry again for the photo quality.

My apology for the quality of some of the photosa, it apparently slipped back from 5 Meg to 0.3 meg.

River opening commenced at approx 8.00am, and the digger left at approx 10.00am, with low flows of water from the river.

These readings and photos were taken because of information that the river is to be opened tat 5.00 am Sunday 16th June 2019

It was not possible to measure the Berm height from either the sea or the river.

the physical conditions for the last two weeks, weres so varied with very strong winds from the North, South and West, as well as calm conditions, with sea states from smooth seas to high seas.

The height gauge is very dirty.  It was impossible to read the gauge with accuracy, readings were scaled from the photos I took, which I have uploaded.

Height board was very dirty, making accurate heights difficult, particularly when combined with the swell. (See photos.)

Estuary close to closing, unless more heavy rain son.

Wind and sea conditions were very variable over the past two weeks at this site

Bitterly cold and windy conditions. We almost lost out equipment box at the pontoon, the wind blew it to the edge of the pontoon, and we just managed to catch it in time.

Cath Bell was not able to go to Boggy Creek, so we completed only the Dory Street monitoring.

Ther was a distinct change in the colour of the water at the pontoon, in a line at about 30 degrees to the pontoon, with darker brown water near the pontoon, lighter brown further out.  See the photo.

Marg O'Toole brought another volunteer with her, I had not met her before, but she apparently came to the recent QA session in Port Campbell.  She was interested and enthusiatic.

I will add her to my mailout about future monitoring sessions, if you agree.

Estuary seems to have settled down after opening on 17th June 18

Photos of the Curdies Estuary approx 30 hours after the natural opening.

Also a photo of the height gauge, and a photo of the further breakup of the rock at the Men's Pool near the estuary

Natural river opening occurred overnight, after large amount of water came down the river.  Height gauge was almost completely covered when inspected, (see photo), but there was evidence of higher water levels earlier.  The Great Ocean Road had approx 150 cm water over the road just east of Peterborough, and the caravan park was flooded.

These photos were taken because of the high seas and strong winds, resulting in waves flowing over the berm, and because the river level is very high, (well over the level at which artificial opening is recommended

Another rock at the Point near the Curdies mouth has broken in half in the last week or so.  I have included a photo of it.