EstuaryWatch Data Portal

Water level in estuary has been falling for a few weeks, following rainfall

Extra photo shows river running straight out from  bridge following rainfall

A change in the river above the footbridge, the wide beach that existed in previous months has disappeared with water covering this area. See photos attached. The river channel as it flows into the ocean has narrowed and there is not much water flowing into the sea. The channel is still undercutting the foreshore caravan park. If standing on the beach near the road bridge you can see the deposition of sand is quite high on the southern side of the river.

Wye River has dramatically changed course veering left towards the Surf Club beach front.

Erosion increasing adjacent to Foreshore Camping Reserve. Trees and shrubs have fallen into the river partially blocking the channel.

Much sand deposited under the bridge, river is wide and shallow.

Photo attached showing river and erosion in front of the Camping Reserve and Surf Club.

The erosion caused by the river cutting into the northern bank of the river adjacent to the Beachfront caravan park is noticeable. There is security tape across the bank edge to stop people using the bank.

 Stormwater pipe near the bottom of the steps to the beach ( opposite the shop) is exposed.

Question: Do we need an additional photo-point? This month we couldn't capture the river course from the bridge to the sea from the current photo site only.  I have attached some photos from the other end of the bridge - so the course of the river to the sea can be captured.

Carolyn took some great photos and these are attached too!

I am having trouble getting Anne's name to appear in the samplers ?? i enter it but it doesn't appear on the next page?

Photo 1 and 2 are the regular photo points 

The water level was below the scale on the height measuring board in the river - so we made an estimate see photo 3 

Undercutting along the river bank next to the foreshore caravan - see photos 4 and 5 

There was a bird - like a quail spotted on the riverbank

The Estuary this fortnight is completely different from any thing I've seen before. The sand has been taken away from around the caravan park leaving a cliff like edge.  The sand under the bridge has formed a beach going all the way to the playground. The river itself is very clear, fast flowing but very narrow. River rocks are very visible from the bridge up the river.  The water level gauge is a long way from any water and you can see the pylons which we think are from the very original bridge. The main beach is very large.

Sand movement from beach to under bridge.  Course of river outflow changed.

Depth gauge no longer in river course.

See attached photo showing water gauge, unable to measure a level.

Regarding tidal influence, high tide was at 10.45am and at 10.00am (when the observations were made) the sea was surging into the mouth of the river. When I went to check the water level at the gauge under the pedestrian bridge the surge from the sea had reached the tide gauge.

On this day the sea state was difficult to judge as quite large waves were breaking onto the beach yet beyond the beach break, the sea was quite calm. Slight seas was chosen as greater than 0.5 metre waves were breaking onto the beach.

As the tides have been very high the level maker is almost covered with sand.

It is really amazing how the river mouth changes so much and often so dramatically over the two week checking.

Berm noted in previous report has dispersed.

Unusual for this estuary, a sizeable berm has established.  Photo attached.

the river and pond were very small with the river slowly winding its way across the sand. we did speak to two families about please open their 'dams' when they had finished , so the river water would flow into the sea.  We explained reasons and they were all very happy.

Green colour in drain - flowing into the river from the beach front caravan park.

Large meander below the bridge and a steep bank before the river enters the sea. 

1. River meanders from the lagoon to the sea. Much more sand.

2. Drain pipe on beach more exposed, see photo.

The river is settling into its new lagoon pattern with outlet channel more established.

Green algae now growing upstream of bridge in shallow sand at waters edge

Lagoon has moved down the beach and is now located behind a sandbar

Lots of sand on upper beach and under bridge

Seaweed on the beach. 

Channel narrow around the gauge; upstream sand deposited under both bridges.

Plovers active on the beach.--( not the endangered ones )

Lagoon getting bigger on beach side of bridge.

More sand accumulating under bridge

sand continuing to build up  upstream of bridge despite winter rains - easterly storms and high tides

Observed large amounts of storm water flowing into the river from the two pipes on the southern side of the bridge, opposite the store.

There is more sand under the bridge than in previous months 

Plovers in residence.

More erosion opposite Store but steps well covered with sand. Photo attached.

More sand on main beach in front of campground.

More sand deposition upstream of bridge and on north side of beach, more sand removed from south side of beach past picnic ground and toilet

* Strong winds overnight, gusty conditions

*Water level height difficult to read, obscured by rust, photo attached

* Grey crane observed, standing underneath the Wye River bridge

Extreme wind event 10 nd 11 May.  Course of river across beach shifted in direction and sand depth.  Photos attached.

• Large waves at monitoring site.  The waves were covering the beach and washing against the SLSC boat ramp and beach entrance. 
• Usual river channel is hidden by waves .
• 17/04/2018 Waves have subsided- river channel has changed considerably due to sand shifting.

• 1 dead duck in the estuary 
•  Signs warning people about e.coli in the estuary still present.

- the breeze, both in strength and direction, was very variable but mainly from the west.

-a large pond had formed between bridge and half way down the beach. the mouth was only just open.

Lagoon greatly enlarged with small flow over the sandbar.

Riverbank/tributary creek vegetation (opposite start of boardwalk) cleared by adjacent landholder /builder to improve views - see photo

Colac Otway Shire have again erected signage at the river mouth (an annual summer occurrence) warning of high bacteria levels in the water and advise against swimming. Signage indicates that there will be further monitoring of the water and when acceptable signage removed. There is no indication of why the bacteria levels are so high.