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  4. 16-05-2009
Estuary event details
Estuary Barham River Estuary
Region Corangamite CMA
Event type Weather Event
Date and time 16 May 2009 16:00pm
Description After several days of West to Nth-West winds a large swell had built up and 3 metre waves were coming into the Barham River Mouth.
The estuary water height was 1.39mAHD at 10:15 and the river mouth was open with flow out. At 17:15 the estuary water level was 1.78mAHD and the river mouth was still just open with flow in and out.The peak tide recording at the harbour was at 16:33, was 1.19mAHD.
As well as the sea flooding the estuary, the large waves entering the river mouth undercut the cliff at the base of Pt Bunbury. One metre and more in depth, 2 to 4 metres in height, the cliff collapsed over a distance of 60 metres. Significant damage to Pt Bunbury under photopoint BmP1 occurred.
Photo 5 at base of Pt Bunbury: Collapse of cliff is 3 to 4 metres high.
Collapse of cliff is 3 to 4 metres high.
BmP1 at 16.10 photo 2: Inside the river mouth.
Inside the river mouth.
BmP2 at 16:00 hours: Little seawater coming over the high berm opposite but foam and seaweed have been forced 500 metres up the river from the mouth.
Little seawater coming over the high berm opposite but foam and seaweed have been forced 500 metres up the river from the mouth.
Photo 4 at base of Pt Bunbury: Photo taken 2 days after the weather event. Collapse of cliff is about 3 metres high.
Photo taken 2 days after the weather event. Collapse of cliff is about 3 metres high.
BmP1 at 16:10 Photo 3: Water flowing out of river mouth between waves.
Water flowing out of river mouth between waves.
Photo 1 at base of Pt Bunbury: Wave coming in the river mouth.
Wave coming in the river mouth.
BmP1 at 16:10: Wave entering the river mouth.
Wave entering the river mouth.
Photo 3 at base of Pt Bunbury: Wave just outside the river mouth.
Wave just outside the river mouth.
Photo 2 at base of Pt Bunbury: Wave progressing in from the river mouth.
Wave progressing in from the river mouth.
Collapse of cliff is 3 to 4 metres high.
Inside the river mouth.
Little seawater coming over the high berm opposite but foam and seaweed have been forced 500 metres up the river from the mouth.
Photo taken 2 days after the weather event. Collapse of cliff is about 3 metres high.
Water flowing out of river mouth between waves.
Wave coming in the river mouth.
Wave entering the river mouth.
Wave just outside the river mouth.
Wave progressing in from the river mouth.
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