EstuaryWatch Data Portal

After 77mm rain over April 2-3, Bourne Creek naturally opened to the ocean. 

With over 20mm of rain, Bourne Creek naturally opened sometime over the weekend dropping water levels to 2.04mAHD.

New gauge boards have been installed at Bourne Creek. Note that AHD height = Gauge height + 1.5.

With water levels approaching Bass Highway (only 50mm below) and 40mm of rain forecasted over the weekend, the decision was made to artificially open Bourne Creek at high tide. The opening was successful in lowering water levels at least 0.6m.

Bourne Creek was artificially opened following consistent autumn and early winter rainfall. This opening was performed to alleviate the inundation of the Bass Hwy.

After 25mm of rain over a period of 3 days Bourne Creek opened naturally to the ocean.

Tide: low tide occurred at 12.41 pm (0.7m).

Swell: Rough (2.6-2.7m)

An artificial estuary mouth opening took place to alleviate the inundation of the Bass Hwy.

Mouth artificially opened to alleviate the inundation of the Bass Hwy

More than 10 Long-finned Eels were found dead throughout the estuary. The size class (20 - 40cm long) which is younger than the breeding and seaward migration age. One larger 60 - 80cm Eel was also found, which may have been of a breeding age.

These deaths are likely to be a result of the following:

- Estuary water draw down (over summer)

- dramatic increase in Salinity (well above seawater)

- Increased temperature and Turbidity

- Dissolved oxygen fluctuations resulting from Eutrophic conditions. 

Estuary mouth closed. Water levels have dropped and the highway is no longer threatened by inundation. The sand bar between the ocean and the estuary is already 100 metres in length (please refer to the mouth condition observation for the 8th of May for more information).

The mouth of Bourne Creek was artificially opened by Vic Roads @ 9:15am on the 3rd of May, to alleviate the inundation of the Bass Hwy and the risks to motorists.

See photos attached of opening and the inundation of the Bass Hwy.

Eel Migration: On the evening of the 2nd of May, with large swells and a 1.8m high tide (i.e. large high tide), water from the ocean was washing over the sand bar that separated Bourne Creek Estuary from the ocean. This process helped the Eels (seen in the attached pictures) make their way across the sand bar into the ocean, to start their migration to the coral sea, where they spawn, release their young (eggs) and pass away to let the next generation take their place. Check out this story for more information:   http://www.loveourlakes.net.au/eel-migration/