EstuaryWatch Data Portal

Reducing wave height & light wind have affected waves reaching estuary

Main impact from SW swell is at east end of beach, travelling hi up on sand & continuing to scour out previously covered rocks. Large amount of sand in backwash. Actual beach face at rocks is steep but further west high & rounded. Area about 50m from west cliff is highest part of beach - east end now much lower.

Beach littered with large no. squid carapaces

Only small amount of water at edge of south side of OOR & puddles a bit larger at SW end of camp ground

Mouth barred, occasional wave up into estuary at hi tide (15:00) being assisted by longshore drift

Very gradual slope down from estuary to sea, area very dynamic

Waves impacting at east end of beach with backwash dragging out sand

Water only across small area of top track & at south side of OOR near flood markers.

Mouth barred by wide berm but some larger waves have been overtopping & reaching the estuary at last hi tide. Large amount of seaweed deposited in the area.

Rough sea with longshore drift commencing around hi tide when observations were made. Sand visible in breakers out to sea level with east end of beach.

Only small areas of water on top track but low track completely covered up to car park. Extremely large no. very small fish observed in shallow water on low track also similar density at south side of OOR near flood markers

Only a couple of small pools of water at South West end of camp ground. Water visible covering most flats around and downstream G4. No water except in drain immediately upstream G4 (north side), but water entering north flats directly downstream G5

Entrance barred but waves over during high tide, very large amount of fresh seaweed on beach beside front of estuary, down E side of channel & around onto sand  at south side in front of dunes. Water in estuary being driven south towards berm by N wind (4-5) = waves down channel. Wind in many directions in other places but mainly around 2-3. Colour of water in estuary upstream to G2 is greenish brown indicating salt water going upstream. This was confirmed by depth profile taken at G2 & Lt1

SW swell impacting last 1/4 of beach (east end) with backwash taking out sand -  visible out to sea, only very slight longshore drift from 2nd lessor impact at mid beach

Estuary only .20m above the berm,  slight rise near ocean is 78.3m. from estuary front, then from that area to a dynamic variable swash line 7.3m.             = total of 85.6m. 

Very gentle slope down to ocean from estuary interrupted only by a small rise in front of estuary and an area close to ocean

Berm reformed- waves from v.rough sea overtopping up into estuary, only salt return. Waves are going wide across  sand build up in the recently opened entrance, the 1st rock is nearly covered with sand. Large amount of sand in breakers from back wash. Strong longshore drift across entrance

At east end of beach waves are going up over the recently formed sand cliffs & pooling in a confined area between top of sand & dunes.

Water is rising in estuary & areas previously left uncovered by recent artificial opening where very large numbers of small fish can be seen all along the low track

Observations from Gp1 site not taken  as wind too strong. Wind N in this area, S along channel & Se along beach

Photos downloaded are not in usual sequence

Mouth observation whether open/perched or closed depended on the tidal influence. The sea at the time of observation was entering over a wide sand built up area with no exchange of darker water from the estuary, green water was returning & could be seen in front of rocks. Very large amount of sand could be seen in breakers out to sea where the waves  were over 3m. high.

Observations taken close to low tide

Slight very pale discharge along foreshore for about 30m., sand built up almost completely across entrance, only narrow channel against cliff face but wider up stream of rocks. Occasional wave entering over a wide area from rough sea. Extremely strong longshore drift across entrance

Small sand cliffs forming at beach face east end of beach

Dark discharge out around mouth then turning east & going out to sea at mid beach. Sand building up at entrance & flow reducing. Strong longshore drift across entrance sending waves about 50m. up the channel but not visible entering the estuary

Swash line from last high tide high up on beach, side of channel & on S side of estuary where a very large area is now exposed. Sand bar is also exposed

Stream side veg. coated with drying algae

AHD G2 0.35 @ 15:15(was 1.40 10:00)  AHD G6 0.40  @15:17 (was 0.50 @ 09:40)                                                          

Dark discharge out over sand build up at entrance. Strong longshore drift across mouth with waves entering over top of discharge

Very high sand cliffs remain at side of opening but sand is building up in that area

AHD @ G6  1.46

About 18 hrs. after artificial opening 10-3-18.

Very strong dark & dirty discharge carrying a large amount of sand down channel through very wide opening (18-20 m) cut in berm overnight. Outflow is going out to sea over a higher sand projection then turning east. Sides of cut about 3-4 m. high collapsing into fast flow. Flow level is higher at rocks then cascades down to lower level where sand is building up (or remaining) in front of 1st rock.The strong outflow is being crossed over by equally strong longshore drift at entrance, waves generated are entering channel

Several very small flounder were found stranded on lower part of berm., many sea birds 'fishing' in outflow. Large number of very small fish observed in shallow water at S/E corner of estuary