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.

- even though the river is flowing fast out to sea the tide is coming in creating waves running up the river.

-'Beach' under bridge and inland from bridge is becoming more established.

• Depth marker just in the water
• Beach upstream of bridge more established

Algae growing in the floor of the river near the fishing Platform - see photos

1. Water level - unable to measure as too low- photo taken for reference.

2. Sand bank visible around water level measure - photo for reference taken from the Wye River bridge.

The whole river bed upstream of the bridge is now covered with sand - we have a new beach (see attached photo). A lot of sand lost in front of the campsite and river flowing straight out to sea.

The river channel has narrowed and the depth gauge is in sand, thus no water height can be recorded. See photo.

Dolphins sighted close to the shore at 10.05am.

Depth gauge not in river due to change in river course-river narrow at gauge, see photo.

Storm water drain flowing from caravan park, see photo.

Beach access steps - new construction and drain, see photo.

Wind gusty and chill factor high, FREEZING!

The ramp to the beach has been underscored by high tides and big swells a few weeks ago. The grass edge at beach continues to erode.

Strong growth of shrubs and trees on bank at foreshore camping ground side of river.

River from sea side of bridge flowing in unusual shape. Flowing north-south or right to left before flowing out along a more usual path.

Water level gauge was completely above the water level.

More erosion on the grassy bank, pipe sticking out again

Photos were taken later due to frequent showers.

assisted by CL, HL, AC

Estuary has undergone significant change in last 2 weeks following heavy rain and very high tides

River between bridge and sea like a large very still lagoon with lots of algae - 2 schools of little fish observed.

Photo taken of water level marker under the bridge- the measurements are very difficult to read- suggest the numbers could be marked in another colour and the line extended right across the post.

The increased growth of the tree on the river bank dominates the Wyp1 Photopoint site.

The sign that says no swimming in the mouth of the river is still  in position on the beach. This sign has been in place for over one year indicating that it is unsafe to swim in the estuary for all of that time - which is untrue. Juliet has spoken to council employees about the sign - but there has been no action.

There is a lot of algae in the river - both sides of the river and upstream 

Helen Moriarty assisted with entering today's data as a new volunteer.

We had two observer/ visitors:

• Sam , a Wye river semi-permanent resident and an employee from Gippsland CMA region - was an observer 
•  Jennifer Wood -a Wye river semi-permanent resident.

The signs - (that have been installed on Wye River beachfront location for over 12 months - first installed in December 2015) indicating that the estuary is unsuitable for swimming - are still in place.

 The stormwater,  outlet flowing onto the beach,  adjacent to the pub is making the sand black- see photo 

• Lagoon increasing in size.
• Water flow reduced.
• More people.

Water level below gauge base.

Daylight saving time started last night.

When doing Waterwatch yesterday at 9.30 am, there was tidal in-flow under the bridge up to the Fishing Platform.

The river inland of the bridge has completely changed, with a pebble sandbank in the middle opposite the playground.

Observations made post-14 September major rain event - >100 ml in 24 hours.

Water depth gauge exposed above river water level.

River stones now exposed.

Sand bank on north side of bridge has been washed away,.

Floodwater debris on beach.

Even more sand.

Additional sandbank under the bridge, still there, partly covering water level gauge.

• more erosion of grassy bank. White pipe exposed again.
• more sand deposition upstream of bridge.
• depth board buried to almost 1.3m AHD

River level gauge in isolated pool due to sand movement

The recently installed water level gauge buried in sand.

3 photos were taken to show extensive sand coverage under the Wye River bridge.

Time 10.25

Significant beach erosion at edge of foreshore grass - chunks are coming away.
There's a lot of sand under the bridges - up to 1.1m on the new depth measure (and rising!)

Water level maker needs a clean- difficult to read.

Rain during the week