EstuaryWatch Data Portal

AHD G6 1.41  @  13:50     1.43  @  17:15

Mouth closed but waves have been over at last hi tide. Top of rock about .20 above sand. Small hand dug channel at start of estuary

AHD @ G6 1.42 @ 13:35

Very rough seas over night have  formed a high sand build up at entrance & along channel blocking flow. Currently some waves are over topping the berm & travelling up into the estuary where a small amount of green water is visible at time of entry. No fresh outflow but some salt return. During the night a 3m. high wave was observed travelling down the channel into estuary where it turned sharply east & travelled along south side of estuary, large mound of seaweed & many shells were deposited around SE corner.

Waves in many directions at entrance with waves going high up on all along beach reaching base of sand dunes below Gp1 site, some very strong longshore drift across mouth - back wash rolling large amount of sand. Also very large amount of sand clearly visible in breakers all along beach & far out to sea

Deep ridges have formed in NE/SW direction in sand below Gp1 site

Depth profile @ G2 shows an increase in E.C. between 2-3 m. down

AHD G2  1.44  @  06:45      1.39    @   14:10

AHD G6  1.41  @  10:51       1.39    @   14:25  

Strong dark discharge out along foreshore to east - turning S out to sea at east reef

Strong longshore drift across entrance meeting incoming SW swell & outflow = waves in all directions with some entering channel going over rocks & up to estuary. Large amount of sand visible in breakers - also washing out in channel, 

Very strong gusts of wind along beach from S.E. scouring sand. The wind direction changes & turns S as it reaches the channel creating much stronger gusts that carry large amounts of sand into the channel & estuary

AHD G6 1.48 @ 10:25  -remaining same @ 14:53

Dark discharge out to east along side of shoreline.

Width of channel from estuary about 12 m. reducing to about 6m where it curves around rocks then increasing to about 15m wide as it flows out shallow over sand build up. The flow drops down to lower level as it passes rocks. Longshore drift across mouth travelling over incoming SW swell & outflow which is carrying a large amount of sand scoured out from start of & continuation of channel. Deeper areas occur in path of more rapid flow. Height of eastside of channel .10m at start from estuary rising to 1m. around rocks, sides continually collapsing into flow. Beach front now is in almost continuous straight line.

12:40  area of high sand removed from between 1st & 2nd rock resulting in faster flow with much scouring. 13:08 sea becoming more rough with waves entering over exposed rocks & travelling up into estuary

AHD G6 1.48 @ 09:55

Mouth opened 15:30  on 09-03-2019.

At time of observing there was a  shallow out flow with some small waves entering. Width of entrance about 6-7 m, around rock 3m. then widening again to about 7m. The width & depth continued increasing as the flow became more rapid

Height of east sheer side of channel .10 cm at start of channel from estuary rising to 1m. at rocks & slightly downstream. Walls collapsing into flow

AHD G6  1.46 @10:00

Mouth closed but waves had been over berm & up into the estuary at last hi tide      ( 0.91 @ 03:00) Sand deep & loose at entrance. Slight longshore drift across entrance mixing with incoming waves creating backwash running in a N/ S direction. Berm gradually slopes down to sea- slightly higher near location of rocks

ARTIFICIAL OPENING COMPLETED 15:30  after which some fish were observed late at night swimming upstream against the current

AHD G2 1.49 @ 10:15     G6 1.45  @  10:10

High tide @ 02:01 was 1.00

Some waves from 4m+ sea going high up all along  beach are entering  estuary with some return occurring - green water remaining around start of channel from estuary. Waves reaching base of sand dunes below Gp1 site. Top of rock has been uncovered. South wind down channel much stronger & moving quite a lot of sand

AHD G6 1.40 @ 07:30      Air temp 33C.

Observations made at low tide  (0.17) reef at both ends of beach well exposed. Large area of sand visible on ocean side of berm.

More water from rising water table on top track. No water across any roads or campground. Water is to side of OOR between flood markers & GOR. Flats downstream G4 have visible water cover, but flats upstream G4  (north side) have no water except in drains. Flats downstream G5 & immediately upstream have visible water cover

Bittern sighted flying across OOR to north between flood markers & GOR

AHD G6 1.36 @ 11:35

Mouth closed -no waves over berm

SW swell/rough sea impacting strongly at east end of beach. Large amount of sand visible in ocean all along beach with more around mouth. Berm is higher than previously observed & sand is now completely covering all of rocks. Berm slopes gradually down towards ocean with highest part near rocks area

No water over any roads or tracks (apart from low track) but 2 small puddles on top track

AHD G6  1.30 @ 08:34

Mouth closed but some waves have been uo to estuary at last hi tide. Berm is longer but gradually slopes down from estuary to ocean with small gradual rise around rocks which are now almost entirely covered with sand

Water up to start of low track but no water over any other tracks or roads or camp ground. G4 flats have water cover with water completely across dip in causeway.There is only water in drains upstream of G4 site but it has started to enter just upstream at site of mill. Northern flats at G5 have visible water in all low areas but no water entering  properties further upstream

AHD G6 1.17  @ 14:40

Mouth closed & short berm formed area between sea & estuary.The length has been reduced because of recent heavy local rainfall raising water level (over 40m. in some areas) . Waves over topping berm but not reaching estuary (however this had occurred during last hi tide). Entrance very dynamic & waves being driven  far up on beach driven by strong SW swell.

More sand over rocks, only about .30 of 2nd rock remains exposed. Large amount of sand visible in breakers all along beach. More rocks down at south face of Pt Ronald

No flood water over any roads or tracks (apart from low track) nor in camp ground

Many small fish observed in shallows along low track & around auto monitor

AHD G6   1.30 @ 10:30

Mouth closed, more sand over & in front of rocks (closed 30-12-18)

Sand higher at east end of beach & remaining high at mid beach where the spit extends further out to sea where the SW swell is impacting on the west side causing longshore drift across entrance. Waves are going in many directions all along the beach. Large area of sand stir visible in water between spit & entrance

Large no.small fish in shallow water at edge of estuary also many larger 4-7 cm long fish in deeper water around bridge at G2.

AHD G6  1.02 @ 09:45

Entrance very dynamic with a few occasional large very shallow waves going  up to reach the estuary - no return visible. Waves in many directions with longshore drift across to cliff

Sand high at east end of beach also remaining high at mid beach.

Large no. small fish in shallow water all around estuary & up stream

AHD G6 0.78 @ 11:00

Only waves entering & backwash returning (rough sea 3.5-3.8)

Wind S 4 but with stronger gusts

Low track is starting to become covered with water - very large no. of small fish observed in shallows around this area

AHD board covered with silt = unreadable

Shallow outflow out over increased sand buildup

Both entrance & channel very shallow with flow only between 2nd & 3rd rock

Sand now highest at mid beach where it projects out to sea dividing beach into 2 separate bays 

AHD G6 estimated to be about 0.69 @ 09:03 (board still covered with silt)

Only very slight pale discharge out around mouth flowing across an area of high sand build up both at entrance & along channel. Flow is restricted to 2 narrow channels through rocks.

Sand is high at east end & mid beach up to about 50m. from entrance where it drops down gradually. The higher mid beach area projects out to sea. The 2 separate bays recently formed remain.

WSW/sw swell impacting beach causing strong backwash & longshore drift at entrance, also some waves from swell curving around at entrance. Last high tide travelled high up on beach continuing into estuary

AHD G6 0.72 estimate only as board covered with silt

Dense sea fog drifting down channel prevented observations from being taken from actual Gp1 site

Weak pale shallow out flow over increased sand build up in channel, especially around rocks & downstream across a wide area at mouth. The beach is highest at mid beach where a wide area projects out to sea dividing beach & creating 2 separate bays. Highest area is only 50m from where it slopes down entrance.

Swell & rough sea impacting on west side of projection creating longshore drift across the mouth, striking cliff  & going over the top of rocks resulting in occasional small waves entering down channel

Very slight pale discharge flowing through shallow area in channel & over sand build up downstream of rocks, then turning east along beach front. Rough sea creating backwash & longshore drift across entrance over weak outflow -some small waves entering channel & travelling up into estuary. Waves in all directions at entrance.

High sand at mid beach now extending further out to sea  two distinct bays are starting to form along beach. Sand slopes down to entrance

Very large no. small fish in shallows along E side of estuary

Many campers, & walkers around. Also many large caravans across bridge @ G2 making monitoring difficult

AHD @ G6 1.02 @ 09:33

Mouth re opened sometime over 05 & 06-01-19. shallow narrow flow (area around rocks about 5-6 m.) Pale discharge out around mouth & paler along foreshore. Slight sheer edge to channel indicates a recent rapid flow. Longshore drift across mouth over outflow & curving incoming SW swell

Rough sea & early hi tide (1.14) sent waves very far up on the beach which remains high from east end up to 46m. to entrance where it drops down

No discharge from river only salt water intermittently entering & returning from incoming rough sea. High sand build up at entrance & along channel. Longshore drift, backwash & incoming sw swell meeting returning salt water at entrance. Last hi tide well up on beach

Flow reducing AHD @ G6 about 0.90 (board covered with silt)

More sand has been removed from the east end of beach but area is still high from there to about 50m from entrance

Large no. small fish in shallow water along S & SE side of estuary. Low track has only partial water cover & no water on top track

Pale discharge out to east along foreshore, strong SW swell impacting east end of beach scouring out 1-3 m. high sheer sand cliffs.

Increased sand build up at entrance & along channel, more sand being deposited in that area by very strong (7) SE wind along beach

Erosion continues at S & SE face of Pt Ronald with more rock fall

Strong dark discharge through narrow channel cascading down to lower level through rocks & out over a wide shallow  area around entrance travelling to east after a recent release after last hi tide.(High seas & gale force winds on 03-12-18 caused a high sand build up that closed the mouth). Tide mark  on beach indicated extent of last hi tide. Sheer 10-50 cm sides to channel gradually collapsing into fast out flow. Waves from SW swell impacting mid beach & E end. Slight longshore drift across entrance.

AHD G6 1.14 @ 14:03   Rainfall 30 ml. from 20  th -23 rd Nov

Pale discharge out & slightly to east. Some small waves entering channel over a high sand build up, longshore drift across entrance with waves in all directions. Very large amount of sand in breakers all along the beach

Strong SW swell of short time duration strongly impacting east end of beach leaving sheer face from 1-3 m high, longshore drift from there moving west to entrance. Wind from S at entrance & from SE along the beach where it is scouring the beach & dunes depositing sand in the channel

AHD  G6 0.88  @ 08.40  estimate only as board is covered with silt

Dark discharge out over shallow opening going close to foreshore for about 40m to east. Longshore drift across entrance.

Sand is building up in channel more shallow & narrow. Large amount of sand in breakers all along beach. Sand is very high at east end of beach.

Sandbar is exposed in estuary

Bright blue damsel fly in area of low track

Continuing rough seas & strong west winds over past days (6.3-6.1 swell height) on 03-11-18) have created a small low berm which was observed formed across mouth around  06-11-18 pm.   The top of the middle rock was still uncovered. Waves had been over topping the berm at the last hi tide & entering the estuary - indicated by  sand & swash line. Beach undulating with some very low areas. Sand very high at east end where sheer sided areas occur at the top of a steep decent to ocean - beach slopes down towards start of berm & entrance. Waves have been up to base of dunes in some areas - indicated by swash line which contained large dense areas of small shells, tiny crabs, shrimp, extremely small Janthina-janthina & larger 'By the wind sailors'.

No water in camp ground or over any roads/tracks. Water up to the ocean car park along low track & up to the side of the recently raised OOR near flood markers (drains & sides of OOR are currently undergoing maintenance)

Flood water occurs on both west & east flats @ Kangaroobie, G4 (Rivernook) flats are under water with wide flow through dip in causeway. US G4 water in drains only up to between G5&G4 . Upstream from there to G5 water covers large areas on both sides of channel. Water just starting to enter upstream of Coxon's track (G5)

AHD @ G6 1.60 @ 07:15 rising to 1.61 @14:58                                           AHD @ G2 1.43 @ 07:15 rising to 1.46 @ 17:00