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.