EstuaryWatch Data Portal

AHD G6 about 0.98 @ 08:40  AHD board still covered with silt

Observations made close to very low tide 0.1  @  07:12

Very pale thin discharge out to sea & along to sand projection at mid beach. Out flow very shallow - channel about 20m wide .5 to .15 deep. at start of estuary. At mid channel it narrows to about 8m.then becomes more shallow & wider around rocks.Flow spreads very wide as waves enter at mouth. East side of channel has .20m sheer face as it approaches rocks.

Waves have been high up on beach at last hi tide. A large sand projection has formed at mid beach with area of beach behind scoured out. Strong longshore drift from east end travelling to spit where it meets incoming SW swell -large amount of sand visible in waves going out to sea. Only occasional longshore drift across mouth meeting small outflow & strong sw swell resulting in some waves going up the channel - large amount of sand visible in breakers around mouth.     While sea is moderate there are higher wave sets are occurring

Very pale discharge out (mainly salt water return).                                   Outflow very shallow around rocks & entrance. It is wider but also shallow at start of channel from estuary, the previous high sheer east side of channel has been reduced but sand is a lot higher around rocks. Some waves entering & continuing upstream.

Beach rises & falls with deep depressions (N -S direction) -2 bays have formed with a projection out to sea at mid beach. Area at east end has had full impact of previous WSW swell & rough seas extending well back towards dunes. Low water level has exposed large areas of sand on beach but sand bar in estuary is under water.

Many very small fish observed in shallow water beside low track.

AHD G6 1.18 @12:20  (estimate only as board is covered with silt)

Mouth is open but high seas & SW swell (waves over 6m.) are entering completely across entrance & channel & travelling into estuary as well as going up to base of dunes all along the beach. Waves are up to base of dune at Gp1 site. Only salt water is entering & returning - green water extends into the estuary & well upstream of G2. Waves (some over 2m high) going down channel then turn east at start of estuary but  an occasional wave proceeds north alongside of cliff face. Wind about 6 SE along beach but from S along channel  gusts are stronger (7). Large amount of sand blowing into estuary as well as being carried in large waves down the channel . In between waves a large amount of sand is visible in channel with only a very  slight flow of salt water return down below the side of  cliff                

Estimated height @  G6 0.68 - board unreadable because of silt build up

Dark discharge from reducing outflow around the mouth & to west, pale discharge continuing along foreshore to east. Entrance about 50m wide with sheer sides to channel from 1-2 m. high. Sand has built up on east side of channel -also directly downstream of rock. Longshore drift across mouth over sw swell with backwash return & some waves entering up the channel into the estuary. Waves are going high up on the beach at east end of beach which rises & falls creating some deep areas. Height of beach drops as it reaches the mouth

All tracks & roads are without water including low track where an extremely large number of small (1-3 cm) fish were actively swimming. Small fish were observed in all areas of estuary

D.O. levels @ G2 have greatly improved with flow going upstream while monitoring

AHD G2  1.47 @ 09:00      1.33 @ 13:20          1.22 @ 15:50                            AHD G6  1.52  @13:00       1.42 @ 17:42                                                             On 02-04-19 AHD  @ G2 was 0.54  @ 14:00   G6  0.88  @13:43  (estimate for G6  only as board was covered with silt & unreadable)    

Very wide strong & dark discharge @ entrance, out along foreshore to east then turning south at east end of beach -visible a long way out to sea. Water in the estuary very dark -almost black

Channel from estuary over 20 m wide & about 40 m wide @ entrance. Strong & frequent longshore drift across entrance over Sw swell & very strong outflow. Waves entering & continuing along eastside of channel meeting outflow midway creating a whirlpool with a very large amount of sand visible & also building up against edge. Sand was visible in outflow travelling down whole length of channel

AHD G2   1.68 @ 11:45    G6 1.68 @ 11:00

Pale discharge out to east along foreshore - also south out to sea, some going west along front of cliff. East side of channel .50 -1m high, width about 15-20 m wide

Very large amount of sand visible being carried out in flow. Strong wind from south blowing sand off beach down channel into estuary

Some water on side of GOR & across OOR at flood markers but only at side of OCR

AHD G2 1.69 @ 13:17     G6  1.67  @ 13:05

Strong outflow down channel with pale discharge visible slightly to east.

Rough sea = SW swell impacting E end of beach, large amount of backwash occurring at mid beach & longshore drift across entrance over outflow, small waves are going up channel into the estuary. Small areas of east side of channel are sheer sided ( above lower exposed area).  These sides are currently sliding down into water as wave action in channel increases. Channel sides about .10 - .20 m.high & about .20m deep. About 8m wide

Wind much stronger gusts from south down channel

Water at side of GOR & OCR but across OOR at flood markers. Only at side of OOR closer to GOR

AHD G2  1.66 @ 09:00   1.66  @ 17:18   G6   1.64 @ 09:50

Day of Artificial Opening. Completed @ 16:50

At completion of artificial opening outflow was moving fast down channel with large outflow waves nearer entrance

SSW swell sending waves far up all along beach.

AHD G2 1.65       G6 1.65  @10:35

Mouth closed but waves have been over berm & up into the estuary @ last hi tide -7 dead eels were stranded trying to cross over to sea. Strong sw/ssw swell impacting at mid beach creating strong backwash with occasional longshore drift.   Wide area of beach near cliff is much lower than that towards east where sand is very high

Water is up to the sides of OCR west of camp ground (which has increased water cover).  Areas of OCR south & further east along return track have deep holes scoured out by vehicle traffic. Water has started to cover small area of GOR between Latrobe creek bridge & start of OCR. Water at side & over OOR at Flood markers.  Water across flats DS G4 but not US G4. Flats around G5 have significant water cover that is not completely visible because of high vegetation

AHD G2  1.63  @ 09:32   - @11:20 between 1.63 & 1.64.    G6 1.63 @ 09:13      Both G2 & G6 are level

Observations taken @ low tide. Mouth closed but a few waves entering up to estuary -mostly a large expanse of sand between ocean & estuary. SW swell impacting beach - strong backwash @ mid beach carrying large amount of sand then longshore drift to west  to cliff. Yesterday's high seas have lowered about 1/3rd  of beach east of cliff

Wind in many directions -SE along beach but turning S with much stronger gusts down channel blowing a lot of sand into estuary

Increased water at side of roads & camp ground but water only just coming over OOR at flood markers. Small pool at side of GOR