EstuaryWatch Data Portal

Pale discharge out along beach face to east. Entrance very shallow & channel narrow with sheer side to channel close to rocks, water only between rock & cliff. More sand around rocks & side of cliff downstream of rocks (entrance). Long shore drift across mouth. Dark silt in swash line

Sand height increasing at east end of beach

Very strong south wind blowing large amount of sand along side channel into estuary, but despite this waves in estuary are travelling to S/E corner of estuary. Waves flattened by strong gusts from south

Unusually high number of Silver Gulls around wetlands , estuary & beach

Pale discharge out to east, shallow flow out over high sand build up both along channel & entrance - east side of channel just upstream of rocks sheer to 15 cm. above water level

Water level in estuary high (possibly because of inflow from recent high seas)

Waves reducing in height, sea moderate with occasional high set. Slight but constant long shore drift across mouth

Beach front not as high as previously, now sloping . Waves have been high up on beach

Red scum along sand south side of estuary

Observations taken from beach not Gp1 because of wind & very heavy rain

Mouth open with flow between rock & cliff. Intermittent waves entering from very rough sea over a much wider area. Strong long shore drift across mouth

Last hi tide   has travelled well up on beach over steep high beach front and flow has turned to travel west in depression behind rise to enter mouth & channel.

Tides have wide range - Low tide @ 18:58  = 0.2    Hi tide @ 02:18  = 1.14.         

Sand area at south side of estuary is being re formed into new rises & inlets

Many small fish in shallow water beside low track near car park

Waves across estuary to south east cr. from north west wind

Good catches of Black Bream & Mullet continue to be caught

Observations taken nearing low tide

Flow reducing. Pale discharge out around mouth & along shoreline to east, also some to west.

Beach curved with highest area near mouth

Channel shallow sand has built up at mid channel & at entrance. Flow only between rock & cliff face through shallow rapids. Edge of channel has steep bank .50m above water level

Very large no. small fish in shallow water beside low track close to stream side veg. 5 turquoise dragonflies in that area

Dark discharge out around mouth, to east & also to west, slight longshore drift across mouth

Beach horseshoe shaped, with high sand along beach face, highest close to mouth. Beach very wide

Small area of sand bar in estuary exposed & large expanse of sand south side of estuary. Many small fish in water beside low track close to car park

Dead Black Bream SE side of estuary where scum has accumulated

Observations taken near low tide. Humidity high. Swell time 11-10 sec

Reduced dark brown reddish discharge around mouth & alongside beach face to east

Mouth shallow, occasional long shore drift across mouth. Greatly increased sand build up. Flow only between rock & cliff. Side of channel has sheer side suggesting a strong release as sea level dropped at last low tide

Beach face high with lower area between face & dunes

Sandbar well uncovered also side of low track where algae is forming on stream side veg & sea-grass. Mosquito larvae, mosquitoes & flies in areas nearer car park but many small fish observed at south side of estuary

Turquoise dragonflies (3) & red Damselfly (1)  amongst stream side veg east side of estuary

Reddish brown discharge out over increased sand build up only immediately around the mouth

Rough sea assisted by south wind sending some waves up over steep beach front into dip then turning west & proceeding toward mouth & channel at last hi tide

South wind blowing a large amount of sand down beside channel into the estuary

Black silt pattern on sand south side of estuary & channel entrance area

Algae forming on stream side veg.especially at Lt1.

Dead female kangaroo on sand near channel entrance to estuary

• Reduced outflow out shallow over large sand build up at mouth. Travelling east along foreshore. Long shore drift across mouth
• Swash line up high on beach with 1000's+ Velella at all stages of development
• Strong wind gusts  (8) on 07/12/16 have reshaped the dunes especially next to Gp1 & E end of beach
• Steep rise from sea at E end of beach but rocky area has been scoured out (depth to sea about 5 - 8m)
• Steep rise in height of sand at E end beach then dips down at mid beach where waves impact then rises even higher close to mouth
• More rock falls on west cliff face
• Area where channel meets estuary has changed - much wider, large areas of black sand are have been deposited in this area
• Only mosquito lava seen in scour holes along low track, but closer to car park small fish were present in confined areas
• Pacific gull observed at E end of beach

• Observations taken at low tide
• Flow out -reducing dark discharge out over sand build up at mouth. Travelling east along foreshore & going out to sea about 2/3 rds' along beach
• Sand visible in breakers out to sea
• Hi tide has been well up on beach & estuary 
• Eastern end of beach has larger curve & sand is highest closer to mouth
• Dark silt in swash line along beach & in estuary. This pattern clearly shows how storm surge 12/11/16 deposited sand along south side of estuary
• Mouth affected by long shore drift sending some small waves into channel
• Very large no small fish in shallow water along south side of estuary
• 1 dead Shear water (foxed) near mouth

Flow out to east but reduced since 20/1/16. Long shore drift across mouth with small waves entering channel

Beach very wide with high front, some waves up & over. Also very large expanse of sand south side of estuary. Swash line on ocean beach has 1000's of 'by the wind sailors' & large amount of dark silt.

Sand bar exposed showing channel in mid section

Wind SW at south side of estuary, S along channel & SE along beach to mouth. Sand blowing down channel into estuary. Some wind gusts above 7

More rock falls from cliff face

Dark discharge from draining flats up stream.( water drained from below G4 but is still draining upstream to G6. ( cape pond weed is flowering) Land slips along OOR between G5&G6

 Flow out along foreshore to east

Foreshore is now undulating and beach very wide. Large areas of sand exposed in on south side of estuary. Sand extends north into estuary as well.The 'flow' of sand recently deposited by storm surge shows distinct levels  (about .50m from present water level at edge) with about 30 - 40 cm. difference across area.Sand bar now has channel through middle.

Juvenile Nankeen Kestrel on debris near mouth

Sand has built up along parts of low track where new scour holes occur near previous two that currently contain small Flathead gudgeon & juvenile Tupong)

Dark discharge strong flow out along foreshore to east , going out to sea about 2/3  to east

Gale force winds overnight 7-8 & 5.8m seas currently sending waves up to base of dunes all along the beach. East end continues to be impacted creating long shore drift to mouth. Some waves entering channel over a wide area(from sand dune to cliff) then turning east & impacting on low track which is completely under water

water up to bearer just below deck on fishing platform at G2

Wind gusts 7 at Gp1 -wind from NE at Gp1 but from WNW across the estuary

Dark discharge out along foreshore

Strong outflow but small waves entering & travelling north across the sandbar

Sea rough with occasional very high set of waves -SW swell continues to impact east end of beach causing long-shore drift to mouth. Previously high sand near east end has been reduced in height by wave action. Swash-line high up on beach (many purple shells)

Recent storm surges have deposited more sand into the estuary extending sand at south side further north into the estuary(observation taken near low tide).Sand bar visable with channel partly cut into middle. The deep scour areas along low track have been filled in and new ones created. Areas of black sand at start of channel from estuary

Maram grass regeneration along base of dunes closer to mouth. Increase of Euphorbia paralais & senecio elegans along dunes

Thousands of small eels(?)/ fish making their way upstream observed at G4. moving along vev at side of channel away from strong flow

Rivernook flats have no visable water cover but all areas up stream to G6 are under water- no flood water below G4

• very dark dirty discharge out directly to east only
• no waves entering / longshore drift present, SW swell continues to impat east end of beach
• beach very high near east end
• very low tide sand bar exposed
• huge expanse of sand S side of esturay exposed extending into estuary well beyond tunnel (distance from sand near tunnel 30m)
• low track has been built up by sand in ,any areas
• sea grass exposed and coveres with silt
• change in shape of sandbar

• very dark discharge out around mouth and pale discharge to east and out to sea
• intermittent waves entering mouth
• channel has steep sides in 3 stages 1-1.5m above water
• beach very wide and sloping (low tide) highest near east end
• SW swell continues to impact and erode dunes at east end
• waves going over high beach front near E and and travelling along beach in slight depression to west
• large area of sand exposed S side of estuary
• sandbar nearly completely exposed at low tide
• sand along side of low track exposed showing large areas of sea grass
• no visible flood waters at G4 (rivernook waterlogged but no visible water)
• area upstream still extremely flooded

• longshore drift active meeting outflow and incoming S/W swell. waves in all directions, backwash along beach rolling sand
• extremely fast dark dirty flow around mouth to east west and going out to sea about mid beach
• some waves entering over top of out flow and travelling into estuary
• 2 hooded plovers and 1 young ?
• 2 surfers on jetskis
• 2 canoe paddles found east end of beach
• more erosion to cliff face
• beach very wide
• wavs continue to erode east end of beach to sand dunes (height over 2m)
• beach much higher about 40 m west and extends out to sea
• debris from flood water along beach
• channel has 60cm high sheer sides
• large deposits of frog spawn in debris at side of channel
• Burrupa peaked on 16/9/16
• G6 peaked about 12:40 17/9/16
• water receding all areas 18/9/16

• salt water entering channel up to tunnel entrance at times
• sand building up at enterance (visible up to and around rocks under shallow waves)
• main flow between rocks and cliff
• waves high up on beach (very wide area and highest at mid beach) dragging and rolling sand being tossed by LSD from SW swell impact at east end as it travels to mouth
• east end of beach carves out
• waves travelling N across sand bar in estuary
• 1 hooded plover feeding along coast line
• road excavation at flood marks OOR, water very dark and smells bad
• flood water around G$ water logged
• water still retained around G5 - Cape pondweed prolific

• strong dark outflow around mouth and along shoreline to the east
• despite strong outflow, small waves entering
• channel east side 1m+ sheers sides
• NW wind bring waves to S/SE side of estuary
• N wind blowing down channel taking sand into flow
• E end of beach continue to scour out dunes but sand area at mid beach extending further out to sea
• white egret on sand bar. Peregrine falcon along cliff top and over estuary

• waves moving up estuary S-N visible from carpark
• waves from north moving down eastern side
• sandbank visible below water
• winds on path NNW. wind lifting and blowing sand
• top of second post visible
• wide entrance, waves going in and no brown discolouration - outflow being help back. salt entering upstream
• S-W swell impacting east end of beach carving out dunes
• strong long shore drift
• new rock fall at mouth

• water levels were much higher on the 13/7/16 AHD 1.43 at 13:43
• very strong dark discharge out around mouth and to east
• dark water out to pas 2nd sand bar form east west and along beach front
• entrance is wide and fast flowing amd dirty. large amount of debris on beach
• a .6 - .8m sheer face to edge of channel
• east end of beach continues to scour out because of swell impact - reaching up into dunes
• all of the beach is covered in silt and broken veg
• low track partly uncovered - receding water levels have left a large circular "drainage" funnels
• rotting seaweed along SE estuary and low track
• some puddles covered with bubbles (photo)
• 5 stranded elvers, S side of estuary near start of channel

water level in estuary low

• 3 stick caddis on s side of estuary
• water gauge ebbing and flowing in and along low track from waves
• SW swell impacting at east end of beach (sand drift has gone further back toward dunes and towards entrance)
• slight LSD across mouth
• waves entering channel and east into estuary
• water level at G6 2.55AHD - flooding from G6 midway between G5 and G6, reducing from flat point
• very slight cover at drain

• AHD @ G6 2.41@09:00
• Dark discharge around mouth being held back by V.rough SW Swell
• SW swell impacting on E end of beach has created a continuous sand cliff from mid beach to rocks at east end (1-2m.) Some waves going over the top.
• Very strong rip going out at east end, meeting incoming waves then travelling fast parallel to foreshore toward mouth(west). The resulting longshore drift on reaching the mouth turns N entering the channel and then turns east into the estuary
• Waves in all direction at mouth with backwash rolling more sand into channel (back wash stirring up sand all along the beach)
• Sand build up at mouth visible under water. Sand stir visible in ocean
• Water has covered all of low track at last hi tide
• Strong N wind across estuary
• OOR water visible at edge of road near flood markers, water across causeway @ G4 & flats upstream underwater but level lower than 25/6/16
• 4 dead Kangaroos found NW end of camp ground

• Strong dark outflow out around mouth being held back by SW swell & longshore drift
• Strong rip at mid beach
• Longshore drift entering channel & turning east into estuary
• Waves in all directions at mouth scouring sand into channel
• Sand cliffs to 1.5m high formed from mid beach to east end, but beach from mid way to mouth is gradual wide slope
• Waves from strong SW swell travelling up to base of dunes & scouring out area next to rocks
• Wave erosion along side of low track
• White sea Eagle (immature ) near top of cliff near channel/ estuary start