Observation #8134 23-02-2013 | GMC: Gellibrand River Estuary Mouth Observation Site

Observation details

Overview

Estuary	Gellibrand River Estuary
Site	Gellibrand River Estuary Mouth Observation Site
Observation ID	#8134
Date and Time	Saturday 23rd February 2013 08:55am
Approved	Approved

Notes

Fish death event. 145 fish collected, 100's more small dead fish along each side of estuary around G2.

After the artificial opening the water level dropped by a metre over night.

Some dead fish on ledge near entrance suggest that many fish have gone out to sea in the strong current. (discharge straight out to the south).

Fish death event mainly from stranding by sudden water level drop and caught in vegetation and algae. Oxygen levels were also very low (0.55mg/L at G2)

Banks of channel about 0.3m near the estuary, rising to 3.5 near ocean. The channel is 20-30m wide near the ocean.

Discharge around the mouth and south out to sea for over 100m.

Sand from longshore drift building up on east side of entrance.

Rocks isolated in centre of channel.

Jet Ski very fast through estuary mouth. Waves sending fish back into stranded areas.

Mouth Observation

Mouth state	Open
Previous	O O O O P P P C O P O O O P O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O C C C C C C C C C C C
Flow Present?	Yes
Previous	Y Y Y Y Y N N N Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N N N N N Y N N
Flow Direction	Out
Previous	O O O O I N N N I N I I O I O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O O N N N N N N N N N N

	Above Sea	Above Estuary
Berm Height (m)
Berm Length (m)

Physical Condition

	Current	Mode
Wind Direction	North
Beaufort Scale	Moderate breeze
Sea State	Slight

Water Levels and Tides

Water Level	Start	Finish
Height (m)	0.79m	0.63m
Time (hh:mm)	08:55	11:40
Tidal influence	No
Tidal Range	Time	Height
High	13:13	0.520
Low	09:10	0.450

Observation Documents

Link	Date	File name	Description
Download	23-02-2013 08:55	Photopoint	Gp1_1
Download	23-02-2013 08:55	Photopoint	Gp1_2
Download	23-02-2013 08:55	Photopoint	Gp1_3
Download	23-02-2013 08:55	Photopoint	Gp1_4
Download	23-02-2013 08:55	Photopoint	Gp1_5