Merriman Creek: Site MCMC Merriman Creek, Mouth Observation Site

Site details

Estuary	Merriman Creek
CMA	West Gippsland CMA
Type	Mouth Condition
Site code	MCMC
Site name	Merriman Creek, Mouth Observation Site
Nearest road and town	Seaspray (Boat Ramp)
Description	Merriman Creek flows out into the surf beach. Due to the intensity of the wave action, the creek can be 'pushed' via longshore drift further up along the beach due to the intensity of the wave action. This can then threaten built assets such as the ramp access onto the beach from the surf beach and beach access boardwalks. The site is popular with fishermen, kayakers and surfers a like. There has been concerns in the past of flooding, and some anecdotal evidence of concerned residents 'opening' the estuary themselves. Currently there is a height gauge and the site has active telemetry of stream height organised by the Wellington Shire.
Site access	See photo attached - this site is located at the point of the foredune where the creek meets the beach. This provides some height in order to capture how the estuary mouth is moving over time. This estuary is strongly wave dominated
Land use	Recreational Rural Grazing Urban Residential
Land use description
Status	Active
Observation history	18-09-2020 - 27-03-2024

#	Date	Mouth state	Flow	Wind	Beaufort Scale	Sea State	Water Level Start		Water Level End		High Tide		Low Tide
#16095	27-03-2024	Closed	N/A	SW	Gentle breeze	4 Slight	1.4m	13:30pm			1.0m	11:59am	0.5m	17:51pm
#15963	15-01-2024	Open	Out	E	Strong breeze	5 Moderate					0.5m	07:26am	1.2m	13:45pm
#15962	10-01-2024	Open	Out	NW	Light Breeze	5 Moderate					1.2m	09:53am	0.2m	16:45pm
#15898	05-12-2023	Open	Out	NW	Light Breeze	4 Slight	0.7m	09:00am	0.6m	11:00am	1.0m	16:13pm	0.8m	10:35am
#15878	20-11-2023	Open	Out	SE	Light Breeze	4 Slight	0.6m	10:00am			1.1m	16:03pm	0.7m	09:48am
#15860	11-10-2023	Open	Out	W	Light Breeze	4 Slight	0.5m	08:00am			0.9m	08:45am	0.4m	03:00am
#15788	13-09-2023	Open	Out	SW	Gentle breeze	4 Slight	0.6m	11:00am			1.0m	09:52am	0.5m	15:46pm
#15682	27-07-2023	Open	Out	N	Light Breeze	4 Slight	0.5m	09:00am			1.1m	15:57pm	0.6m	09:42am
#15605	27-06-2023	Closed	N/A	W	Gentle breeze	4 Slight	1.1m	11:15am	1.1m	12:15pm	1.1m	16:54pm	0.6m	10:52am
#15572	14-06-2023	Open	Out	W	Fresh breeze	5 Moderate	0.7m	14:20pm			1.2m	19:43pm	0.6m	12:40pm
#15557	01-06-2023	Open	In	NW	Fresh breeze	5 Moderate	0.9m	13:00pm	0.9m	14:00pm	1.0m	07:25am	0.5m	13:15pm