Wilson Inlet Bar Opening - 2017

In most years, the Wilson Inlet bar is opened, primarily to mitigate against flooding adjacent low-lying land. The timing and location of the opening is managed by the Water Corporation as per an agreed protocol. In 2017, the bar was opened by dredging a channel to the ocean at an Inlet water level of 1.27 m AHD and 100 metres from the Western cliffs reference point.

This was the highest bar opening since 1978 which had an estimated elevation of 1.25 m AHD at the time of opening.

Approximately 27 GL of water (~14% of the Inlet volume) was discharged to the ocean in the first 24 hours post-opening. The volumetric flow rate was recorded as 210 m³/s on the Friday at 2 pm. The high water level and strong flow effectively scoured the bar to a width of approximately 150 metres.

The Inlet height, the opening, impact on the bar and ocean discharge was captured with a drone by Ash Ramsay (Department of Water and Environmental Regulation, South West region).

[skyclimber]

I remember having a great time as a kid damming, diverting, making new channels for water and this would be great as a adult reliving it on a large scale.

[Andy-vtsl]

Great video, and I appreciate the drone’s perspective.

[davidkeep]

To address a couple of questions. Denmark Western Australia approximately 400klms SSE of Perth . And the water is coloured by tannin from leaf litter but the high rainfall in the area ensures its pretty clean. Great fishing fresh and salt and good surf, just watch for Great Whites !

[stevearmstrong]

That was the coolest thing I have seen on YouTube in a while.

[WayNorthDrones]

Good looking flight with the drone, nice job on the controls. Keep up the flying, thank you for sharing

[DroneCowboy.Gaspésie]

Fantastic flight thanks for sharing with us I love the music also I truly enjoy watching, you enjoy your Day Stay safe and let’s keep on Droning my new friend Cheers

[almonkey]

at last, a video of one of these events which doesn't have the camera operator shaking and waving his camera around and missing the interesting parts, and wildly zooming in and out at his feet!

[Glum]

Great video. My blood pressure dropped 30 points. Thank you

[GenoLoma]

1:30 in the morning...
Would I like to watch a video of a digger opening a sand bar? from THREE YEARS AGO...?
sure, why not?

Nice work YT algorithm.. you've done it again

[Blougheed]

always wondered how we topped up the oceans

[stonehartfloydfan]

Denmark river, Australia for those asking where this is.

[stevehollingworth]

These inland connections to the sea should always be kept open, it improves fish habitat, water quality and will stop the lake turning into a dead water smelly pond, it happens a lot to the much smaller ones all over Australia. Greenies should research about this subject and stop giving advice about what they know little about.

[DaveDexterMusic]

this music is giving me 1998 car racing videogame vibes

[markomarelich]

this brings back memories of crossing the inlet on the bibbulmun track thanks for the video

[himssendol]

2:28 The blue ocean changes to brown. You can see how the river water was pushed to the beach.

[catweasle]

Nice work. Good to see all that brackish water out of the bay.

[carpo]

That was pretty cool, great footage thank you

[hornetscales]

Post 10 would love to have been in on this action.

[davidbarry]

Fantastic sight! I remember seeing it about 45 years ago, it was a bunch of farmers with backhoes in those days...
I wish I was there right now, with a fishing rod! Those pelicans have got the right idea.

[rastapete]

we have all done this as kids on a small scale.