Wilson Inlet 6
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Managing the bar and the Inlet
History of bar openings
Figure 3: Tabulated data and graph of history of bar openings (on the graph grey indicates bar closed, blue indicates bar open and white indicates unknown, opening position is metres from the cliff on the western side and duration open is in days).
Data on the position, timing, water level and duration of bar openings over the past 50 years are tabulated in Figure 3. The data show significant variability between years. In summary:
| Drivers of opening: The length of time that the bar is open correlates well to the annual rainfall and river discharge, shows some correlation to the Inlet water level at the time of opening, and shows no correlation with other factors such as the initial position of the opening. |
Opening water level: Despite the intent to open at 1.01 m above AHD the water level at opening has actually varied between 0.71 m above AHD to 1.25 m above AHD; a range of 0.54 m.
Closing water level: The water level in the Inlet at closure has varied between 1.19 m above AHD to 0.75 m below AHD; a range of almost 2 m.
Position of opening: The position of the opening has been as close as 50 m to and as far as 450 m from the cliff on the western side of the bar.
Timing of opening and closing: The bar is normally opened in July or August and closes in about February the following year. However, some openings have been as early as June and others as late as October. Whilst some closures have naturally occurred as early as November and others as late as May.
Duration of opening: The length of time that the bar has remained open has varied from 50 days to 334 days; a range of 284 days, with an average of 191 days.
