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Beach Monitoring Reports
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The table shown here is derived from actual measurements of the beach sand elevation at typical points along East beach. The colours are used to provide an approximate indication of the sand level along the beach compared with historical levels. The range of sand levels and the values at which the colours change are shown in the colour legend at the bottom of the table.

The percentage represents the current sand height compared to the historical minimum and maximum heights ever measured at that location since 2013. These values are calculated from the measurements used to produce the profile charts that give additional information about the sand dynamics at that monitoring point.

Sand levels cycle up and down with some correlation to seasonal change and always with a response to storm surges so it is normal to see red squares appear in the 'Current' column of the table. At the next measurement cycle approximately 6 weeks later, that red data will now appear in the 'Previous' column of the table while the 'Current' column reflects the most recent sand level at that point.


The third column labelled '12 Mnths' shows the sand level that existed about one year ago.


These three columns give an overview of the sand level now, how it has changed since the previous measurement and how it compares to last year's results.

A positive number in a red square is usually not a concern but if the number is negative, it indicates that a new low sand level has been detected and further consideration of all the data at that point should be investigated.

Pea Soup and South Beach reports carried out with Port Fairy schools - May 2023 Report

Date: Wednesday, 10th May 2023 
 

Monitoring Team: Peter Sanderson, Sue, Natasha, John and sustainability teams from St Patiricks Primary School and Port Fairy Consolidated School 

Analysis & Report: David Bills-Thompson, PFCG Technical Officer and Data Co-ordinator

 

Commentary: 

Both Port Fairy primary Schools participated in beach monitoring at Pea Soup Beach (Two profiles) and at the Dog Beach (Three profiles).

Pea Soup continues to show low levels of sand in both the long profile in front of the "Breakers" rock wall and at the board walk to the water's edge.

The Pea Soup Beach profile shows a negative height (-2%) which means the sand height fell just below the lower limit of historical readings. By coincidence, this new low limit only occurred at 15m from the post where the percentage height is calculated. A few percentage points are within the measurement error of the system and no cause for concern.

The long profile is unusual as it it the only profile we measure that has an average height of 24%; in other words most of the measurements are nearer the lower limit rather than clustering around the mid values. (Median) The current height at -80m from the reference post at the ramp is 9% compared to 15% in March this year. This profile is very difficult to set up so a larger than normal error in measurements is to be expected.

The Dog Beach shows sand levels mostly above average with the latest at 62% compared to an average height of 47%.

 

More information

 

Please contact us if you would like more detailed information.

 

We can provide:

  • spread sheets of all data

  • photos for each monthly measurement.

 

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