Merri River Estuary

Overview

Estuary name	Merri River Estuary
CMA	Glenelg Hopkins CMA
Description	The Merri Estuary is located near Warrnambool in southwest Victoria. The river has two openings to the sea, both artificially modified. In 1859, the course of the Merri River was diverted in an attempt to prevent sedimentation in Lady Bay (Gill 1984). The main channel of the Merri River now discharges into the sea at Stingray Bay east of Pickering Point.
Estuary Values
Estuary Threats
Data	Site observations
Status	Active
Monitor group	Merri River EstuaryWatch Group

Map

Sites

Site details	Options
M1 Stanley Street Active Physico-Chemical 27-10-2013 - 07-12-2024 Monitoring has historically been conducted from the pedestrian crossing on the downstream side of the Stanley Street (Edwards Bridge), Warrnambool. In February 2022, this site was temporarily moved 100m upstream onto the left bank of the Merri River, with sampling occurring from the new floating pontoon while the new bridge was under construction. Sampling has since returned to the Edwards Bridge in 2024 once the new bridge was completed; undertaken on the downstream (southern) side pedestrian access.	Observations 122
M2 Fonterra Floating Pontoon Active Physico-Chemical 17-11-2013 - 07-12-2024 The floating pontoon at the end of the Esplanade, Warrnambool.	Observations 122
MGB Merri River Water Level Gauge Board Active Gauge Board Gauge board can be found on the retaining wall downstream of the Stanley Street Bridge. When looking downstream from the pedestrian bridge you will see it on the right.
MMC1 Sting Ray Bay Active Mouth Condition 27-10-2013 - 07-12-2024 Where the Merri River exits into Sting Ray Bay.	Observations 130
MMC2 Rutledges Cutting Active Mouth Condition 07-12-2013 - 07-12-2024 Beach access track at the most eastern carpark in Belfast Coastal Reserve.	Observations 123
Mp1 Stingray Bay Active Photopoint 27-03-2014 - 08-12-2024 Photo is taken at the bottom of the beach access stairs near Emergency marker WCC112, Sting Ray Bay.	Photos 458
Mp2 Rutledges Cutting Active Photopoint 10-02-2017 - 09-11-2024 At the end of the beach access track from the easter carpark in Belfast Coastal Reserve.	Photos 247

Recent Events

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Estuary Snapshots

The EstuaryWatch snapshots provide a summary of estuary condition on a particular day. For all EstuaryWatch Snapshots, photopoint photos and a longitudinal water quality profile from the estuary mouth to the inland extent is displayed. Read more

Full estuary snapshots below use dates where samples at every active monitoring site were recorded. View full and partial snapshots

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