Anglesea River Estuary

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Overview

Active Anglesea River EstuaryWatchers

The Anglesea River Estuary is approximately 2.618km in length with a catchment area of 885.1 Ha. There are extensive boardwalks, bridges and trails around the estuary which provide many opportunities to get up close to the estuary.

Map

Estuary Values

Estuarine Wetland Ecological Vegetation Class (Endangered)
Eastern Great Egret (Adea modesta) Status: Vulnerable (Adv List)
Nankeen Night Heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) Status: Near Threatened (Adv List)
camping
canoeing, kayaking and stand up paddling
recreational fishing
picnics and BBQs
sightseeing
swimming
walking

Estuary Threats

disturbance of Acid Sulphate Soils
altered water regimes
altered physical form
poor water quality
invasive flora and fauna
reduced connectivity

10987_ANGLESEA_RIVER_ESTUARY_MANAGMENT_PLAN.pdf
Anglesea River Estuary Fact Sheet

Recent Events

Event Details
29-08-2025 EstuaryWatch Event Location: north side of Coalmine Road monitoring site 5 Dark red colouration of suspended solids in water. Seen flowing under Coalmine Road and detected when monitoring site 5. (pic 2) pH reading taken on this northern site of Coalmine Road = 3.1. Regular Estuary watch reading for site 5 will be reported as usual in separate report. This colouration also seen in shallow water near the middle of the estuary system as marked in the map. (pic 3)
29-08-2025 EstuaryWatch Event Extra pH readings taken at water body known as the Duck Pond using Estuary Watch equipment. Observed red residue on boardwalk where that part of the boardwalk had previously been submerged in water due to high water levels in the estuary. (Pic 1) Water colour different in both samples. This water body is a distinctly different colour that the variations seen in the rest of the estuary system. Depth of water body estimated at 0.75m (water sampling stick used to reach bottom). pH of top water sample 5.1 (pic 2) pH of bottom water sample 3.3 (pic 3)
27-08-2025 water quality Corangamite CMA staff visited the Anglesea River estuary seven days after an artificial estuary opening that took place on the 20th of August. Water was still flowing steadily out to sea however the channel with flowing water was narrower than what had been seen earlier in the week. Water level recorded from the 235278A ANGLESEA RIVER AT GREAT OCEAN ROAD BRIDGE monitoring station has dropped from 1.738 m at the time of the opening to 1.38 m at 8:00am. Clumps of seaweed were seen in the channel that has been excavated. This indicates that sea water is pushing up into the lower part of the estuary at high tide. Strong winds were blowing sand across the berm while the mouth condition data sheet was being completed. pacific and kelp gulls were seen feeding on dead fish at the river mouth. a lot of the dead fish seem to have been removed by birds. There was a small bodied fish that looked to have recently died. It was identified as a Bridled Goby. This is the first time during the acid flush event that this species has been found dead at the river mouth. The water colour at the lower end of the estuary was milky in appearance and blue/green/yellow in colour (see photo of monitors at boat sheds) The water colour at the upstream extent of the estuary was a burnt orange iron colour (see photos taken at Coalmine Road). The water was the same shade as the socks worn by one of the monitors.
25-08-2025 Water level Corangamite CMA staff visited the Anglesea River estuary five days after an artificial estuary opening that took place on the 20th of August. Water was still flowing steadily out to sea and had scoured sand to form a deeper channel than what was seen on the day of the opening. (markings on pole in images are every 10cm) Water level recorded from the 235278A ANGLESEA RIVER AT GREAT OCEAN ROAD BRIDGE monitoring station has dropped from 1.738 m at the time of the opening to 1.39m at 8:00am. There was a similar amount of dead fish to what was seen the previous week along the water line of the river mouth. Some had obviously been eaten by birds. There was still signs of flocculant on the river bed. The colour varied from milky white to orange. A lone pelican was also seen at the river mouth
22-08-2025 Water level Corangamite CMA staff visited the Anglesea River estuary two days after an artificial estuary opening that took place on the 20th of August. Water was still flowing steadily out to sea and had scoured sand to form a deeper channel than what was seen on the day of the opening. (markings on pole in images are every 10cm) Water level recorded from the 235278A ANGLESEA RIVER AT GREAT OCEAN ROAD BRIDGE monitoring station has dropped from 1.738 m at the time of the opening to 1.44m at 9:00am. There was a similar amount of dead fish to what was seen the previous day along the water line of the river mouth. There were two large dead Black Bream seen in the swash zone about 100m up the beach towards the Anglesea Surf Life Saving Club. They looked like that had died recently. We walked into the outcrop of rushes and sedges upstream of where the river intercepts the sea. There was a shallow channel alongside the rushes that had 20+ dead Yellow Eyed Mullet, 1 Black Bream and 1 Flounder. The flocculant looked to be concentrated here too.
21-08-2025 Water level Corangamite CMA staff visited the Anglesea River estuary the day after an artificial estuary opening that took place on the 20th of August. Water was still flowing steadily out to sea and had scoured sand to form a deeper channel than what was seen on the day of the opening. (markings on pole in images are every 10cm) Water level recorded from the 235278A ANGLESEA RIVER AT GREAT OCEAN ROAD BRIDGE monitoring station has dropped from 1.738 m at the time of the opening to 1.646m at 8:00am.
20-08-2025 Estuary Entrance Opening Anglesea River estuary was artificially opened by GORCAPA at the request of Corangamite CMA in an attempt to improve water quality. The drainage channel was dug 20-30cm deep by an excavator. Water level recorded by the 235278A ANGLESEA RIVER AT GREAT OCEAN ROAD BRIDGE monitoring station at the time of opening was 1.74m.
05-08-2025 Fish Flows from Marshy Creek reached the Anglesea River estuary on the 25/07/2025. At the time, the pH of water recorded at the 235260A ANGLESEA RIVER (MARSHY CREEK) @ ALCOA monitoring station was 3.8. Fish deaths were observed at Anglesea River estuary since Tuesday 5 August and continued throughout August. On the 15th of August a Corangamite CMA staff member walked the water line at the river mouth and recorded 70 dead Yellow-eyed Mullet, 1 Australian Salmon and 8 Flounder and 2 Black Bream. (to give you an idea of length, her shoe is 27cm in length. ) By the 20th of August, there were more Black Bream found dead some of them were over 40cm in length. (black lines on stick in images are 10cm apart) Fish death are likely to be cause by the acidity of the estuary and flocculation, which is a physical-chemical process of suspended particles clumping together, often resulting in altered clarity and colour (this can be observed as a milky blue appearance).
28-07-2025 water quality The 235260A ANGLESEA RIVER (MARSHY CREEK) @ ALCOA monitoring station indicated that the creek began to flow on the 06/07/2025. Flows from Marshy Creek reached the Anglesea River estuary on the 25/07/2025. At the time, the pH of water recorded at the 235260A ANGLESEA RIVER (MARSHY CREEK) @ ALCOA monitoring station was 3.8. Photos taken on the 28/07/2025 looking upstream and downstream of Coalmine Road. The milky blue coloured water upstream of Coalmine Road looks like Aluminium flocculant.

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Sites

A1	Jetty opposite Angahook Corner Store Active Physico-Chemical 29-04-2007 - 29-08-2025 Sampling from Jetty opposite Minifie Avenue/ Angahook Cafe, adjacent to the information centre. Observations 206
A2	Fishing platform upstream of Great Ocean Rd Bridge Active Physico-Chemical 29-04-2007 - 29-08-2025 Fishing Platform upstream of the Great Ocean Road bridge and boat houses located on the western bank. Observations 212
A3	Footbridge near Bingley Parade Active Physico-Chemical 29-04-2007 - 29-08-2025 Footbridge that crosses estuary. Observations 220
A4	Footbridge adjacent to Coogarah Park Active Physico-Chemical 29-04-2007 - 29-08-2025 Footbridge located adjacent to Coogarah Park. Observations 195
A5	Culvert on Coalmine Road Active Physico-Chemical 29-04-2007 - 29-08-2025 Culvert on Coalmine Road. Observations 189
AGB	Anglesea Water Level Gauge Board Active Gauge Board The gauge board is located under the GOR bridge. Measurements are taken from the inland side of the bridge, off the western bank.
AMC	Anglesea River Estuary Mouth Observation Site Active Mouth Condition 17-04-2007 - 29-08-2025 Small sand dune hillock on eastern side of estuary mouth Observations 267
Ap1	Anglesea River Estuary Mouth Photopoint Active Photopoint 10-05-2008 - 30-08-2025 Adjacent to eastern bank of river mouth, southern most point. Photos 585
Ap2	Anglesea River Estuary Mouth Photopoint 2 Retired Photopoint 31-08-2008 - 27-08-2025 Exit point of walking track onto estuary/beach. SW corner of Anglesea Family Holiday Park. Photos 344
Ap3	Anglesea River Estuary Mouth Photopoint 3 Active Photopoint 25-11-2016 - 30-08-2025 Photo is taken from the Anglesea Rivermouth (East) signage W89 that sits next to the walking track that follows the river. Photos 327

Estuary Snapshots

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

Winter 2025

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Spring 2020

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Autumn 2020

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Summer 2020

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Mouth Condition Snapshots

Mouth Condition 29-08-2025 #17175

Mouth Condition 27-08-2025 #17151

Mouth Condition 25-08-2025 #17143

Mouth Condition 22-08-2025 #17130

Mouth Condition 21-08-2025 #17127

Mouth Condition 20-08-2025 #17145

Mouth Condition 16-07-2025 #17068

Mouth Condition 18-06-2025 #17016

Mouth Condition 21-05-2025 #16957

Mouth Condition 19-03-2025 #16782

Mouth Condition 19-02-2025 #16739

Mouth Condition 29-01-2025 #16705

Mouth Condition 18-12-2024 #16623

Mouth Condition 20-11-2024 #16565

Mouth Condition 16-10-2024 #16512

Mouth Condition 18-09-2024 #16457

Mouth Condition 29-08-2024 #16504

Mouth Condition 21-08-2024 #16378

Mouth Condition 17-07-2024 #16285

Mouth Condition 19-06-2024 #16210

Mouth Condition 15-05-2024 #16173

Mouth Condition 20-03-2024 #16072

Mouth Condition 21-02-2024 #16027

Mouth Condition 05-02-2024 #16230

Mouth Condition 17-01-2024 #15975

Mouth Condition 12-12-2023 #15904

Mouth Condition 15-11-2023 #15859

Mouth Condition 18-10-2023 #15807

Mouth Condition 20-09-2023 #15765

Mouth Condition 16-08-2023 #15707

Mouth Condition 21-06-2023 #15595

Mouth Condition 17-05-2023 #15537

Mouth Condition 19-04-2023 #15478

Mouth Condition 22-02-2023 #15315

Mouth Condition 18-01-2023 #15244

Mouth Condition 21-12-2022 #15200

Mouth Condition 16-11-2022 #15129

Mouth Condition 19-10-2022 #15084

Mouth Condition 21-09-2022 #15042

Mouth Condition 17-08-2022 #14954

Mouth Condition 20-07-2022 #14905

Mouth Condition 22-06-2022 #14786

Mouth Condition 18-05-2022 #14686

Mouth Condition 20-04-2022 #14606

Mouth Condition 16-03-2022 #14553

Mouth Condition 16-02-2022 #14494

Mouth Condition 30-01-2022 #14478

Mouth Condition 15-12-2021 #14406

Mouth Condition 17-11-2021 #14360

Mouth Condition 20-10-2021 #14328

Mouth Condition 15-09-2021 #14297

Mouth Condition 18-08-2021 #14257

Mouth Condition 16-06-2021 #14172

Mouth Condition 19-05-2021 #14136

Mouth Condition 21-04-2021 #14093

Mouth Condition 17-03-2021 #14012

Mouth Condition 20-01-2021 #13951

Mouth Condition 18-03-2020 #13644

Mouth Condition 19-02-2020 #13587

Mouth Condition 15-01-2020 #13519

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