Environmental Monitoring and Reporting
Canning River Estuary ~ Weekly profile
by
Water Science Branch, Department of Water
Date:
Tuesday 6th January 2015
Weather & tide conditions: Conditions were fine with up to 95% cloud cover and a south to
south easterly breeze of up to 2 knots. The tide was ebbing for the duration of the sampling
period and water was flowing over the Kent St weir boards. Perth recorded 0 mm of rainfall
during the week prior to the morning of sampling (Bureau of Meteorology).
Oxygenation: Bacon St and Camsell Way oxygenation plants were operational the week
prior to sampling. Nicholson Rd oxygenation plant was operational overnight only the week
prior to sampling for testing.
Canning Estuary (downstream of Kent St Weir):
The Canning Estuary was saline
throughout at SCB2 and SAL, then brackish over saline at RIV and CASMID. Water was
well oxygenated on the surface over oxygenated bottom water at SAL and SCB2, oxygenated
throughout at CASMID and oxygenated over low oxygen bottom water at RIV. Water
temperature ranged from 25.5 to 30.8 °C.
Lower Canning River (upstream of Kent St Weir): The Lower Canning River was fresh
throughout. Surface water was well oxygenated to oxygenated at all sites. Bottom water was
hypoxic at KENU300, KS7, PAC and ELL, low in oxygen at BACD500, BAC and NICD200
and oxygenated to well oxygenated at all other sites. Water temperature ranged from 21.5 to
28.8 °C.
Definitions:
Salinity – fresh <5ppt, brackish 5-25ppt, saline 2535ppt, hypersaline >35ppt
Dissolved oxygen – well oxygenated >6 mg/L
oxygenated >4 to 6 mg/L, low oxygen >2 to 4 mg/L,
hypoxic >0.5 to 2.0 mg/L, near anoxic <0.5 mg/L
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Canning River Estuary - Physical-chemical Profile - 6th January 2015
SCB2
0
SAL
RIV
CASMID KEN
BAC
GRE
NIC
ELL
-2
-4
Salinity (ppt)
0
-6
8
18
28
38
0
-2
Depth (m)
-4
Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)
0
-6
5
10
15
0
-2
-4
Dissolved Oxygen (%Sat'n)
-6
0
50
100
10
15
20
150
200
0
-2
-4
Temperature (°C)
-6
0
2
4
6
25
30
8
10
12
14
16
Distance from Canning Bridge (km)
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