Water Corporation schedule opening of Denmark’s Wilson Inlet sandbar following recent rains

Water Corporation has announced that it will open the Wilson Inlet sandbar this week as water levels have exceeded the minimum level required for the exchange to take place.

The opening was set to happen on Thursday in agreement with the Shire of Denmark, the City of Albany and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation.

“As water levels have been rapidly rising in the area following recent rainfall, we have reached the trigger point to activate the opening of the inlet,” Water Corporation Great Southern regional manager Adrian Stewart said.

“We anticipate this to happen on Thursday sometime between 9am and 11am, with an excavator onsite from Tuesday in preparation.”

Governed by the Wilson Inlet Sandbar Opening Protocol, it takes place once the minimum level required is reached, an event that usually occurs between June and the end of the first week of September.

Mr Stewart said that the event usually attracted a crowd and that precautions would be taken to ensure the safety of onlookers.

“We also want to remind surfers to be mindful of the potential for changeable conditions in the area due to the increased exchange of water between Wilson Inlet and the ocean,” he said.

The artificial opening of the inlet is carried out in winter to reduce the impact of flooding on low-lying areas.

The mouth will close again in summer as tides return sand to the channel.