Health concerns for Wilson Inlet

A dry winter has meant Denmark’s Wilson Inlet will not be opened for only the third time in the past century.

Based on the Wilson Inlet Sandbar Opening Protocol, the inlet is breached in June or July each year if it reaches a metre above sea level to prevent the flooding of nearby farms and infrastructure.

Denmark had just 40.3mm of rain last month, the driest August on record.

Shire of Denmark chief executive Dale Stewart said he was concerned for the health of the inlet because it was becoming increasingly common that the inlet was not flushed.

“If we have more regular non-openings, then the inlet converts into more of a swamp and that will not be a good thing,” he said.

“How we enjoy the inlet from day to day is for our social enjoyment as well as for its beauty.

“Whether that’s canoeing, boating, swimming, watching birds or for our recreational or commercial fishing, or getting the surf break at Ocean Beach, all of those attributes get their value from an inlet that opens to the sea from time to time.”

The inlet was not opened for the first time in 2007 and again in 2010.

Mr Stewart said negative environmental effects were evident in those periods.

“There was an increasing number of negative health reports in respect to the inlet, there were algal blooms because of the lack of marine exchange and higher temperatures and less oxygen,” he said.

“So that’s a concern. Also a concern generally is the fish stocks.”

Mr Stewart said he had written to the Department of Water requesting a review of the Wilson Inlet Sandbar Opening Protocol.

Department of Water South Coast regional manager Brett Ward said opening the inlet when it was at such a low level could have detrimental effects on its health.

“Studies have shown that opening the bar at a low level may have a negative impact on seagrass in the inlet, causing it to die,” he said.

“This seagrass population is critical to the inlet’s ability to naturally filter nutrients and there are also further complications when the seagrass dies, such as increased nutrient levels and noxious smells.”