Thursday 19 May 2016

What a difference a few weeks make!

Since my previous blog on April 11 there  has been a dramatic change to the topography of the harbour entrance!

It is quite difficult to show by the photographs below how very different the beach 'feels'...however these images may give an impression of what it looks like at virtually low tide early this morning in brilliant sunshine.....

Basically the overtopping of the spit during Storm Katy has now resulted in a full scale breach and two channels are open at all states of the tide besides the original Groyne 4/3. This has resulted in much less pressure being put on the entrance which has been the subject of concern during the past couple of years. The new 'double' breach has helped the situation but it is not in quite the right place where it is planned to 'cut and block'...nevertheless it is a very interesting development!


The mound of shingle in front of the bungalows adjacent to groyne three remains..

...to block the view for a number of property owners.


The remains of Groyne 3 continues to blight the view.

Looking west from this point towards Groyne 4 and beyond gives an idea of the change to the flow...in fact this is still water with no flow at all at low tide.



It is not until well past the last bungalow on the beach do you appreciate the full extent of the new breach(s)
Then from the end of the second track-way the second breach comes into view and the flow through this has increased  considerably in the past few days.



This shows the second exit from the harbour which is quite a complex and ever changing scenario.
 Just a little further on, and this photo shows the present end of the Church Norton spit .

So a very changeable and unexpected situation which will be monitored closely and with considerable interest.


Incidentally the bird hide was removed yesterday...it has recently been vandalised and was again being used overnight.
All that remains ...a concrete slab!