Culham Inlet
Encyclopedia
Culham Inlet is an inlet
located in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia
. The inlet is also referred to as a coastal salt lake
or a transient estuary, as the sand bar that prevents it discharging is almost always closed. The wetlands formed by the system are DIWA
listed due to their ecological significance.
The inlet is located on the eastern flank of East Mount Barren in the Fitzgerald River National Park
and is approximately 7 kilometres (4 mi) West of Hopetoun
.
The inlet is a wave dominated estuary
with a degraded catchment, that is a result of substantial clearing and a saline
run-off. It covers a total area of 11.3 square kilometres (4 sq mi). The lagoon area is shallow with a typical maximum depth of 2 metres (7 ft) with a record depth of 4.5 metres (15 ft) recorded after exceptional rainfall. Two rivers discharge into the inlet, the Phillips
and the Steere
.
The inlet is separated from the Southern Ocean
by a bar of dunes between 30 metres (98 ft) to 40 metres (131 ft) wide. The dunes are breached rarely breaking naurally in 1849, 1993 and 2000 and artificially in 1920, each time for a period of 3 to 4 weeks.
The inlet was a river valley prior to 6,500 years ago when a rise in sea levels caused the valley to flood, it would have remained an open estuary until 3,500 years ago when the sand bar at the entrance built up to such a degree that discharge into the ocean was prevented. Then further dune building occurred so that breaks became less frequent.
The area periodically supports a large array of flora and fauna. It is used as a commercial fishery and supplied large catches of Black Bream. The waters also support populations of smaller endemic species such as Goby
and two Hardyheads.
A large population of waterbirds is also found in the area with up to 25 species being recorded in the inlet.
The inlet was named by John Septimus Roe
, who named the inlet in 1848 after the Toodyay
homestead of his son in law, Samuel Pole Phillips.
Inlet
An inlet is a narrow body of water between islands or leading inland from a larger body of water, often leading to an enclosed body of water, such as a sound, bay, lagoon or marsh. In sea coasts an inlet usually refers to the actual connection between a bay and the ocean and is often called an...
located in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. The inlet is also referred to as a coastal salt lake
Salt lake
A salt lake or saline lake is a landlocked body of water which has a concentration of salts and other dissolved minerals significantly higher than most lakes . In some cases, salt lakes have a higher concentration of salt than sea water, but such lakes would also be termed hypersaline lakes...
or a transient estuary, as the sand bar that prevents it discharging is almost always closed. The wetlands formed by the system are DIWA
Diwa
Diwa is a railway junction on the Mumbai Suburban Railway between Mumbra and Dombivli.The nearest cities are Mumbra and Dombivli. Diva junction also connects with rail link to Panvel from where Konkan railways originate to Goa and Mangalore. Diva is primarily a railway junction and was almost...
listed due to their ecological significance.
The inlet is located on the eastern flank of East Mount Barren in the Fitzgerald River National Park
Fitzgerald River National Park
Fitzgerald River National Park is a national park in Western Australia , southeast of Perth, in the Shire of Ravensthorpe and the Shire of Jerramungup....
and is approximately 7 kilometres (4 mi) West of Hopetoun
Hopetoun, Western Australia
Hopetoun is a town on the south coast of Western Australia in the Shire of Ravensthorpe. Located on Mary Ann Haven, Hopetoun is some south-east from capital city Perth and west of Esperance.-History:...
.
The inlet is a wave dominated estuary
Estuary
An estuary is a partly enclosed coastal body of water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea....
with a degraded catchment, that is a result of substantial clearing and a saline
Saline water
Saline water is a general term for water that contains a significant concentration of dissolved salts . The concentration is usually expressed in parts per million of salt....
run-off. It covers a total area of 11.3 square kilometres (4 sq mi). The lagoon area is shallow with a typical maximum depth of 2 metres (7 ft) with a record depth of 4.5 metres (15 ft) recorded after exceptional rainfall. Two rivers discharge into the inlet, the Phillips
Phillips River
The Phillips River is an ephemeral river in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia.The headwaters of the river rise on the sanplains below Mount Madden and flow in a southerly direction, crossing the South Coast Highway approximately West of Ravensthorpe then entering the Fitzgerald...
and the Steere
Steere River
The Steere River is a river in the Goldfields-Esperance region of Western Australia.The headwaters of the river rise below the Ravensthorpe Range in the vicinity of Elverdton then flow in a southerly direction until discharging into the north eastern end of Culham Inlet.The waters of the river are...
.
The inlet is separated from the Southern Ocean
Southern Ocean
The Southern Ocean comprises the southernmost waters of the World Ocean, generally taken to be south of 60°S latitude and encircling Antarctica. It is usually regarded as the fourth-largest of the five principal oceanic divisions...
by a bar of dunes between 30 metres (98 ft) to 40 metres (131 ft) wide. The dunes are breached rarely breaking naurally in 1849, 1993 and 2000 and artificially in 1920, each time for a period of 3 to 4 weeks.
The inlet was a river valley prior to 6,500 years ago when a rise in sea levels caused the valley to flood, it would have remained an open estuary until 3,500 years ago when the sand bar at the entrance built up to such a degree that discharge into the ocean was prevented. Then further dune building occurred so that breaks became less frequent.
The area periodically supports a large array of flora and fauna. It is used as a commercial fishery and supplied large catches of Black Bream. The waters also support populations of smaller endemic species such as Goby
Goby
The gobies form the family Gobiidae, which is one of the largest families of fish, with more than 2,000 species in more than 200 genera. Most are relatively small, typically less than 10 cm in length...
and two Hardyheads.
A large population of waterbirds is also found in the area with up to 25 species being recorded in the inlet.
The inlet was named by John Septimus Roe
John Septimus Roe
John Septimus Roe was the first Surveyor-General of Western Australia. He was a renowned explorer, and a Member of Western Australia's Legislative and Executive Councils for nearly 40 years.-Early life:...
, who named the inlet in 1848 after the Toodyay
Toodyay, Western Australia
Toodyay is a town located in the Wheatbelt region in the Avon Valley, 85 km north-east of Perth, Western Australia. Toodyay is connected to Perth via both rail and road.-History:...
homestead of his son in law, Samuel Pole Phillips.