Orbost flood levels, Victoria, Australia
S 37° 42.557 E 148° 27.201
55H E 628105 N 5825445
This Flood / High Level Marker is in Forest Park, at the lower end of the town of Orbost, and indicates the heights of various floods from the nearby Snowy River.
Waymark Code: WMWTHM
Location: Victoria, Australia
Date Posted: 10/11/2017
Views: 1
On the eastern side of the 'Totem Pole' Flood Level Indicator are a few plaques, and some photos of various floods from the Snowy River.
Starting at the bottom:
[A plaque advertising the laser etching]
* 1925 Level Mark and photo
* 1978 Level Mark and photo of a house
* 1952 Level Mark photo of a fence
* 1893 Level Mark and photo of the trees by the Snowy River
* 1934 Level Mark and photo of earlier bridge into Orbost
* 1971 Level Mark and aerial photo of Orbost
[Rotary International symbol]
Nearby is an information sign about how floods play "a natural part of a healthy river system".
"We often see floods as unexpected disasters yet they provide us with both environmental and economic benefits.
"Floods trigger aquatic animal life cycles such as fish migration, and fallen trees provide instream shelter for animals. Farms on our floodplains, 'the Snowy Flats', are also enriched when silt is flushed from the upper catchment.
"Rainfall in East Gippsland is heaviest from May to December. However, some of the highest flows on record have occurred in the drier months.
"The Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Scheme has altered the intensity of flooding in the Snowy River. The regular spring snow melts of September/ October are now held in the Jindabyne Dam in New South Wales.
"Stream bank erosion is intensified in times of flood. Catchment managers rely on healthy riparian vegetation to protect river banks from scouring and collapse.
"The first stage in rehabilitating streams is often the prevention of further erosion. Reeds are then established at the waterline and revegetation is extended to indigenous shrubs and trees upon the bank. The roots of vegetation reinforce soil in the same way that steel rods reinforce concrete. Fine roots are particularly important in this process.
"Willows are no longer used by catchment managers. Like other exotic weeds they can be highly invasive and grow into the river channel. This can actually redirect river flow and increase nuisance flooding in some areas." [Waterwatch East Gippsland]
Visited: 1114, Saturday, 14 May, 2016
Natural or man made event?: Natural
What type of marker?: Post
When did this occur?: 1893, 1925, 1934, 1952, 1971, and 1978
Website related to the event..: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
A picture showing the level along with any markers telling of what had occurred can be used. Better yet would be a picture of you or someone standing next to the high level mark, that would show if you would have been just wading or completely submersed.