Boat wash and wind wave field trials completed on Swan River

Curtin University Centre for Marine Science and Technology, on behalf of the Swan River Trust, has completed full scale field trials of boat wash and wind waves on the Swan River to verify results in its groundbreaking 2009 report, Investigation into the Effect of Wash of Boats and Wind Waves on the Swan River.

The field trials confirmed that a reduction in boat speed limits in sections of the Swan River would dramatically reduce the potential for shoreline erosion, damage to wildlife habitats and disruption to other aquatic users.

What it involved

Boat wash and wind waves were measured at different locations on the Swan River including Ashfield Parade and Quarry Point. Nine different hull forms were tested across a range of boat speeds and distances from the shoreline.

Wind wave measurements were also carried out at these locations in order to validate the empirical method used for wind wave predictions.

The Stage 1 and Stage 2 research reports are a recommendation of the Trust’s Boating Management Strategy for the Swan and Canning Riverpark (February 2009) which provides a framework for managing boating activities. The research examines a range of issues including:

• vessel generated waves
• wave wake and bank erosion
• wind and vessel wave predictions for the Swan River

The Trust worked in collaboration with the Department of Transport and the research was undertaken by the Australian Maritime College and Curtin University Centre for Marine Science and Technology.

Outcomes

The research is part of a bigger strategy to understand the effects of boating on the Swan and Canning rivers.

These results will be used to help inform a major review of aquatic usage on the Swan and Canning rivers in a collaborative project between the Trust and Department of Transport. Involving extensive stakeholder and community consultations, the review will begin later this year and include a review of speed limits on the River along with other management strategies.

Downloads
(available by scrolling up to the top right hand side of the page)

• Stage 1 and Stage 2 Executive Summary and Reports - Investigation into the Effect of Wash of Boats and Wind Waves on the Swan River
• Boating Management Strategy for the Swan and Canning rivers (February 2009)
• Summary of public comments to the draft Boating Management Strategy (24 September 2008)