Flood in Cooper Creek at Windorah
Submitted: Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:25
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Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park
Good morning everyone, the floodwaters in
Cooper Creek at
Windorah covered the
bridge 11 klms east of
Windorah yesterday, effectively cutting off traffic from the east. According to ABC National News this morning the Cooper is expected to peak at 6 m later this week. No, I don't know when it will be open or how long it will take to get to
Innamincka. This is not a major flood but it is a GREAT flood and whilst inconveniencing visitors to the region it brings water, food and life to those people living along its length. The waterbirds are already arriving.
At this stage the road south from
Longreach-
Stonehenge-
Jundah-
Windorah is still open and visitors can come that way.
North from
Birdsville to
Bedourie - the detour via
Lake Machattie is in place (a very nice drive - picturesque even) as the water at the Cuttaburra is quite high and fast (that's Eyre Creek).
It is not expected that the floodwaters in the Georgine River (which becomes Eyre Creek) will flow down far enough to make the Eyre Creek bypass (on the eastern side of the
Simpson desert - only 52 klms west of
Birdsville) operable.
Weather forecast today - very cloudy, heard something that sounded like pitter-patter of raining drops earlier but they took fright and went away. Flies running at 1:500 - they've definitely dropped off thank goodness.
Reply By: Willem - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:33
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:33
Thanks Ruth
There always seems to be rain around when we go travelling.....lol
To all of you who get stuck at a creek or river crosssing...take care, don't be in a hurry, boil the billy, and wait for the tide to recede........
Cheers
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Follow Up By: Gramps (NSW) - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:34
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:34
.... or someone to cross before you :))))
Regards
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:46
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:46
Good advice Willem - you're right, always rains when we want to go somewhere as
well!
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Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:33
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:33
Sounds great Ruth. Just have to try to get somewhere to see it, perhaps during May. We had 30 mm over the last 24 hours and that is the best fall in a while, but the flood to you will be great. It would be good to know the likely rate of movement of the water but realise that isn't your expertise.
I am glad the fly ratio has dropped. I nearly typed ration, knowing they can get to the mouth easily perhaps I should have kept with it.
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:54
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:54
Good rain, JR . Whaddya mean isn't my expertise! Up here, ya know, we can give you any answer you want - may not be right or the truth.
The Cooper won't affect
Birdsville - other than it will cut
Walkers Crossing.
The Diamantina still has the original flood in it (within the banks here) but
Diamantina Lakes is 4.34m and rising again and Monkira (south of there and north of here - approx halfway) was 2.7 m and rising yesterday (needs to be 4m at Monkira for good flood here). As I've said before we have very scientific means of prediction here - lots of phone calls up river and plenty of cups of tea mulling over implications, along with where you place your tongue in the corner of your mouth and how many black cockatoos you saw last summer. The Diamantina will cut the
Warburton Crossing (but not into Goyders Lagoon yet) so people won't be able to go in or out at the bottom of the K1.
Your cows will love the rain and the lucerne will grow nicely - although you are probably cold already down there. Have you had a frost yet?
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Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Moses - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:18
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:18
Ruth, sounds like some political exterpolation there somewhere. Why couldn't I expect some of that. LOL Good have get the additional information about where but please keep the up-to-date w h e n. I know the tongue in the corner of the mouth, not that I would talk like that.
Love some lucerne, but we have permanent pasture for 5-7 months of the year and heavy cost of feeding for the other parts. Where we are we have few frosts being only 8-10kms from the coast and undulating, none so far this year.
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Reply By: Rosco - Qld - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:34
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:34
Hi Ruth
That's all good news for you, by the sound of it. Hopefully we'll finally catch up with you, probably about the 3rd week in July. Looking forward to it. How busy do you expect to be around then ??
Cheers
Rosco
P.S. Remember your query some time ago as to whether I was "coming out" ??
LOL
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:46
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 08:46
Rosco, yes I do remember - should be busy at usual in July, always a great month for travel in the desert (any desert), so look forward to seeing you then.
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Reply By: Member - Phil [Sunshine Coast] - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:18
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:18
Giday Ruth, glad to hear the bloody flies have issed off! Thanks for your hospitality,a very enjoyable cuppla days. Itried to post twice [cafe's] but each time I hit submit, it said I was,nt logged on [I was] so with my 2 finger typing I gave up in the end . No major dramas from
birdsville to
Perth ,Good rd. to Alice, & the Central rd was ''not bad'' . We broke a coil spring in Uluru,I would rather be stuck for three days in
Birdsville than there!! BLOODY EXPENSIVE , at least the RACQ will pick up the accom. fee, so alls
well
Anyway ,thanks again for your hosp. Ithink Norm must be due there soon, I hope he's got a fly screen for his camper!. cya... Phil
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 10:04
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 10:04
Jeez, Phil, you must have got your finger out (so to speak) to get all those
miles in. What a place to break a coil - thank goodness for the RACQ! Yep Norm should be here sometime. Doug T (and Dusty) were here over
Easter.
Lovely to see you.
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Follow Up By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 12:11
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 12:11
Still at
home unfortunately. Have to stick around for 4WD Club Corroboree (our club is hosting and we expect over 200 vehicles to attend) and an Army reunion.
Leave in 16 days (but who is counting) LOL.
Planning on traveling to you via Walker's Crossing Ruth, so I'll
check with you on it's condition before we leave.
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 13:08
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 13:08
OK will expect your call Norm.
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Follow Up By: Keith_A (Qld) - Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 09:45
Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 09:45
Hi Ruth - will this have any effect on Coogie Lakes, or will the 'tide' have gone out before it reaches there?.........Keith
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 17:54
Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 17:54
Hi Keith - it should have an effect allright - a good one! Keep looking at the Posts because as soon as we know how far the water is down and where etc. I'll put a Post up. At this stage Coongie doesn't have much water in it at all - some visitors here this week were very disappointed unforutnately.
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Reply By: David from David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:21
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:21
Woohoo! love to see flood water in the Cooper.
Maybe more on the way yet Ruth :-)
What is a ratio of 1:500 regarding flies?
Is that 1 fly per 500 still alive?
or 1 fly per 500 people?
or 500 flies per person?
or 500 flies per sq millimetre?
See you in July.
Dave O
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Follow Up By: Joe King - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:37
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:37
David,
last time I was in
Stonehenge it was 500 flies per mm2,
the people I went down to see (For their wedding) were wearing fly veils..
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 10:08
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 10:08
David - trust you! I work on the scientific formulae of 1 person per 500 flies.
Sully arrived day before yesterday at dinnertime which caused Ian to stop work and start drinking. They sat in
camp (by the front
gate) all afternoon - plenty of people driving passed stopped to assist them in their endeavours (to drink the cold room dry) and I fed them about 8:15 and left them to it. I heard a wobbly boot come
home at 10:00 p.m. and they were all unwell yesterday and cracking hardy. Last night Sully and Barry went to the Pub and haven't been seen since!!!!!!
The Army is due to leave Bris on Saturday (travelling via
Longreach,
Jundah,
Windorah to
Birdsville) and will be parading on Anzac Day and Sully will dedicate the Memorial (finally got the soldier on top of the Memorial).
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Follow Up By: David from David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 10:15
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 10:15
Oh, I never thought of putting the person first. So you're on the side of the flies are you?-making sure they have enough people to bother?
Say G'day to Sully when (if) he sobers up :-)
Shame we can't be there for Anzac day...I am just up the road (outback measurement) at the moment at
Phosphate Hill.
I hope all have a good time, including the flies :-)
Cheers
David
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Follow Up By: David from David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 10:58
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 10:58
Joe
Nothing like a bride and groom in matching veils :-)
Dave O
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 11:02
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 11:02
David,
Phosphate Hill is only about (maybe) 500 klms away, isn't it? Ha ha.
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Follow Up By: David from David and Justine Olsen's 4WD Tag-Along - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 11:52
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 11:52
Ruth
Something like that. East of Dajara between Dajara and
Duchess.
Like I said "just up the road" a mere stone's throw.
Dave O
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Reply By: Member - Wim (Qld) - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:53
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 09:53
Hi Ruth.
Shades of last July. Just as I am preparing to leave, I have to start looking at road closures and alternitive routes.
Hopefully the road is open by Sat 29th. If not I may not get into
Birdsville untill the Sunday.
Glad to hear the flys are moving on.
See you Saturday.
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 10:11
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 10:11
Ha ha Wim, isn't it funny the way it always happens to you? Don't panic, it may not be a long flood - can't tell yet. Keep you posts though. Yes good news about the flies - funny how they are the little sticky ones this year - I eaten more than my share too.
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Reply By: MAVERICK(WA) - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 10:10
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 10:10
yippee i say - looks like perfect stuff for june/july playing up there.....see you then.
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 11:03
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 11:03
Yes Maevrick, it should make things quite nice!
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Reply By: Member - Reiner G (QLD) 4124 - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 14:15
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 14:15
Ruth, what a timing, we saw the water was higher on the way out . That means we have to come back in July ? :-)
I could leave here tomorrow......not having much fun back in the rat-race.
cheers
Reiner
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Reply By: Member - Prickle (SA) - Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 21:33
Thursday, Apr 20, 2006 at 21:33
Ruth,
Does all this water make its way in to Lake Eyre?
Is it enough to have any impact on bird life etc and if so when?
Enjoy your posts.
Regards
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 12:39
Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 12:39
Hi there Prickle, thanks for your kind words. No, this water in the Cooper won't make it into Lake Eyre. Even in the last big flood the Cooper water only made it as far as 2 klms east of the
Birdsville Track - the Lake filled becuse there was big rains in the
Macumba and Neale Rivers (west of the
Simpson Desert) and with the water from the Diamantina River - you could actually see it flowing into the Warbuton Groove on the top middle of Lake Eyre.
But, yes, the water will still have a great and good impact whever it goes - along its whole length. Water birds are already being noticed anywhere along the river where the flood is. The peak at
Windorah should be approx. Monday - expecting 6 metres - it then takes a while to work its way down towards
Innamincka. Already the causeway at
Innamincka has water over it.
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Reply By: Bob Y. - Qld - Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 06:09
Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 06:09
Hello Ruth,
Peak of flood went past here yesterday morning. Probably a bit smaller than last June's flood so will be useful for us. Certainly better than that last "flood"
Off around via
Winton to do a paddock on sunday, that haven't been able to previously. Only about 500 clicks, all because we can't cross the river here. Been years since we've had to make this journey.
Talk to you when we get back.
Hooroo...
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 12:41
Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 12:41
Bob, thought maybe the peak was due, noticed the Lakes rising again - 4.51 this a.m. and still going up. Hope it will be good for you. Water just trickling over the old causeway here again. Still very dry though.
You should have an interesting trip going the 'long way around'. Give us a word on conditions when you get back - flies should be good with all the green appearing!
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Reply By: Pomgonewalkabout - Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 15:15
Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 15:15
Hi Ruth,
We met last weekend when we stayed at your campsite.
White Defender, Yellow Labrador called "Banjo"
First time that we have ever been to
Birdsville, what a great place, 5 million flies can't be wrong!
We left Monday morning and went home on the
inside track, some amazing scenery and we nearly got stuck on quite a biggish sandhill, any idea what it was called? It was a bout 40km along the track.
Cheers Dean
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Follow Up By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 19:26
Friday, Apr 21, 2006 at 19:26
Hey Dean - we even remember you and M. (not just Banjo!) Ha ha ha.
I replied to this on email and pushed the send button instead of doing it this way, so I assume it went into cyberspace.
Glad you enjoyed your visit - some of the flies have left - did they go back with you? HA ha.
That sand dune is very famous and is called Lover's Nook and was the scene of a famous police shoot-out many years ago. The
inside track is so much nicer - great changes of scenery.
Ruth and Ian
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Reply By: Pomgonewalkabout - Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 09:17
Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 09:17
Lovers Nook!
Could be interesting with all that sand about.
cheers Dean
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Reply By: Ruth from Birdsville Caravan Park - Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 18:05
Saturday, Apr 22, 2006 at 18:05
At 3:00 p.m. this afternoon (the 22 April)
Cooper Creek at
Windorah was 5.44m and falling slowly - still 1.14m above approaches. Looks like that's it! Still great water to travel down the Cooper and refill and revitalise everywhere it goes.
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