The Regional Estuaries Initiative is developing estuary models that will use inputs from corresponding catchment models to understand how these complex ecosystems behave and react to change.

Estuary models are physically-based and use meteorological inputs such as rainfall, temperature, wind and solar radiation, along with the catchment inflows and ocean exchange, to determine flow, temperature and salinity in an estuary. The models can be used to predict how estuaries will respond to scenarios such as reduced rainfall, one-off weather events (like storms) and increased ocean exchange (due to opening sand bars, surge barrier management or increased ocean levels).

Models are used to inform investment planning and target on-ground actions that will have the biggest benefit for the estuary and surrounding waterways.

Estuary models are being completed for the Peel-Harvey, Leschenault, Vasse-Wonnerup, Hardy Inlet and Wilson Inlet estuaries.

The University of Western Australia and Delft Technical University is partnering with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation to develop the estuary models for the Peel-Harvey and Leschenault estuaries respectively.