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Estuary detail

Below is an interactive map and a table of parameters derived through various sources – Nature Conservancy Council (Davidson et al, 1991), EMPHASYS (2000c), Dyer (2002) in Futurecoast, Townend (2005), ABPmer (2024) and ABPmer (2025). The data is indicative of recently determined bulk properties suitable for broadscale intercomparison of estuaries.

Alternatively take a look in the viewer.

Estuaries Database Viewer View in Estuaries Database Viewer
Estuary ID
JNCC ID
Name of estuary Hayle Estuary 
Alternative name  
Grid reference SW555385  
WFD water body ID GB530804906700 
WFD water body name Hayle 
MAGIC URL link MAGIC link 1 
Latitude 50.19094408 
Longitude -5.43421359 
JNCC classification Bar Built Estuary  
Updated classification Spit Enclosed   read more on estuary classification..
Tidal classification Macrotidal  
Spring tidal range (m) 5.8  
Mean High Water Springs (mODN) 3.2 
Mean Low Water Springs (mODN) -2.6 
Mean Tide Level (mODN) 0.14 
Mean river flow (m3/s) 1.03 
Low river flow (m3/s) 0.29  
High river flow (m3/s) 2.66 
Name of furthest downstream flow gauge St Erth  
DEFRA Hydrology Gauge Data Explorer URL link DEFRA Hydrology Gauge link   
Area of basin (Ha) 358  
Intertidal area (Ha) 321  
Shoreline length (km) 11.9  
Channel length (km) 2.4  
Mouth width (m) 150  
Valley width (m) 500  
Volume at mean tide level (m3) 788000  
Surface area at mean tide level (m2) 512000  
CSA at mean tide level (m2)  
Volume at low water (m3) 67000  
Surface area at low water (m2) 72800  
CSA at low water (m2)  
Volume at high water (m3) 4530000 
Surface area at high water (m2) 1720000 
CSA at high water (m2)
Volume of tidal prism (m3) 4470000 
Dronkers' gamma (nondim) 0.34 
Storage volume over intertidal (m3) 4040000 
Channel volume to MTL (m3) 489000 
Ratio of storage volume to channel volume (nondim) 8.26 
Hydraulic depth at MTL (m) 1.5 
DEFRA Catchment Data Explorer URL link DEFRA Catchment link  
Estuary template download link View

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Last Modified on: 28 April 2025
Printed from the Estuary Guide on 15/05/2025 23:00:21