Department of Environment and Conservation

Toolibin Lake

Details

Published on Thursday, 28 July 2005 08:00

Photo by Audrey Bird

Toolibin Lake

Toolibin Lake and its catchment were selected as a Natural Diversity Recovery Catchment in 1996. The lake is a seasonal wetland about 200 km south-east of Perth, Western Australia, in the headwaters of the Blackwood River. ( Map.) In 1990 the lake was listed as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention.

Toolibin Lake’s conservation values are based on its comparatively good water quality and woodland of sheoaks and paperbarks which grow across the lake floor. When flooded, this habitat supports a high diversity of waterbirds, many of which breed on the lake. Toolibin is now the largest remaining wetland representing a habitat that was once widespread across the Western Australian wheatbelt. Outside of Toolibin, most of these wetlands have surrendered to salinity.

Secondary salinity - from both increasingly saline surface water inflows and rising saline groundwater - seriously threatens the biodiversity values of the lake. The Department of Environment and Conservation is working closely with the Lake Toolibin Catchment Group, scientists and other government agencies to implement recovery works aimed at stopping, then reversing the current degradation of the lake values.

National Salinity Prize

The Toolibin Lake Recovery Project was awarded the inaugural, Institute of Engineers (Australia), 2002 National Salinity Prize in recognition of its integrated approach to salinity management and strong community support.

Find out more about the National Salinity Prize:

• Toolibin Lake Recovery Project, IEA Salinity Prize Application - Details the engineering solutions adopted by the project. It also highlights the strong links between the local community and environmental experts.

Contact details:

The Toolibin Lake Recovery Catchment Officer
Narrogin District Office
Department of Environment and Conservation
Narrogin WA 6312
Tel: (08) 9881 9211
Fax: (08) 9881 1645