Lake Muir

Lake Muir

Lake Muir in October 2010
Lake Muir
Location in Western Australia
Location South West, Western Australia
Coordinates 34°26′49″S 116°44′54″E / 34.44694°S 116.74833°E / -34.44694; 116.74833Coordinates: 34°26′49″S 116°44′54″E / 34.44694°S 116.74833°E / -34.44694; 116.74833
Primary outflows Deep River
Catchment area 384 km2 (148 sq mi)
Basin countries Australia
Designation Muir-Byenup System Ramsar Site
Max. length 12 km (7.5 mi)
Max. width 3 km (1.9 mi)
Surface area 4 km2 (1.5 sq mi)
Surface elevation 170 m (560 ft)
References [1][2]

Lake Muir is a freshwater lake, with a larger surrounding wetlands area, that is located in the South West region of Western Australia. The lake lies near the Muirs Highway north of Walpole and south-east of Manjimup. The lake has a surface area of 46 square kilometres (18 sq mi).

The surrounding wetland is often known as the Lake Muir-Unicup System.

Flora and fauna

A 14-square-kilometre (5.4 sq mi) section of the wetlands has been identified by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area (IBA) because it is thought to provide habitat for 10 or more pairs of endangered Australasian bitterns.[3]

History

Historically the area was a Game Reserve, with a duck shooting season. The Department of Environment and Conservation (CALM) started monitoring the wetlands system in 1980 in order to manage the duck shooting.

On 5 January 2001 a 106-square-kilometre (41 sq mi) area was designated, under the Ramsar Convention as Ramsar site 1050, a wetland of international importance, acknowledging its rich ecological diversity.

In October 2005, evidence of damage to the wetlands area was published:

"…clearing of the land, and agriculture, have resulted in changes to the natural ecological processes in the waterways, and threaten the Muir-Unicup system."[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Bonzle Digital Atlas – Map of Lake Muir". 2009. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  2. ↑ "Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands - Muir – Byenup System, Western Australia". 2003. Retrieved 2 March 2009.
  3. ↑ "IBA: Muir-Unicup Wetlands". Birdata. Birds Australia. Retrieved 22 August 2011.
  4. ↑  PDF

External links


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