Herdsman Lake
Encyclopedia
Herdsman Lake is a groundwater
lake located 6 km north-west of Perth
, Western Australia
, in the suburb of Herdsman
.
The lake is encompassed by Herdsman Lake Regional Park. It measures 2.5 km from north to south, and 2 km from east to west, totaling over 3 km² (300 hectares). The perimeter of lake is dredged to provide permanent open water, 15% of the area, during the dry summer months. The lake is a wildlife sanctuary, with birdwatching a popular activity.
The Herdsman Main Drain (HMD) is a 4 km x 1000mm underground pipe drain carrying excess water from the lake to its outflow at City Beach
.
Groundwater
Groundwater is water located beneath the ground surface in soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated deposit is called an aquifer when it can yield a usable quantity of water. The depth at which soil pore spaces or fractures and voids in rock...
lake located 6 km north-west of Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, in the suburb of Herdsman
Herdsman, Western Australia
Herdsman is a light industrial suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Stirling.In the earlier days of settlement, cattle were raised near the lake area...
.
The lake is encompassed by Herdsman Lake Regional Park. It measures 2.5 km from north to south, and 2 km from east to west, totaling over 3 km² (300 hectares). The perimeter of lake is dredged to provide permanent open water, 15% of the area, during the dry summer months. The lake is a wildlife sanctuary, with birdwatching a popular activity.
The Herdsman Main Drain (HMD) is a 4 km x 1000mm underground pipe drain carrying excess water from the lake to its outflow at City Beach
City Beach, Western Australia
City Beach is a beachside suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the Town of Cambridge. Its postcode is 6015. The term "City Beach" is also used to describe a specific beach located within the suburb of the same name....
.
Attractions
Attractions within the park include the Olive Seymour Boardwalk, Herdsman Lake Wildlife Centre and Settler's Cottage. Walking, cycling, picnicking, bird watching and wildflower spotting are popular activities in the park. Disabled access is provided.Facts
- Almost 80% of the lake is covered with Typha rush (Typha orientalis), an introduced weed.
- In summer, most of the lake is dry.
- 15% of the lake is permanent deep water.
- In the 1830s, the lake was a possible water supply for Perth.
- In 1936, the lake was almost used as an alternative airport.
- Herdsman Lake was declared a regional park in 1999.