Lake Muir
Encyclopedia
Lake Muir is a lake
within an important wetlands area in the South West region of Western Australia
, often known as the Lake Muir - Unicup System. It lies near the Muirs Highway
North of Walpole
and south-east of Manjimup
and is 46 km2 in area.
which is the floral emblem
of Western Australia.
as an Important Bird Area
(IBA) because it is thought to provide habitat for 10 or more pairs of endangered Australasian Bittern
s.
. 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 km2 area was designated, under the Ramsar Convention
as Ramsar site 1050, as a wetland of international importance, thereby acknowledging its rich ecological diversity.
In October 2005, evidence of damage to the wetlands area was published:
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
within an important wetlands area in the South West region of 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...
, often known as the Lake Muir - Unicup System. It lies near the Muirs Highway
Muirs Highway
Muirs Highway is a Western Australian highway linking Manjimup and Mount Barker on the Albany Highway. It is signed as State Route 102 and is long. It provides a shorter distance between Manjimup and Albany...
North of Walpole
Walpole, Western Australia
Walpole is a town in Western Australia, 432 km SSE of Perth and 66 km west of Denmark.Walpole lies very close to the northern point of the 100-hectare Walpole Inlet, from which it takes its name....
and south-east of Manjimup
Manjimup, Western Australia
Manjimup is a town in Western Australia, south of the state capital, Perth. The town of Manjimup is a regional centre for the largest shire in the South West of Western Australia. At the 2006 census, Manjimup had a population of 4,239.-History:...
and is 46 km2 in area.
Plants
The region provides one of the few natural habitats for the Red and Green Kangaroo PawAnigozanthos manglesii
Anigozanthos manglesii, commonly known as the Red and Green Kangaroo Paw or Mangles Kangaroo Paw, is a plant species endemic to Western Australia, and the floral emblem of that state....
which is the floral emblem
Floral emblem
In a number of countries, plants have been chosen as symbols to represent specific geographic areas. Some countries have a country-wide floral emblem; others in addition have symbols representing subdivisions. Different processes have been used to adopt these symbols - some are conferred by...
of Western Australia.
Birds
A 14 km2 section of the wetlands has been identified by BirdLife InternationalBirdLife International
BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources...
as an Important Bird Area
Important Bird Area
An Important Bird Area is an area recognized as being globally important habitat for the conservation of bird populations. Currently there are about 10,000 IBAs worldwide. The program was developed and sites are identified by BirdLife International...
(IBA) because it is thought to provide habitat for 10 or more pairs of endangered Australasian Bittern
Australasian Bittern
The Australasian Bittern , also known as the Brown Bittern, is found in south-western and south-eastern Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, New Caledonia and Ouvea. Populations in Australia and New Zealand have declined in the 20th century.It is a large bittern, patterned and streaked brown, buff...
s.
History
Historically the area was a Game Reserve, with a duck shooting seasonHunting season
A hunting season is the time when it is legal to hunt and kill a particular species.In the United States, each state has primary responsibility and authority over the hunting of wildlife that resides within state boundaries. State wildlife agencies that sell hunting licenses are the best source of...
. The Department of Environment and Conservation
Department of Environment and Conservation
The Department of Environment and Conservation is a department of the Government of Western Australia that is responsible for implementing the state's conservation and environment legislation and regulations...
(CALM) started monitoring the wetlands system in 1980 in order to manage the duck shooting.
On 5 January 2001 a 106 km2 area was designated, under the Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
as Ramsar site 1050, as a wetland of international importance, thereby 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."