Abstract
Australia is a land of salt lakes and despite low human population density, many lakes are adversely impacted by a range of factors. Secondary salinisation is the most pernicious force degrading lakes, especially in south-west Western Australia where up to 30% of the landscape is predicted to be affected. Mining also impinges on many salt lakes in this state, mainly through the dewatering of saline groundwater. Exploitation of groundwater for irrigation caused some lakes in Victoria, Australia, to dry, especially the significant Red Rock Complex. Global climate change will result in new water balances in endorheic lakes, with most having less water, particularly the seasonal lakes of southern Australia. This has already happened in Lake Corangamite, Victoria, but the prime reason is diversion of inflowing floodwater. Consequently, the lake has retreated and become salinised compromising its status as a Ramsar site. Various other lakes suffer from enhanced sedimentation, have introduced biota or their catchments are being disturbed to their detriment. Enlightened management should be able to maintain some important lakes in an acceptable condition, but, for most others, the future is bleak.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Adler, R., 2003. Groundwater–surface water interaction of the Red Rock Complex, Victoria, Australia. B.Sc. Honours Thesis, University of Melbourne.
Anon (1911) Lakes of the Commonwealth. Australian Year Book No. 4 Government Printer Sydney 59–82
InstitutionalAuthorNameAustralian Nature Conservation Agency (1996) A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia EditionNumber2 ANCA Canberra
InstitutionalAuthorNameAustralian State of the Environment Committee (1996) Australia: State of the Environment 1996. Independent Report to the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Heritage Canberra
I. A. E. Bayly (1969) ArticleTitleThe occurrence of calanoid copepods in athalassic saline waters in relation to salinity and anionic proportions Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie 17 449–455
A. J. Boulton M. A. Brock (1999) Australian Freshwater Ecology: Processes and Management Gleneagles Publishing Glen Osmond
A. J. Boulton L. N. Lloyd (1992) ArticleTitleFlooding frequency and invertebrate emergence from dry floodplain sediments of the River Murray, Australia Regulated Rivers: Research and Management 7 137–151
B. Bowen (2000) Environmental Protection Authority Annual Report 1999–2000 Environmental Protection Authority Perth, Western Australia
J. M. Bowler (1983) ArticleTitleLunettes as indices of hydrologic change: a review of Australian evidence Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 95 147–168
D. J. Cale S. A. Halse C. D. Walker (2003) ArticleTitleWetland monitoring in the Wheatbelt of south-west Western Australia: site descriptions, waterbird, aquatic invertebrate and groundwater data Conservation Science in Western Australia 5 8–13
A. Chapman B. V. Timms (2004) ArticleTitleWaterbird usage of Lake Arrow, an arid zone wetland in the eastern goldfields of Western Australia, following cyclonic rain Australian Field Ornithology 21 107–114
A. R. Chivas P. Deckker ParticleDe J. M. G. Shelley (1986) ArticleTitleMagnesium content of non-marine ostracod shells: a new palaeosalinometer and palaeothermometer Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology and Palaeoecology 54 43–61
Coleman, M, B. Datson & B. V. Timms, 2004. Field Study of the Invertebrate Fauna of Twenty Two Wetlands Near Lake Carey. Report prepared for Placer (Granny Smith) Pty Ltd. Actis Environmental Services, Perth, Western Australia.
D. T. Currey (1964) ArticleTitleThe former extent of Lake Corangamite Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 77 377–386
J. A. Davis M. McGuire S. A. Halse D. Hamilton P. Horwitz A. J. McComb R. H. Froend M. Lyons L. Sim (2003) ArticleTitleWhat happens when you add salt: predicting impacts of secondary salinisation on shallow aquatic ecosystems by using an alternative-states model Australian Journal of Botany 51 715–724
P. Deckker ParticleDe M. C. Geddes (1980) ArticleTitleSeasonal fauna of ephemeral saline lakes near the Coorong Lagoon, South Australia Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 31 677–699
R. H. Froend S. A. Halse A. W. Storey (1997) ArticleTitlePlanning for the recovery of Lake Toolibin, Western Australia Wetlands Ecology and Management 5 73–85 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1008231505328
R. H. Froend A. J. McComb (1991) ArticleTitleAn account of the decline of Lake Towerinning, a wheatbelt wetland Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 73 123–128
M. C. Geddes W. D. Williams (1987) Comments on Artemia introductions and the need for conservation P. Sorgeloos D. Abengston W. Decleir E. Jaspers (Eds) Artemia Research and its Applications. Vol 3. Ecology, Culturing, Use in Aquaculture Univera Press Wetteren, Belgium 19–26
M. C. Geddes P. Deckker ParticleDe W. D. Williams D. W. Morton M. Topping (1981) ArticleTitleOn the chemistry and biota of some saline lakes in Western Australia Hydrobiologia 82 201–222 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00048717
R. J. George C. J. Clarke T. J. Hatton (2001) ArticleTitleComputer modelled groundwater response to recharge management for dryland salinity control in Western Australia Advances in Ecological Monitoring and Modelling 2 3–35
S. A. Halse T. Massenbauer (2005) ArticleTitleIncorporating research results into wetland management: lessons from recovery catchments in saline landscapes Hydrobiologia 552 33–44
S. A. Halse G. B. Pearson J. M. McRae R. J. Shiel (2000a) ArticleTitleMonitoring aquatic invertebrates and waterbirds at Toolibin and Walbyring Lakes in the Western Australian wheatbelt Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 83 17–28
Halse, S. A., R. J. Shiel, A. W. Storey, D. H. D. Edward, I. Lansbury, D. J. Cale & M. S. Harvey, 2000b. Aquatic invertebrates and waterbirds of wetlands and rivers of the southern Carnarvon Basin, Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum Supplement No 61: 217–265.
S. A. Halse J. K. Ruprecht A. M. Pinder (2003) ArticleTitleSalinisation and prospects for biodiversity in rivers and wetlands of south-west Western Australia Australian Journal of Botany 51 673–688 Occurrence Handle10.1071/BT02113
S. A. Halse M. R. Williams R. P. Jaensch J. A. K. Lane (1993) ArticleTitleWetland characteristics and waterbird use of wetlands in south-western Australia Wildlife Research 20 103–126 Occurrence Handle10.1071/WR9930103
U. T. Hammer (1981) ArticleTitleA comparative study of primary production and related factors in four saline lakes in Victoria, Australia International Revue Hydrobiologia 66 701–743
U. T. Hammer (1986) Saline Lake Ecosystems of the World Junk Dordrecht
U. T. Hammer K. F. Walker W. D. Williams (1973) ArticleTitleDerivation of daily phytoplankton production estimates from short-term experiments in some shallow, eutrophic Australian saline lakes Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 24 259–266
B. T. Hart P. Bailey R. Edwards K. Hortle A. McMahon C. Meredith K. Swadling (1991) ArticleTitleA review of the salt sensitivity of the Australian freshwater biota Hydrobiologia 210 105–144
J. Hart (1996) Storm Over Mono: The Mono Lake Battle and the California Water Future University of California Press Los Angeles
P. Horwitz R. Rogan K. Bradby M. Robertson (2004) Socio-ecological relationships and their consequences for coping with change in south-western Australia G. Albrecht (Eds) The Airs, Waters, Places Transdisciplinary Conference on Ecosystem Health in Australia. School of Environmental and Life Sciences The University of Newcastle Callaghan, NSW, Australia 21–29
Inland Waters Reference Group, 1996. Water erosion and sedimentation. In Australian State of the Environment Committee, Australia: State of the Environment 1996. Independent Report to the Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage, CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Department of the Environment and Heritage, Canberra: 6–29.
IPCC, 2001. Climate Change 2001: Synthesis Report. A Contribution of Working Groups I, II and III to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Watson, R. T. (ed.), Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Jellison, R., W. D. Williams, B. V. Timms, J. Alcocer & N. Aladin, In Press. Salt lakes? Values, threats and future. In Pulonin, N. (ed.), Aquatic Ecosystems: Trends and Global Prospects. Foundation for Environmental Conservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Jones, R. N., 2003. The Scientific Importance of Lakes Gnotuk and Bullen Merri to the Understanding of Climate. publicusers.netcon.net.au/rpggroup/lakes/jones.pdf.
R. N. Jones T. A. McMahon J. M. Bowler (2001) ArticleTitleModelling historical lake levels and recent climate change at three closed lakes, Western Victoria, Australia (ca. 1840–1990) Journal of Hydrology 246 159–180 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0022-1694(01)00369-9
Keighery, G., N. McKenzie, S. Halse & M. Harvey, (eds), 2004. A biodiversity survey of the Western Australian Agricultural Zone. Records Western Australia Museum Supplement 67.
R. Kingsford (1998) Potential impacts of irrigation on the wetlands of the Paroo River R. Kingsford J. Porter (Eds) Paroo River Workshop, Hungerford, Queensland NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service Sydney
R. Kingsford (2000) ArticleTitleProtecting rivers in arid regions or pumping them dry? Hydrobiologia 427 1–11 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1004033915662
R. Kingsford A. J. Boulton J. T. Puckridge (1998) ArticleTitleChallenges in managing dryland rivers crossing political boundaries: lessons from Cooper Creek and the Paroo River, central Australia Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 8 361–378 Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1099-0755(199805/06)8:3<361::AID-AQC294>3.0.CO;2-V
A. W. Knight G. H. McTansh R. W. Simpson (1995) ArticleTitleSediment loads in an Australian dust storm: implications for present and past dust processes Catena 24 195–213 Occurrence Handle10.1016/0341-8162(95)00026-O
Lake Eyre Basin Coordinating Group, 2000. Lake Eyre Basin Strategic Plan. http://www.lakeeyrebasin.org.au/media/leb.
Loughran, R. J., G. L. Elliott, D. J. McFarlane, & B. J. Campbell, In press. A survey of soil erosion in Australia using Caesium-137. Australian Geographic Studies.
McMaster, K., A. Savage, T. Finston, M. S. Johnson, & B. Knott, In press. The recent spread of Artemia parthenogenetica in Western Australia. Hydrobiologia.
G. H. McTainsh A. W. Lynch R. C. Burgess (1990) ArticleTitleWind erosion in Eastern Australia Australian Journal of Soil Research 28 323–339 Occurrence Handle10.1071/SR9900323
P. G. Macumber (1991) Interaction between Groundwater and Surface Systems in Northern Victoria Department of Conservation, Environment East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
P. Micklin (2004) The Aral Sea crisis C. J. Jacques P. Nihoul O. Zavialov P. P. Micklin (Eds) Dying and Dead Seas NATO ARW/ASI Series Kluwer Publishers Dordrecht 99–123
D. L. Nielsen M. A. Brock G. N. Rees D. S. Baldwin (2003a) ArticleTitleEffects of increasing salinity on freshwater ecosystems in Australia Australian Journal of Botany 51 655–665
D. L. Nielsen M. A. Brock K. Crossle K. Harris M. Healey I. Jarosinska (2003b) ArticleTitleThe effects of salinity on aquatic plant germination and zooplankton hatching from two wetland sediments Freshwater Biology 48 2214–2223
InstitutionalAuthorNameNLWRA (2001) Australian Dryland Salinity Assessment 2000: Extent, Impacts, Processes, Monitoring and Management Options National Land and Water Resources Audit Canberra
NSW National Parks, Wildlife Service, 2003. Intergovernment Agreement for the Paroo River between NSW and Queensland. http://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/npws.nsf/content/Paroo+River+Agreement viewed Nov. 2004.
D. T. Patten F. P. Conte W. E. Cooper J. Dracup S. Dreiss K. Harper G. L. Hunt P. Kilham H. E. Kleiforth J. N. Melack S. A. Temple (1987) The Mono Lake Basin Ecosystem: Effects of Changing Lake Level National Academy Press Washington, DC, USA
A. M. Pinder S. A. Halse J. M. McRae R. J. Shiel (2002) ArticleTitleHalophile aquatic invertebrates in the wheatbelt region of south-western Australia Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie 28 1687–1693
A. M. Pinder S. A. Halse J. M. McRae R. J. Shiel (2004) ArticleTitleAquatic invertebrate assemblages of wetlands and rivers in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia Records of the Western Australian Museum 67 7–37
Pittock, B., 2003. Climate Change – An Australian Guide to the Science and Potential Impacts. http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/science/guide .
L. C. Radke K. W. F. Howard P. A. Gell (2002) ArticleTitleChemical diversity in south-eastern Australian salt lakes I. Geochemical causes Marine and Freshwater Research 53 941–959 Occurrence Handle10.1071/MF01231
L. C. Radke S. Juggins S. A. Halse P. Deckker ParticleDe T. Finston (2003) ArticleTitleChemical diversity in south-eastern Australian salt lakes. II. Biotic implications Marine and Freshwater Research 54 895–912 Occurrence Handle10.1071/MF03021
J. Roberts (1995) ArticleTitleEvaporation basins are wetlands Australian Journal of Environmental Management 2 7–18
A. Sanders (1991) Oral histories documenting changes in wheatbelt wetlands. Occasional Paper 2/91 Department of Conservation and Land Management Perth
M. Scheffer (1989) ArticleTitleAlternative stable states in eutrophic, shallow freshwater ecosystems: a minimal model Hydrological Bulletin 23 73–83
I. A. Shiklomanov (1990) ArticleTitleGlobal water resources Natural Resources 26 75–91
B. V. Timms (1971) ArticleTitleOur changing lakes Wildlife in Australia 8 34–36
B. V. Timms (1976) ArticleTitleA comparative study of three maar lakes in western Victoria. I Physiography and physico-chemical features Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 27 35–60
B. V. Timms (1983) ArticleTitleA study of benthic communities in some shallow saline lakes of western Victoria Hydrobiologia 105 165–177 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00025186
B. V. Timms (1992) Lake Geomorphology Gleneagles Publishing Adelaide
B. V. Timms (2001) Wetlands of Currawinya National Park: Conservation and Management M. Page C. Evenson A. Whittinton (Eds) Research Needs for Managing a Changed Landscape in the Hungerford/Eulo Region School of Natural and Rural Systems Management, University of Queensland Gatton 9–12
B. V. Timms (2002) ArticleTitleThe fairy shrimp genus Branchinella Sayce (Crustacea: Anostraca: Thamnocephalidae) in Western Australia, including a description of four new species Hydrobiologia 486 71–89 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1021330230369
B. V. Timms (2004) The continued degradation of Lake Corangamite C. J., Jacques P. Nihoul O. Zavialov P. P. Micklin (Eds) Dying and Dead Seas NATO ARW/ASI Series Kluwer Publishers Dordrecht 307–319
Timms, B. V., In Press. The limnology of the saline lakes of the central and eastern inland of Australia: a review with special reference to their biogeographical affinities. Hydrobiologia.
B. V. Timms C. H. S. Watts (1986) ArticleTitleWater beetles of salt lakes near Colac, Victoria Bulletin of the Australian Society for Limnology 10 1–7
K. F. Walker (1973) ArticleTitleStudies on a saline lake ecosystem Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 24 21–71
K. F Walker J. T. Puckridge S. J. Blanch (1997) ArticleTitleIrrigation development on Cooper Creek, central Australia: prospects for a regulated economy in a boom-and-bust ecology Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems 7 63–73 Occurrence Handle10.1002/(SICI)1099-0755(199703)7:1<63::AID-AQC218>3.3.CO;2-X
W. D. Williams (1964) ArticleTitleA contribution to lake typology in Victoria, Australia Verhandlungen Internationale Vereinigung für Theoretische und Angewandte Limnologie 15 158–168
W. D. Williams (1981) ArticleTitleThe limnology of saline lakes of Western Victoria. A review of some recent studies Hydrobiologia 82 233–259 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00048719
W. D. Williams (1985) ArticleTitleBiotic adaptations in temporary lentic waters, with special reference to those in semi-arid and arid regions Hydrobiologia 125 85–110 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00045928
Williams W. D., 1995. Lake Corangamite, Australia, a permanent saline lake: Conservation and management issues. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and Management: 55–64.
W. D. Williams (1998) Guidelines of Lake Management Vol 6. Management of Inland Saline Waters International Lake Environment Committee Foundation Kusatsu, Japan
Williams, W. D., 1999. Salinisation: A major threat to water resources in the arid and semi-arid regions of the world. Lakes & Reservoirs: Research and Management: 85–91.
W. D. Williams (2001) ArticleTitleSalinization: unplumbed salt in a parched landscape Water Science and Technology 43 85–91
W. D. Williams (2002) ArticleTitleEnvironmental threats to salt lakes and the likely status of inland saline ecosystems in 2025 Environmental Conservation 29 154–167 Occurrence Handle10.1017/S0376892902000103
W. D. Williams A. J. Boulton R. G. Taafe (1990) ArticleTitleSalinity as a determinant of salt lake fauna: a question of scale Hydrobiologia 197 257–266 Occurrence Handle10.1007/BF00026955
W. D. Williams P. Deckker ParticleDe R. J. Shiel (1998) ArticleTitleThe limnology of Lake Torrens, an episodic salt lake of central Australia with particular reference to unique events in 1989 Hydrobiologia 384 101–110 Occurrence Handle10.1023/A:1003207613473
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Timms, B.V. Salt Lakes in Australia: Present Problems and Prognosis for the Future. Hydrobiologia 552, 1–15 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-1501-x
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-005-1501-x