Hattah Lakes

Lake Hattah
Photo: Arthur Mostead

A unique collection of semi-permanent freshwater lakes

The Hattah Lakes icon site includes over 20 semi-permanent freshwater lakes. The site forms part of the 48,000 hectare Hattah–Kulkyne National Park. The lakes support river red gum communities and a variety of native plants and animals. They are also important breeding places for waterbirds.

The Living Murray icon site objectives

The vision for Hattah Lakes is to preserve and where possible enhance the biodiversity values of Hattah Lakes and to restore healthy examples of all original wetland and floodplain communities. Ecological objectives for the icon site are to:

• restore a mosaic of healthy wetland and floodplain communities to maintain the ecological character of the Ramsar site
• maintain high quality habitat for native fish in wetlands and support successful breeding events
• provide feeding and breeding habitat for a range of waterbird species
• provide conditions for successful breeding of colonial nesters at least twice every ten years.

A new environmental water management plan is being developed, which will replace the 2006–07 environmental management plan for Hattah Lakes icon site.  

Environmental works are underway at Hattah Lakes icon site. For information on these works see Planned works at Hattah Lakes.

Monitoring reports

Implications of pumping and ponding water on water quality and the development of diverse aquatic ecosystems: intervention monitoring of the Hattah Lakes icon site 2006–07

Further information about Hattah Lakes

Planned works at Hattah Lakes

Hattah Lakes environmental watering

Environmental regulators: Hattah Lakes and Lindsay-Wallpolla and Mulcra Islands