Prepared for
Water and Rivers Commission and Department of Conservation & Land Management in consultation with the Yenyening Lakes Management Committee
Jointly funded by
WATER AND RIVERS COMMISSION REPORT NO. WRM 32 DECEMBER 2002
Foreword
The Yenyening Lakes are an important part of the Wheatbelt environment from an environmental, economic and social viewpoint. At landscape scale, the lakes are located at the junction of the inland zone of ancient drainage and the zone of rejuvenated drainage, at the point where the sluggish saline valleys meet the channelised east branch of the Avon River. Thus all of the drainage from the Lockhart and Yilgarn catchments flows through the lakes.
Environmentally, the lakes have significant biodiversity resources and also provide important habitat for water birds. Economically, regulation of the flows past the Qualandary crossing provides a means of managing flood risk further down in the Avon and Swan Rivers. At the same time, careful water flow management is important to prevent excessive salinisation of farmland adjacent to the lakes. Socially, the lakes are an important asset for water sports and other recreation in an area that is generally devoid of large surface water bodies. Local communities place a high level of value on these recreational opportunities.
In recognition of the importance of the Yenyening Lakes, a Management Strategy was developed in 1996 to be implemented by a Management Committee. Progress has been sound and the Management Committee have discharged their responsibilities well. However, given the considerable developments in biophysical research since that time, and institutional changes at government level, it is appropriate that performance against the strategy’s objectives is reviewed and a new 10-year strategy developed to take advantage of recent findings and events.
This project reviews the previous strategy and management arrangements, factors in available new information, and presents a new 10-year strategy with supporting biophysical information and management commitments.
The process undertaken in the development of this plan has ensured that the competing and sometimes conflicting uses or management issues have been systematically evaluated using available information and the advice of people with relevant experience. The plan is compatible with the local management guidelines of the Department of Conservation and Land Management and the broader waterway management policies of the Water and Rivers Commission.
The Yenyening Lakes Management Strategy 2002-2012 has been prepared by URS Australia under direction from the Water and Rivers Commission, Department of Conservation and Land Management in consultation with Yenyening Lakes Management Group. It is intended for use by those with an active interest in the management of the Lakes, including the Yenyening Lakes Management Group. The Strategy is also expected to be of interest and useful to adjacent landholders, The Shires of Beverley, Quairading and Brookton, members of the scientific community and the public of Western Australia.
The Strategy has been reviewed and approved by Department of Conservation and Land Management and Water & Rivers Commission, endorsed by Avon Waterways Committee, recognised by the Shires of Beverley, Quairading and Brookton and accepted by the Yenyening Lakes Management Committee.