LAKE EWLYAMARTUP

GPS 33 41 34.82 S 117 44 09.88 E

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Located south of the Katanning to Nyabing road on Lagaweira Road, Lake Ewlyamartup is a lovely tranquil spot to have a picnic or spend a night as you travel the area.

The facilities at the lake were installed in 2015 and toilets, seats, tables, shelters and BBQs are provided.

When water levels are high enough, people from the surrounding area enjoy water skiing on the lake.

The lake attracts birdlife and a small hide is located away from the main picnic area.

Ewly (as it is called by locals) was once a freshwater source but broad-acre farming and the removal of trees led to the same problem that now afflicts most of the lakes in the wheatbelt; salinity. By 2010 the water quality of the lake had deteriorated very badly and the salt levels were three times that of the sea.

With inflow but no outflow, the lake had become silted up so the local community started planning in 2010 to reverse the silting up of the lake and improve water quality. It took a great deal of effort and a lot of time but eventually progress was made.

In the space of just one week 1,700 hours of time were given by volunteers and 20,000 cubic metres of sludge were removed from the lake. Removing the nutrient rich sludge from the lake was just one area that needed attention. The water catchment area needed to be upgraded and 100,000 trees were planed and measures taken to reduce run-off from farms.

The nutrient rich sludge that was removed from the lake was stockpiled and the accumulated salt was allowed to leech out. When the process is complete the remaining material will be used to enrich nutrient poor soils on local farms. Salinity is still a problem in the lake but the work done has helped halve the levels that existed in 2010.

Efforts by the local shire and many residents have now rejuvenated the lake and it is once again an excellent recreation area for everyone to enjoy.

Records show that 95 species of bird use the lake but somehow it had never been seen as an important wildlife habitat.

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