Lake Torrens (24826)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: B1, D1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Lake Torrens
Central coordinates: Latitude: -30.9943, Longitude: 137.7465
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 30 to 64
Area of KBA (km2): 5913.93151
Protected area coverage (%): 96.09
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: Lake Torrens is a very large, and usually dry, saline playa lake in north-eastern South Australia. Its catchment is bounded by the western slopes of the Flinders Ranges to the east and the low, rounded hills east of Andamooka and Roxby Downs to the west. The lake has been filled only once in the past 150 years, during a major flooding event in 1989, but it has held smaller volumes of water on many occasions. The huge numbers of Banded Stilts nesting on two small island groups within the lake during this flood justifies the lake's status as an IBA. One island group consists of four small islands situated in the north of the lake off Andamooka Island. The other group consists of three small islands situated in the south of the lake. The northern group is composed of red clay topped with gibber rock and vegetated with a moderate cover of mixed salt-bush shrubs. The southern group is composed of sand deposits on a stone base with sparse, low samphire vegetation.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The IBA probably sporadically supports more than 1% of the global population of the congregatory Red-capped Plover, which was very common on all islands in the lake in 1989, with approximately 100 birds on one island in the southern group and one pair per 100m on shoreline on Andamooka Island. Approximately 6000 individuals and 1200 nests of the congregatory Silver Gull were observed in the IBA in 1989 (Bellchambers and Carpenter 1990). Cinnamon Quail-thrush are common on Andamooka Island (Bellchambers and Carpenter 1990).
Other site values: The lake is managed by South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage; Andamooka Island is a pastoral property. Road access is through Andamooka and Mulgaria Stations at the discretion of the station managers. Vehicles must not be driven on the surface of the lake.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research | rangeland/pastureland
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Shrubland | 5 | |
| Desert | 5 | |
| Wetlands(Inland) | 90 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Silver Gull predation of nesting Banded Stilts needs to be monitored and controlled. Evaluate the likely impact of any future proposals to explore for or harvest minerals or geothermal power and ensure that biodiversity values are considered in such proposals.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseases | Problematic native species/diseases | Named species | Ongoing |
| Energy production & mining | Mining & quarrying | Only in the future | |
| Energy production & mining | Renewable energy | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: Bellchambers, K. and Carpenter, G. (1990) Birds recorded at Lake Torrens during its 1989 flooding. South Australian Ornithologist 31: 1-7. Robinson, T. and Minton, C. (1989) The enigmatic Banded Stilt. Birds International 1: 72-85.
Contributors: Keith Bellchambers provided comments.