Lake Pleasant View System (26281)
Australia, Australasia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: A1a
Year of last assessment: 2009
National site name: Lake Pleasant View System
Central coordinates: Latitude: -34.8048, Longitude: 118.1830
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 200 to 220
Area of KBA (km2): 4.36698
Protected area coverage (%): 99.27
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The IBA comprises three lakes located approximately 35 km north-east of Albany in south-western Western Australia. The system consists of three shallow, near-permanent freshwater lakes about 5 km apart from each other: Lake Pleasant View (201 ha), an unnamed lake 3 km north-east of Lake Pleasant View unofficially termed North Sister East Lake ( about 200 ha) and an unnamed lake 3 km to the north-west of Lake Pleasant View unofficially termed North Sister West Lake (about 150 ha), each of which provides habitat for the Australasian Bittern. The Lake Pleasant View system experiences a Mediterranean climate with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Mean annual rainfall at nearby Albany is 813 mm. A tall sedge (Baumea articulata) and an unidentified species of low sedge are present in closed communities across most of the three lakes, forming freshwater marshes on peat substrate. The margins of the three lakes support other species of water plants and, in some instances, open scrub of Melaleuca cuticularis or open shrubland of various unidentified species.
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: Thirty species of bird have been recorded in the Lake Pleasant View system, but the maximum documented count of waterbirds was only 120 in 1984 and 1992. Little Grassbird is abundant at North Sister East Lake (e.g. count of 35 in 1982) (Jaensch et al. 1988; Australian Wetlands Database 2001). The following restricted-range and biome-restricted species have been recorded in surrounding bushland: Western Rosella, Red-capped Parrot, Red-winged Fairy-wren, Western Thornbill, Western Spinebill and Red-eared Firetail. Non-bird biodiversity: Frogs are abundant in the Lake Pleasant View system. Species identified to date are Slender Tree Frog, Glauert's Froglet, Small Western Froglet and Banjo Frog (Australian Wetlands Database 2001).
Other site values: Western Australian State Government with management the responsibility of DEC.
Habitats
Land use: nature conservation and research
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Implement a burning regime that maintains suitable habitat for the Australasian Bittern. Monitor nutrient concentrations in the Lake Pleasant View system and investigate measures to mitigate eutrophication if necessary. Bittern numbers need to be monitored.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural system modifications | Fire & fire suppression | Increase in fire frequency/intensity | Ongoing |
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents | Nutrient loads | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: DEWHA (2008) Lake Pleasant View System – WA 049. Downloaded from http://www.environment.gov.au/water/publications/environmental/wetlands/database/ accessed 8 November 2007. Jaensch, R.P., Vervest, R.M. and Hewish, M.J. (1988) Waterbirds in Nature Reserves of South-western Australia 1981-1985. Reserve Accounts. RAOU Report 30. Melbourne: RAOU.