{{Use Australian English|date=August 2019}} {{about|the wetland system in South Australia|the associated protected area| Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Infobox lake | name = Coongie Lakes | image = AustralianPelicansMcArthurRiverMouth.jpg | image_size = 280 | caption = Up to 100,000 Australian Pelicans have been recorded at Coongie Lakes<ref name=CoongieIBA/> | alt = Five black and white birds with long beaks stand on a sand bar in a large body of water. | pushpin_map = Australia South Australia | pushpin_map_alt = Map of South Australia with mark showing location of Coongie Lakes | pushpin_label_position = top | pushpin_map_caption = Location in [[South Australia]] | image_bathymetry = | caption_bathymetry = | location = [[Far North (South Australia)|Far North]], [[South Australia]] | coords = {{coord|27|15|41|S|140|09|25|E|region:AU-SA_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}} | type = [[Salt lake]] | inflow = | outflow = | catchment = | basin_countries = Australia | agency = [[Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (South Australia)|Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources]] | designation = [[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar Site]]<ref name=arl>{{cite web|title=Ramsar Sites Information Service: Coongie Lakes|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/376|publisher=Ramsar Secretariat|accessdate=28 March 2015}}</ref> | length = | width = | area = {{convert|21790|km2|abbr=on}}<ref name=DEWNR>{{cite web|title=Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands: Coongie Lakes|url= https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/AU376RIS.pdf|publisher= Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR)|accessdate=27 March 2015|date=April 2013}}</ref>{{rp|2–3}} | depth = | max-depth = | volume = | residence_time = | shore = | elevation = | islands = | cities = | reference = <ref name=DEWNR/>{{rp|12}} | embedded = {{Designation list | embed = yes | designation1 = Ramsar | designation1_date = 15 June 1987 | designation1_number = 376<ref>{{Cite web|title=Coongie Lakes|website=[[Ramsar Convention|Ramsar]] Sites Information Service|url=https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/376|accessdate=25 April 2018}}</ref>}} }} The '''Coongie Lakes''' is a freshwater [[wetland]] system located in the [[Far North (South Australia)|Far North]] region of [[South Australia]]. The {{convert|21790|km2|adj=on}} lakes system is located approximately {{convert|1046|km|abbr=off}} north of the [[Adelaide city centre]]. The wetlands includes lakes, channels, [[billabong]]s, shallow floodplains, deltas, and interdune swamps. It lies on the [[floodplain]] of [[Cooper Creek]], an ephemeral river flowing through a desert landscape in the [[Lake Eyre Basin]] which rarely, after occasional large floods, empties into [[Lake Eyre]]. The wetland system has been recognised both as being of international importance by designation under the [[Ramsar Convention]] with a listing on 15 June 1987 and being nationally important within Australia with a listing in [[A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia]] (DIWA). Its extent includes the regional town of [[Innamincka, South Australia|Innamincka]], the [[Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park]], the [[Innamincka Regional Reserve]], the [[Strzelecki Regional Reserve]] and the Coongie Lakes Important Bird Area.
==Description== The Coongie Lakes is located in the north-east corner of South Australia about {{convert|1046|km|abbr=off}} north of the Adelaide city centre. For management purposes, the wetland system has been given a boundary which is triangular in shape. The northern apex of the triangle is near Lake Moorayepe, the south western apex is near Marion Hill in the south and the eastern apex coincides with the [[South Australian borders|South Australia-Queensland border]] to the immediate east of the town of Innamincka. The area of land within the boundary is reported as being {{convert|21790|km2}}.<ref name=DEWNR/>{{rp|2–3 & 16}}
Land tenure is a mix of [[Crown land#Australia|crown land]], [[pastoral lease]] and [[protected area]]. The surrounding region is arid and has a very low human population density; it is used mainly for cattle grazing, as well as for oil and gas production, and is becoming increasingly important for tourism. Some of the wetlands fill only on rare occasions; some contain water for a short time after periodic flooding, while others are permanent or almost permanent.<ref name=arl/> It lies within the traditional lands of the [[Yandruwandha people|Yandruwandha]], [[Yawarrawarrka]], [[Ngamini]] and [[Dieri]] people.<ref name=pb>{{cite web |url= http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/e77987d8-c8f6-4cfc-8c9a-9e4f00b41c2d/Innamincka-Regional-Reserve-Coongie-Lakes-National-Park.pdf |title= Innamincka Regional Reserve and Coongie Lakes National Park |accessdate=29 March 2011 |work=Parks brochure |publisher= Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia |date=June 2009}}</ref>
==Flora and fauna== The banks and the periodically flooded areas of Cooper Creek and Coongie Lakes wetland system are vegetated by [[Eucalyptus camaldulensis|river red gums]] and [[Eucalyptus coolabah|coolibahs]], often with a dense understorey of [[Muehlenbeckia florulenta|lignum]] thickets. The adjacent [[desert pavement|gibber plains]] are sparsely covered with [[Astrebla|Mitchell grass]], while the [[dune]] country has species of ''[[Dodonaea]]'', [[Acacia ligulata|sandhill wattle]] and [[Zygochloa paradoxa|sandhill canegrass]].<ref name=pb/>
Major floods, generally originating in heavy rainfall in western Queensland, initiate a period of rapid, opportunistic plant growth and an influx of wildlife, especially of large numbers of waterbirds such as [[duck]]s, [[cormorant]]s, [[Australian pelican|pelicans]], [[ibis]]es, [[spoonbill]]s, [[heron]]s and [[wader]]s that aggregate to feed and breed before dispersing as the waters recede.<ref name=arl/>
Mammals present in the area include [[red kangaroo]]s, [[dingo]]s and, in the wetlands, [[rakali]]. There are also a variety of [[frog]]s and [[reptile]]s, including the [[inland taipan]].<ref name=pb/>
==Protected area status==
===Australian government=== The wetland system has recognition both internationally under the Ramsar Convention and within Australia with an identical listing in "A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia" (DIWA). It was listed on 15 June 1987 as Ramsar site 376 while it was listed in DIWA prior to 1995. While the Ramsar convention is a treaty obligation of the [[Government of Australia|Australian government]], jurisdiction for the management of the wetland system lies with the [[Government of South Australia|South Australian government]] agency, the [[Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (South Australia)|Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources]].<ref name=arl/><ref name=DEWNR/>{{rp|12–13}}<ref>{{cite book | author1=Eyles, Kathy | author2=Larmour, Geoff | author3=Young, Sarah | author4=Australia. Environment Australia | author5=Natural Heritage Trust (Australia). National Wetlands Program | title=A Directory of important wetlands in Australia | year=2001 | url= http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/18f0bb21-b67c-4e99-a155-cb5255398568/files/directory.pdf |publication-date=2001 | publisher=Environment Australia | edition=3rd | isbn=978-0-642-54721-7 |pages=1, 2 & 77 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Coongie Lakes Ramsar Wetlands: A Plan for Wise Use (Draft for public consultation)|date=November 1999|publisher=Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs (DEHAA) |isbn=0-7308-5876-6 |url=http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/ca6cccb1-b4d2-4529-9cc7-9e3100cab00c/coongie.pdf |accessdate=28 March 2015 |pages=19–20}}</ref>
===South Australian government=== The following [[protected area]]s proclaimed under the ''[[National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972]] (SA)'' exist either wholly or partially within the extent of the wetland system: the [[Innamincka Regional Reserve]], the [[Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park]] and the [[Strzelecki Regional Reserve]].<ref name=DEWNR/>{{rp|16}}
===Non-statutory arrangements===
====Coongie Lakes Important Bird Area==== An area of {{convert|593.2|km2|abbr=off}} located at the northern of the wetland system and that is specifically associated with a number of water bodies has been identified as an [[important bird area]] by [[Birdlife International]] because it supports “more than 1% of the world populations of 12 species of waterbird and shorebird” as well as “populations of the vulnerable Australian painted snipe, the near threatened blue-billed duck, the restricted-range [[Eyrean grasswren]] and five species restricted to the arid biome.”<ref name=CoongieIBA>{{cite web|title=Important Bird Areas factsheet: Coongie Lakes|url=http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=24445|publisher=BirdLife International|accessdate=28 March 2015}}</ref>
==See also== {{stack|{{portal|South Australia|Wetlands}}}} * {{section link|List of lakes of Australia|South Australia}} * [[Protected areas of South Australia]]
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/Flinders_Ranges_and_Outback/Malkumba-Coongie_Lakes_National_Park Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park] * [http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-resources/wetlands/Coongie_Lakes Coongie Lakes Ramsar site] *[http://www.protectedplanet.net/67789 Coongie Lakes webpage on protected planet] {{Ramsar sites in Australia}} {{Wetlands}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Coongie Lakes}} [[Category:Endorheic lakes of Australia]] [[Category:Lakes of South Australia]] [[Category:Far North (South Australia)]] [[Category:Floodplains of Australia]] [[Category:Wetlands of South Australia]] [[Category:Lake Eyre basin]] [[Category:DIWA-listed wetlands]] [[Category:Ramsar sites in Australia]]