# Coongie Lakes

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This article is about the wetland system in South Australia. For the associated protected area, see [Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park](/source/Malkumba-Coongie_Lakes_National_Park).

Salt lake in Far North, South Australia

Coongie Lakes Up to 100,000 Australian Pelicans have been recorded at Coongie Lakes[1] Coongie Lakes Location in South Australia Location Far North, South Australia Coordinates 27°15′41″S 140°09′25″E / 27.26139°S 140.15694°E / -27.26139; 140.15694 Type Salt lake Basin countries Australia Managing agency Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources Designation Ramsar Site[2] Surface area 21,790 km2 (8,410 sq mi)[3]: 2–3 References [3]: 12 Ramsar Wetland Designated 15 June 1987 Reference no. 376[4]

The **Coongie Lakes** is a freshwater [wetland](/source/Wetland) system located in the [Far North](/source/Far_North_(South_Australia)) region of [South Australia](/source/South_Australia). The 21,790-square-kilometre (8,410 sq mi) lakes system is located approximately 1,046 kilometres (650 miles) north of the [Adelaide city centre](/source/Adelaide_city_centre). The wetlands includes lakes, channels, [billabongs](/source/Billabong), shallow floodplains, deltas, and interdune swamps. It lies on the [floodplain](/source/Floodplain) of [Cooper Creek](/source/Cooper_Creek), an ephemeral river flowing through a desert landscape in the [Lake Eyre Basin](/source/Lake_Eyre_Basin) which rarely, after occasional large floods, empties into [Lake Eyre](/source/Lake_Eyre). The wetland system has been recognised both as being of international importance by designation under the [Ramsar Convention](/source/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](/source/A_Directory_of_Important_Wetlands_in_Australia) (DIWA). Its extent includes the regional town of [Innamincka](/source/Innamincka%2C_South_Australia), the [Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park](/source/Malkumba-Coongie_Lakes_National_Park), the [Innamincka Regional Reserve](/source/Innamincka_Regional_Reserve), the [Strzelecki Regional Reserve](/source/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 1,046 kilometres (650 miles) 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 Australia-Queensland border](/source/South_Australian_borders) to the immediate east of the town of Innamincka. The area of land within the boundary is reported as being 21,790 square kilometres (8,410 sq mi).[3]: 2–3 & 16

Land tenure is a mix of [crown land](/source/Crown_land#Australia), [pastoral lease](/source/Pastoral_lease) and [protected area](/source/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.[2] It lies within the traditional lands of the [Yandruwandha](/source/Yandruwandha_people), [Yawarrawarrka](/source/Yawarrawarrka), [Ngamini](/source/Ngamini) and [Dieri](/source/Dieri) people.[5]

## Flora and fauna

The banks and the periodically flooded areas of Cooper Creek and Coongie Lakes wetland system are vegetated by [river red gums](/source/Eucalyptus_camaldulensis) and [coolibahs](/source/Eucalyptus_coolabah), often with a dense understorey of [lignum](/source/Muehlenbeckia_florulenta) thickets. The adjacent [gibber plains](/source/Desert_pavement) are sparsely covered with [Mitchell grass](/source/Astrebla), while the [dune](/source/Dune) country has species of *[Dodonaea](/source/Dodonaea)*, [sandhill wattle](/source/Acacia_ligulata) and [sandhill canegrass](/source/Zygochloa_paradoxa).[5]

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 [ducks](/source/Duck), [cormorants](/source/Cormorant), [pelicans](/source/Australian_pelican), [ibises](/source/Ibis), [spoonbills](/source/Spoonbill), [herons](/source/Heron) and [waders](/source/Wader) that aggregate to feed and breed before dispersing as the waters recede.[2]

Mammals present in the area include [red kangaroos](/source/Red_kangaroo), [dingos](/source/Dingo) and, in the wetlands, [rakali](/source/Rakali). There are also a variety of [frogs](/source/Frog) and [reptiles](/source/Reptile), including the [inland taipan](/source/Inland_taipan).[5]

## 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 [Australian government](/source/Government_of_Australia), jurisdiction for the management of the wetland system lies with the [South Australian government](/source/Government_of_South_Australia) agency, the [Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources](/source/Department_of_Environment%2C_Water_and_Natural_Resources_(South_Australia)).[2][3]: 12–13[6][7]

### South Australian government

The following [protected areas](/source/Protected_area) proclaimed under the *[National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972](/source/National_Parks_and_Wildlife_Act_1972) (SA)* exist either wholly or partially within the extent of the wetland system: the [Innamincka Regional Reserve](/source/Innamincka_Regional_Reserve), the [Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park](/source/Malkumba-Coongie_Lakes_National_Park) and the [Strzelecki Regional Reserve](/source/Strzelecki_Regional_Reserve).[3]: 16

### Non-statutory arrangements

#### Coongie Lakes Important Bird Area

An area of 593.2 square kilometres (229.0 square miles) 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](/source/Important_bird_area) by [Birdlife International](/source/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](/source/Eyrean_grasswren) and five species restricted to the arid biome.”[1]

## See also

- [South Australia portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:South_Australia)
- [Wetlands portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Wetlands)

- [List of lakes of Australia § South Australia](/source/List_of_lakes_of_Australia#South_Australia)

- [Protected areas of South Australia](/source/Protected_areas_of_South_Australia)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-CoongieIBA_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-CoongieIBA_1-1) ["Important Bird Areas factsheet: Coongie Lakes"](http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/sitefactsheet.php?id=24445). BirdLife International. Retrieved 28 March 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-arl_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-arl_2-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-arl_2-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-arl_2-3) ["Ramsar Sites Information Service: Coongie Lakes"](https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/376). Ramsar Secretariat. Retrieved 28 March 2015.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DEWNR_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DEWNR_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-DEWNR_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-DEWNR_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-DEWNR_3-4) ["Information Sheet on Ramsar Wetlands: Coongie Lakes"](https://rsis.ramsar.org/RISapp/files/RISrep/AU376RIS.pdf) (PDF). Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources (DEWNR). April 2013. Retrieved 27 March 2015.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Coongie Lakes"](https://rsis.ramsar.org/ris/376). *[Ramsar](/source/Ramsar_Convention) Sites Information Service*. Retrieved 25 April 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pb_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pb_5-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-pb_5-2) ["Innamincka Regional Reserve and Coongie Lakes National Park"](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/e77987d8-c8f6-4cfc-8c9a-9e4f00b41c2d/Innamincka-Regional-Reserve-Coongie-Lakes-National-Park.pdf) (PDF). *Parks brochure*. Department for Environment and Heritage, South Australia. June 2009. Retrieved 29 March 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Eyles, Kathy; Larmour, Geoff; Young, Sarah; Australia. Environment Australia; Natural Heritage Trust (Australia). National Wetlands Program (2001). [*A Directory of important wetlands in Australia*](http://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/18f0bb21-b67c-4e99-a155-cb5255398568/files/directory.pdf) (PDF) (3rd ed.). Environment Australia. pp. 1, 2 & 77. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-642-54721-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-642-54721-7).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** [*Coongie Lakes Ramsar Wetlands: A Plan for Wise Use (Draft for public consultation)*](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/files/ca6cccb1-b4d2-4529-9cc7-9e3100cab00c/coongie.pdf) (PDF). Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs (DEHAA). November 1999. pp. 19–20. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7308-5876-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7308-5876-6). Retrieved 28 March 2015.

## External links

- [Malkumba-Coongie Lakes National Park](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/parks/Find_a_Park/Browse_by_region/Flinders_Ranges_and_Outback/Malkumba-Coongie_Lakes_National_Park)

- [Coongie Lakes Ramsar site](http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural-resources/wetlands/Coongie_Lakes)

- [Coongie Lakes webpage on protected planet](http://www.protectedplanet.net/67789)

v t e Ramsar sites in Australia Australian Capital Territory Ginini Flats New South Wales Blue Lake Central Murray Forests Fivebough and Tuckerbil Swamps Gwydir Wetlands Hunter Estuary Wetlands Lake Pinaroo Little Llangothlin Lagoon Macquarie Marshes Myall Lakes Narran Wetlands Paroo Wetlands Towra Point Northern Territory Cobourg Peninsula Kakadu National Park Queensland Bowling Green Bay Currawinya Lakes Great Sandy Strait Moreton Bay Shoalwater Bay South Australia Banrock Station Wetland Complex Bool and Hacks Lagoons Coongie Lakes Coorong and Lakes Alexandrina and Albert Wetland Piccaninnie Ponds Riverland Tasmania Apsley Marshes Cape Barren Island east coast lagoons Interlaken Lakeside Reserve Jocks Lagoon Lavinia Little Waterhouse Lake Logan Lagoon Lower Ringarooma River Moulting Lagoon Pittwater–Orielton Lagoon Victoria Barmah Forest Corner Inlet Edithvale-Seaford Wetlands Gippsland Lakes Gunbower Forest Hattah-Kulkyne Lakes Kerang Wetlands Lake Albacutya Port Phillip Bay and Bellarine Peninsula Western District Lakes Western Port Bay Western Australia Becher Point Wetlands Eighty Mile Beach Forrestdale and Thomsons Lakes Lake Gore Lake Warden System Lakes Argyle and Kununurra Muir-Byenup System Ord River Floodplain Peel-Yalgorup System Roebuck Bay Toolibin Lake Vasse-Wonnerup System External territories Ashmore Reef Coral Sea Reserves The Dales (Christmas Island) Elizabeth and Middleton Reefs Hosnies Spring (Christmas Island) Pulu Keeling

v t e Wetlands Types and landforms Natural Backswamp Bayou Beach meadow Blackwater river Bofedales Bog Blanket bog Cataract bog Coastal bog Kermi bog Plateau bog Polygonal bog Raised bog String bog Upland bog Callows Carr Alder carr Ciénega Clearwater river Cypress dome Dambo Fen Fen-meadow Poor fen Rich fen Flark Flood-meadow Flooded grasslands and savannas Grass valley Guelta Hamun Igapó Ings Interdunal wetland Intertidal wetland Kettle Lagg Marsh Brackish marsh Freshwater marsh Inland salt marsh Salt marsh Tidal marsh High marsh Low marsh Mere Misse Moorland Mudflat Muskeg Oasis Pakihi Palsa Palustrine wetland Peatland, mire, and quagmire Pocosin Pond Pothole Reed bed Salt pannes and pools Slough Swamp Coniferous swamp Freshwater swamp forest Mangrove forest Myristica swamp Peat swamp forest Shrub swamp Wet meadow Várzea forest Vernal pool Whitewater river Yaéré Artificial Bog garden Constructed wetland Converted wetland Swale Water-meadow Life List of wetland plants List of fen plants Sphagnum Soil mechanics Acrotelm Histosol Peat Sapric or muck Tropical peat Hydric soil Marsh gas Ombrotrophic Processes Halosere Hydrosere Paludification Salt marsh dieback Classifications A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia National Wetlands Inventory Ramsar Classification System for Wetland Type Conservation Clean Water Act Greenhouse gas emissions from wetlands Marsh organ Ramsar Convention Ramsar site List Salt marsh die-off Wetland indicator status Organizations Bangladesh Haor and Wetland Development Board Delta Waterfowl Foundation Ducks Unlimited Irish Peatland Conservation Council Meadowview Biological Research Station Society of Wetland Scientists Wetlands International Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Related articles Aquatic ecosystem Bog body Bog butter Bog iron Bog-wood List of bogs Drainage basin Estuary Riparian zone River delta Telmatology Turbary Will-o'-the-wisp Wetlands portal Category

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Coongie Lakes](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coongie_Lakes) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coongie_Lakes?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.