Lake Connewarre

Lake Connewarre
View of lake from Tait Point
Location	Victoria
Coordinates	38°14′S 144°27′E
Lake type	Estuarine
Primary inflows	Barwon River
Primary outflows	Barwon River
Basin countries	Australia
Average depth	Variable (0.5 m to >2.0 m)
Settlements	none

Lake Connewarre is a shallow estuarine lake located on the Barwon River, on the Bellarine Peninsula near Geelong, Victoria. It is adjacent to, and downstream from, the freshwater Reedy Lake. Lake Connewarre is linked to the sea by the mangrove-fringed channel of the lower Barwon River estuary, resulting in the lake being subject to tidal flows, with a weir at the inflow to the lake preventing saline water progressing upstream.

Lake Connewarre forms part of the Port Phillip Bay (Western Shoreline) and Bellarine Peninsula Ramsar Site as a wetland of international importance, with much of the wetland area also part of the Lake Connewarre State Game Reserve. However, most of the land surrounding Lake Connewarre has been cleared for agricultural purposes resulting in environmental degradation. Water pollution from upriver has also resulted in a drop in water quality, and reduced inflows to the lake have caused silting problems.

Fauna

Birds

The lake and its associated wetlands are part of the Bellarine Wetlands Important Bird Area because of its conservation significance for several species of waders, waterbirds and the Orange-bellied Parrot.

Fish

The lake is fished commercially for short-finned eel. It also usually contains yellow-eye mullet, black bream and Australian salmon. Other fish may be present, depending on salinity levels.

References

• Parks Victoria: Lake Connewarre - Barwon River Parklands

External links

• Corangamite Catchment Management Authority

Opening of the game season at Lake Connewarre, 1874