Yenyening Lakes

Yenyenning Lake, also often spelt Yenyening Lakes,^[1] and associated lakes^[2] are in the upper Avon River catchment area in Western Australia, and the source of the Avon and Swan River systems.

Yenyenning Lake
Yenyenning Lake Location in Western Australia
Location	Wheatbelt, Western Australia
Coordinates	32°14′02″S 117°11′54″E
Type	saline
Catchment area	13,000 ha (32,000 acres)[1]
Basin countries	Australia
Surface area	150 ha (370 acres)[1]

It is located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia approximately 31 km (19 mi) north east of Brookton.^[1][3] The names of the lakes and features from the western end of the chain are:^[4]

• Causeway Lake
• Johnnie's Lake
• Ski Lake
• Racecourse Lake
• Ossigs Lake
• (feature known as The Neck)
• (unnamed water here)
• Mud Lake
• Rocky Lake
• (unnamed water here)
• Swan Lake
• (feature known as the Channel)

The lakes are part of what are called playa lake chains, and the system is often referred to as an example.^[5]

The 13,000 ha (32,000-acre) catchment area is composed of alluvial and aeolian deposits; it receives an average annual rainfall of 452 mm (17.8 in) and has an annual evaporation rate of 2,004 mm (78.9 in). The lakes are found along major ancient drainage lines with a broad drainage floor over a paleochannel and at the meeting point of the zone of ancient drainage and the zone of rejuvenated drainage. The larger lakes in the system are separated by sandy rises, saline drainage floors and diffuse drainage lines.^[1]

Situated in the Wheatbelt region, the lakes have had adjoining land heavily used for agriculture since European settlement in the region.^[6] The lakes occur in three adjoining local government areas, Beverley, Brookton and Quairading. The lakes, which are a wildlife haven, were often referred to as the County Peak lakes^[7] and can be seen from the summit of nearby County Peak.^[8]

The resultant problems, including salinity issues, have been researched and investigated extensively.^[9][10] The location west of the lakes, where a dam was created in the early 1900s, is known as the Qualandry Crossing, and has had extensive commentary as to its effectiveness in relation to salinity issues.^[11][12]

Remnant vegetation that surrounds the lakes has been made into a nature reserve.^[13]

In the early twentieth century some of the lakes had been identified as either fresh or salty^[14] and in the 1970s the lakes were known for duck shooting.^[15][16]

See also

• List of lakes of Australia § Western Australia

References

1. JDA Consultant Hydrologists (21 December 2011). "Living Lakes Project Stage 1: Part 1 Report Feasibility Study in the Wheatbelt and adjoining regions" (PDF). Department of Regional Development and Lands. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2019. Retrieved 9 January 2019.
2. The saline lakes associated with Yenyenning Lake are often referred to as the Yenyenning Lakes or the Yenyenning Lake System: Western Australia. Water and Rivers Commission; Western Australia. Dept. of Conservation and Land Management; URS Australia; Yenyening Lakes Management Committee; Yenyening Lakes Management Group (2002), Yenyenning Lakes management strategy, 2002-2012, Water and Rivers Commission, retrieved 19 November 2016
3. Anderton, P. W. F (1975), The water dynamics of the Yenyening Lakes, P. Anderton, retrieved 1 October 2020
4. P.21 - Map 3 of https://www.water.wa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/3269/13636.pdf Water Authority report Yenyening Lakes Management Strategy 2002 - 2012 -Prepared for Water and Rivers Commission and Department of Conservation & Land Management in consultation with the Yenyening Lakes Management Committee
5. Davis, Jennifer; Carling, Paul (2012), Playa lake chains: the example of the Yenyening Lakes of the upper Avon River catchment of Western Australia, Springer, retrieved 19 November 2016
6. Western Australia. Yenyenning Lakes Working Group; Western Australia. Dept. of Lands and Surveys; Western Australian Wildlife Research Centre (1985), Yenyenning Lakes: agricultural land aspects, Western Australian Wildlife Research Centre], retrieved 19 November 2016
7. "Lakes "a wild life haven"". The Beverley Times. Vol. 67, no. 16. Western Australia. 5 May 1972. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
8. "Tourist Road at County Peak". The Beverley Times. Vol. 62, no. 22. Western Australia. 10 June 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 23 October 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
9. Cooper, C. S (1985), Salt mitigation of the Yenyening Lakes by using a solar pond powered controlled environment salt production plant, 1985, retrieved 1 October 2020
10. Lane, J. A. K; Western Australia. Yenyenning Lakes Working Group (1994), The Yenyenning Lakes system: a report on experimental management of outflows at Qualandary Crossing from 1985-1990 and recommendations for future management, The Group, retrieved 19 November 2016
11. Smith, Robin A (2004), "Is the Qualandary Crossing No Dam Good?", Engineering Salinity Solutions: 1st National Salinity Engineering Conference 2004, Engineers Australia: [548]–[552], ISBN 978-0-85825-834-1
12. Western Australia. Avon Waterways Committee; Western Australia. Water and Rivers Commission; Western Australia; Underwood, Roger (2002), River recovery plan: section 14, 15, 16 - Beverley to Qualandary Crossing, The Commission, ISBN 978-0-7309-7557-1
13. Western Australia. Department of Conservation and Land Management; Gunness, Ann G; Bushland Plant Survey Project (W.A.); Yenyening Lakes Management Committee (W.A.) (2003), A vegetation survey of Yenyening Lakes Nature Reserve and adjoining vegetation: shires of Beverley, Brookton and Quairading for the Yenyening Lakes Management Committee, Wildflower Society of W.A, retrieved 19 November 2016
14. "Through South Caroling". Western Mail. Vol. XXIII, no. 1, 155. Western Australia. 15 February 1908. p. 21. Retrieved 19 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
15. "Duck shooting season opens on Saturday". The Beverley Times. Vol. 2, no. 1. Western Australia. 8 January 1976. p. 1. Retrieved 19 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
16. "Aerial inspection for duck traps". The Beverley Times. Vol. 65, no. 18. Western Australia. 15 May 1970. p. 4. Retrieved 19 November 2016 – via National Library of Australia.