Five years ago Lake Ewlyamartup was a hyper-saline, yellow, smelly lake.
Before

Before – January 2010

  Today, the Lake has families water-skiing, kayaking and picnicking every weekend.
November 2014 - Families enjoying a day on the Lake

November 2014 – Families enjoying a day on the Lake

  What changed? Katanning Landcare, the Lake Ewlyamartup Working Group (LEWG), government and an enormous number of community volunteers have lived the Landcare ethos of local action for local priorities, turning around both the environment and community perceptions of this 100 ha Lake located 18km east of Katanning. Over the past five years volunteers have planted more than 150,000 trees, erected 40km of fencing and removed 20,000m3 of nutrient rich black sludge. Through partnerships, a fertiliser run-off trial was established, a water monitoring program undertaken, school children engaged in a stormwater awareness program and a recreation area plan was developed. Currently underway are an indigenous acknowledgement art project, installation of new picnic and boating facilities and the finalisation of construction-ready plans for a gated water over-flow channel to control water quality into the future. Lake Ewlyamartup is home to 95 species of birds, including three priority species, and is important for late season habitat, when other local wetlands have dried up. More than 25 organisations and funders have been involved in the restoration program to date. Ella presented the inspiring Lake Ewly story at the WA Wetland Management Conference in 2014, as part of World Wetlands Day that year.
This year we will be doing a Kayak Tour of Lake Ewlyamartup to celebrate World Wetlands Day and our amazing lake. If you would like to see Lake Ewlyamartup for yourself, come along to our Kayak Tour on Sunday 1st February 2015. Click here for event details.