Sleaford Mere

Description

Sleaford Mere is a permanent salt lake with an area of 707 hectares (1,750 acres). It is about 3 miles (4.8 km) to 4 miles (6.4 km) long in the north-south direction and about 1 mile (1.6 km) wide from west to east. It is reported as being ‘a few feet deep’ and as having ‘some small islands.’ Since 2003, the lake has been located within the locality of Sleaford.

Hydrology

Sleaford Mere is supplied directly by local runoff and indirectly by groundwater sources. In respect to local runoff, the locality around the lake receives 500 millimetres (20 in) of rainfall per annum. As of 2005, it was reported that it was not known if groundwater was being supplied from a single basin or multiple basins. In respect to groundwater, the lake is part of a potable water administration area known as the Southern Basins Prescribed Wells Area which covers the area of Eyre Peninsula between the city of Port Lincoln and the town of Coffin Bay.

Geology

Sleaford Mere was formed within a depression in a limestone strata known as the Bridgewater Formation.

Flora

Stromatolites are present at the lake's edge. Land immediately adjoining the lake supports tall open shrubland dominated by dryland tea-tree and a sedgeland of Gahnia trifida Species of conservation significance include the common spleenwort and Eyre Peninsula bitter-pea. As of 2009, Aleppo pine, an introduced species, was considered to an infestation risk.

Fauna

The lake is notable as a bird habitat. The northern end of the lake has been identified as being suitable habitat for southern emu-wren. The lake supports food sources such as fish species such as ‘hardy heads’ (sp: Atherinosoma) which are consumed by bird species such as Pacific gull, pied cormorant, pied oystercatcher, red-capped plover, silver gull and the two following species protected by the Japan–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement and the China–Australia Migratory Bird Agreement: sharp-tailed sandpiper and curlew sandpiper. Species of conservation significance known to visit the lake include fairy tern, hooded plover and musk duck. The lake is reported as containing marine species of fish, including ‘a large, land-locked population of skates’. Western grey kangaroo is reported as being within the vicinity of the lake. The land surrounding the lake supports foxes, an introduced species which is the subject of ongoing pest animal control programs.

Aboriginal use

The lake and adjoining land is reported in 2009 as being associated with the Barngala and Nauo peoples. As of 2009, there was no record of the lake or an object discovered in or near the lake being of ‘significance according to Aboriginal tradition or of significance to Aboriginal archaeology, anthropology or history.’ The native name for the lake was reported in 1908 as being Kuyabidni (also spelt as Kujabidni).

European discovery and use

The lake was discovered by Matthew Flinders on Friday 26 February 1802 and named after a parish in Lincolnshire, England. Flinders did visit the lake to investigate it as a source of water to found that its water was undrinkable. Flinders described the lake as follows:

This piece of water was named Sleaford Mere. It is one mile broad, and appeared to be three or four in length. The shore was a whitish, hardened clay, covered at this time with a thin crust, in which salt was a component part.

Economy

Economic activity is mainly associated with the use of the Sleaford Mere Conservation Park and the adjoining Lincoln National Park for recreational and leisure purpose by persons either resident in the lower Eyre Peninsula or visiting from elsewhere. As of 2007, a walking trail associated with the Lincoln National Park passes the east side of the lake. As of 2009, the lake was being used occasionally as a canoeing venue, particularly by school and holiday groups. Also, the lake can be used as a swimming venue, however this use may be discouraged by the lake’s relative shallow depth and high salinity. As of 1980, ‘a holiday complex’ was reported as being ‘situated on the southern shore of the Lake.’

Protected area status

Sleaford Mere and some adjoining land was proclaimed as a conservation park in January 1969 for the purpose of conserving ‘conserve important lake feeding habitat for wader birds.‘ In 2005, Sleaford Mere was included in a non-statutory listing of nationally important wetlands located in South Australia as part of A Directory of Important Wetlands in Australia.