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Wamberal Lagoon

Coordinates: 33°26′S 151°27′E / 33.433°S 151.450°E / -33.433; 151.450
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Wamberal Lagoon
Location of the lagoon in New South Wales, Australia.
Location of the lagoon in New South Wales, Australia.
Wamberal Lagoon
Location of the lagoon in New South Wales, Australia.
Location of the lagoon in New South Wales, Australia.
Wamberal Lagoon
LocationCentral Coast, New South Wales, Australia
Coordinates33°26′S 151°27′E / 33.433°S 151.450°E / -33.433; 151.450
TypeIntermittently closed intermediate saline coastal lagoon[1]
Primary inflowsForresters Creek
Primary outflowsTasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean
Catchment area5.8 square kilometres (2.2 sq mi)[2]
Basin countriesAustralia
Surface area50 hectares (120 acres)[2]
Average depth1.7 metres (5 ft 7 in) (AHD)[2]
Water volume880.2 megalitres (31.08×10^6 cu ft)[2]
Surface elevation0 m (0 ft)
SettlementsForresters Beach, Wamberal
References[3]

Wamberal Lagoon, an intermittently closed intermediate saline coastal lagoon,[1] is located on the Central Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. Wamberal Lagoon is located between the beachside settlements of Forresters Beach and Wamberal, and adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, about 87 kilometres (54 mi) north of Sydney.

Features and location

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Fed by stormwater runoff that flows into Forresters Creek, the lagoon has a surface area of approximately 50 hectares (120 acres) and a catchment area of 5.8 square kilometres (2.2 sq mi).[2] When full, the Wamberal Lagoon covers an area of around 50 hectares (120 acres).[3] Its outflow is to the Tasman Sea of the South Pacific Ocean that is generally closed, and water levels inside the lagoon are not usually influenced by ocean tides.[4]

The lagoon and the surrounding land comprising 139 hectares (340 acres) form part of the Wamberal Lagoon Nature Reserve, a nature reserve created in 1981, that is under management of the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service.[5]

Terrigal Lagoon and Avoca Lake are located to the south and are a short distance away.

Wamberal Lagoon Conservation Society

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Formed in 1983 and still active, the Wamberal Lagoon Conservation Society (WLCS) was set up to promote conservation of the lagoon and its surrounds in the face of increasing urban development.

The initial charter of the WLCS cited the terms of Section 49(3) of the National Parks and Wildlife Act: lands within a nature reserve shall be deemed to be dedicated for the purposes of:

  • (a) The care, propagation, preservation and conservation of wildlife;
  • (b) The care, preservation and conservation of natural environments and natural phenomena.
  • (c) The study of wildlife, natural environments and natural phenomena; and
  • (d) The promotion of the appreciation and enjoyment of wildlife, natural environments and natural phenomena.

To this end the Society engages in education, co-operation with other bodies having a similar interest, and representations to authorities whose responsibilities affect the nature reserve. Members of the WLCS have been active members in bushcare activities over many years, involving removal of rubbish and invasive plants from environmentally sensitive areas, and replanting of native vegetation.

In 2018 and 2019 the WLCS initiated a habitat restoration project aimed at improving water quality in inflows to the lagoon, with the ultimate aim of reintroducing an endangered amphibian species (the green and golden bell frog, Litoria aurea) that once was common in this area but has been extirpated (as it has over most of its former range[6][7]).

The green and goldenbell frog, Litoria aurea, was once abundant on the Central Coast of NSW but is now known from only two small populations, at Avoca Lagoon and Davistown. The species is classed as endangered under both federal and state wildlife regulations. Photograph by Matt Greenlees.

The WLCS is working with management authorities (notably, the NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service and the Central Coast Council) to identify practicable methods to reduce pollutant input (e.g., via Gross Pollutant Traps[8] on waterways flowing into the lagoon) and to replace invasive weeds with native vegetation to enhance biodiversity.

As part of the habitat restoration initiative, WLCS assembled a list of vertebrate species that have been recorded to occur within one kilometre of the lagoon, based on unpublished records by WLCS members as well as consultancy reports.[9][10][11] That list confirms the highly biodiverse nature of the site, and hence the importance of its conservation. Species lists below.

Amphibians

Family Common name Species
Hylidae Bleating tree frog Litoria dentata
Hylidae Eastern dwarf tree frog Litoria fallax
Hylidae Peron's tree frog Litoria peronii
Myobatrachidae Tusked frog Adelotus brevis
Myobatrachidae Common eastern froglet Crinia signifera
Myobatrachidae Striped marsh frog Limnodynastes peronii

Birds

Family Common name Species
Acanthizidae Brown thornbill Acanthiza pusilla
Acanthizidae Striated thornbill Acanthiza lineata
Acanthizidae Yellow thornbill Acanthiza nana
Acanthizidae Brown gerygone Gerygone mouki
Acanthizidae White-browed scrubwren Sericornis frontalis
Accipitridae Grey Goshawk Accipiter (Leucospiza) novaehollandiae
Accipitridae Pacific Baza Aviceda (Aviceda) subcristata
Accipitridae White-bellied Sea Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster
Accipitridae Whistling Kite Haliastur sphenurus
Accipitridae Black Kite Milvus migrans
Accipitridae Osprey Pandion haliaetus
ACROCEPHALIDAE Australian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus (Acrocephalus) australis
ALCEDINIDAE Kookaburra Dacelo (Dacelo) novaeguineae
ALCEDINIDAE Sacred Kingfisher Todiramphus (Todiramphus) sanctus
ANATIDAE Mallard Duck Anas (Anas) platyrhynchos
ANATIDAE Pacific Black Duck Anas (Anas) superciliosa
ANATIDAE Chestnut Teal Anas (Nettion) castanea
ANATIDAE Grey Teal Anas (Nettion) gracilis
ANATIDAE Hardhead Aythya (Nyroca) australis
ANATIDAE Musk Duck Biziura lobata
ANATIDAE Australian Wood Duck Chenonetta jubata
ANATIDAE Black Swan Cygnus (Chenopis) atratus
ANHINGIDAE Australasian Darter Anhinga novaehollandiae
APODIDAE Spine-Tailed Swift Hirundapus caudacutus
ARDEIDAE Eastern Great Egret Ardea (Casmerodius) modesta
ARDEIDAE Eastern Great Egret Ardea (Casmerodius) modesta
ARDEIDAE Intermediate Egret Ardea (Mesophoyx) intermedia
ARDEIDAE Great Egret Ardea alba
ARDEIDAE Striated Heron Butorides striatus
ARDEIDAE Little Egret Egretta garzetta
ARDEIDAE White-Faced Heron Egretta novaehollandiae
ARDEIDAE Eastern Reef Egret Egretta sacra
ARDEIDAE Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis
ARDEIDAE Nankeen Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus
ARTAMIDAE White-Breasted Woodswallow Artamus (Artamus) leucorynchus
ARTAMIDAE Pied Butcherbird Cracticus nigrogularis
ARTAMIDAE Australian Magpie Cracticus tibicen
ARTAMIDAE Grey Butcherbird Cracticus torquatus
ARTAMIDAE Pied Currawong Strepera (Strepera) graculina
CACATUIDAE Sulphur-Crested Cockatoo Cacatua (Cacatua) galerita
CACATUIDAE Little Corella Cacatua (Licmetis) sanguinea
CACATUIDAE Long-Billed Corella Cacatua (Licmetis) tenuirostris
CACATUIDAE Gang-Gang Cockatoo Callocephalon fimbriatum
CACATUIDAE Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus (Zanda) funereus
CACATUIDAE Galah Eolophus roseicapillus
CAMPEPHAGIDAE Black-Faced Cuckoo-Shrike Coracina (Coracina) novaehollandiae
CENTROPODIDAE Pheasant Coucal Centropus (Polophilus) phasianinus
CHARADRIIDAE Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva
CHARADRIIDAE Masked Lapwing Vanellus miles
CICONIIDAE Black-Necked Stork Ephippiorhynchus (Ephippiorhynchus) asiaticus
COLUMBIDAE Rock Pigeon Columba (Columba) livia
COLUMBIDAE White-Headed Pigeon Columba (Janthoenas) leucomela
COLUMBIDAE Bar-Shouldered Dove Geopelia humeralis
COLUMBIDAE Crested Pigeon Ocyphaps lophotes
COLUMBIDAE Common Bronzewing Phaps (Phaps) chalcoptera
COLUMBIDAE Spotted Dove Streptopelia (Spilopelia) chinensis
CORACIIDAE Dollarbird Eurystomus orientalis
CORCORACIDAE White-Winged Chough Corcorax melanorhamphos
CORVIDAE Australian Raven Corvus coronoides
CUCULIDAE Fan-Tailed Cuckoo Cacomantis (Vidgenia) flabelliformis
CUCULIDAE Pacific Koel Eudynamys orientalis
CUCULIDAE Channel-Billed Cuckoo Scythrops novaehollandiae
DICRURIDAE Spangled Drongo Dicrurus bracteatus
ESTRILDIDAE Red-Browed Finch Neochmia (Aegintha) temporalis
FALCONIDAE Nankeen Kestrel Falco (Tinnunculus) cenchroides
HIRUNDINIDAE Welcome Swallow Hirundo neoxena
LARIDAE Whiskered Tern Chlidonias (Pelodes) hybrida
LARIDAE Silver Gull Chroicocephalus novaehollandiae
LARIDAE Sooty Tern Sterna fuscata
LARIDAE Common Tern Sterna hirundo
LARIDAE White-fronted Tern Sterna striata
LARIDAE Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii
MALURIDAE Variegated Fairy-Wren Malurus (Leggeornis) lamberti
MALURIDAE Superb Fairy-Wren Malurus (Malurus) cyaneus
MEGAPODIIDAE Australian Brush-Turkey Alectura lathami
MELIPHAGIDAE Eastern Spinebill Acanthorhynchus tenuirostris
MELIPHAGIDAE Little Wattlebird Anthochaera (Anellobia) chrysoptera
MELIPHAGIDAE Red Wattlebird Anthochaera carunculata
MELIPHAGIDAE Yellow-Faced Honeyeater Caligavis chrysops
MELIPHAGIDAE Bell Miner Manorina (Manorina) melanophrys
MELIPHAGIDAE Noisy Miner Manorina (Myzantha) melanocephala
MELIPHAGIDAE Lewin's Honeyeater Meliphaga (Meliphaga) lewinii
MELIPHAGIDAE White-Naped Honeyeater Melithreptus (Melithreptus) lunatus
MELIPHAGIDAE White-Cheeked Honeyeater Phylidonyris (Meliornis) niger
MELIPHAGIDAE New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris (Meliornis) novaehollandiae
MONARCHIDAE Magpie-Lark Grallina cyanoleuca
NECTARINIIDAE Mistletoebird Dicaeum (Dicaeum) hirundinaceum
OCEANITIDAE White-Faced Storm-Petrel Pelagodroma marina
ORIOLIDAE Olive-Backed Oriole Oriolus (Mimeta) sagittatus
ORIOLIDAE Australasian Figbird Sphecotheres vieilloti
PACHYCEPHALIDAE Grey Shrike-Thrush Colluricincla (Colluricincla) harmonica
PACHYCEPHALIDAE Golden Whistler Pachycephala (Pachycephala) pectoralis
PARDALOTIDAE Spotted Pardalote Pardalotus (Pardalotus) punctatus
PELECANIDAE Australian pelican Pelecanus conspicillatus
PETROICIDAE Eastern Yellow Robin Eopsaltria (Eopsaltria) australis
PHAETHONTIDAE Red-Tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda
PHALACROCORACIDAE Little Black Cormorant Phalacrocorax sulcirostris
PHALACROCORACIDAE Pied Cormorant Phalacrocorax varius
PHALACROCORACIDAE Great Cormorant Phalacrocrorax carbo
PODARGIDAE Tawny Frogmouth Podargus strigoides
PODICIPEDIDAE Australasian Grebe Tachybaptus novaehollandiae
PROCELLARIIDAE Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea
PROCELLARIIDAE Wedge-tailed Shearwater Ardenna pacificus
PROCELLARIIDAE Short-tailed Shearwater Ardenna tenuirostris
PROCELLARIIDAE Fairy Prion Pachyptila turtur
PROCELLARIIDAE Great-Winged Petrel Pterodroma (Pterodroma) macroptera
PROCELLARIIDAE Little Shearwater Puffinus (Puffinus) assimilis
PSITTACIDAE Australian King-Parrot Alisterus scapularis
PSITTACIDAE Musk Lorikeet Glossopsitta concinna
PSITTACIDAE Little Lorikeet Parvipsitta pusilla
PSITTACIDAE Eastern Rosella Platycercus (Violania) eximius
PSITTACIDAE Crimson Rosella Platycercus elegans
PSITTACIDAE Scaly-Breasted Lorikeet Trichoglossus chlorolepidotus
PSITTACIDAE Rainbow Lorikeet Trichoglossus haematodus
PSOPHODIDAE Eastern Whipbird Psophodes (Psophodes) olivaceus
PTILONORHYNCHIDAE Satin Bowerbird Ptilonorhynchus violaceus
PYCNONOTIDAE Red-Whiskered Bulbul Pycnonotus (Pycnonotus) jocosus
RALLIDAE Eurasian Coot Fulica atra
RALLIDAE Dusky Moorhen Gallinula (Gallinula) tenebrosa
RALLIDAE Banded Rail Gallirallus philippensis
RALLIDAE Purple Swamphen Porphyrio (Porphyrio) porphyrio
RHIPIDURIDAE Rufous Fantail Rhipidura (Howeavis) rufifrons
RHIPIDURIDAE Grey Fantail Rhipidura (Rhipidura) albiscapa
RHIPIDURIDAE Willie Wagtail Rhipidura (Sauloprocta) leucophrys
SCOLOPACIDAE Red-necked Stint Calidris ruficollis
SCOLOPACIDAE Curew Sandpiper Callidris ferruginea
SCOLOPACIDAE Latham's Snipe Gallinago hardwickii
SCOLOPACIDAE Bar-Tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
SPHENISCIDAE Little Penguin Eudyptula minor
STERCORARIIDAE Arctic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus
STRIGIDAE Southern Boobook Ninox (Ninox) novaeseelandiae
STRIGIDAE Powerful Owl Ninox (Rhabdoglaux) strenua
STURNIDAE Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
STURNIDAE Common Starling Sturnus (Sturnus) vulgaris
SULIDAE Australasian Gannet Morus serrator
THRESKIORNITHIDAE Royal Spoonbill Oplatalea regia
THRESKIORNITHIDAE Australian White Ibis Threskiornis molucca
TIMALIIDAE Silvereye Zosterops lateralis
TYTONIDAE Eastern Barn Owl Tyto (Tyto) javanica

FISH

Family Species Common name
AMBASSIDAE Ambassus jacksoniensis Port Jackson Glassfish
ANGUILLIDAE Anguilla australis Short-finned Eel
ANGUILLIDAE Anguilla reinhardtii Long-finned Eel
ANTENNARIIDAE Antennarius striatus Striated Frogfish
ARRIPIDAE Arripis trutta Eastern Australian Salmon
ATHERINIDAE Atherinosoma microstoma Smallmouth Hardyhead
ATHERINIDAE Leptatherina presbyteroides Silver Side
CALLIONYMIDAE Repomucenus calcaratus Spotted Stinkfish
CARANGIDAE Pseudocaranx dentex White Trevally
CLUPEIDAE Herklotsichthys castelnaui Southern Herring
ELEOTRIDAE Philypnodon grandiceps Flathead Gudgeon
GERREIDAE Gerres subfasciatus Silver Biddy
GERREIDAE Girella tricuspida Luderick
GOBIIDAE Acentrogobius bifrenatus Bridled Goby
GOBIIDAE Afuragobius tamarensis Tamar River Goby
GOBIIDAE Callogobius sp. Goby
GOBIIDAE Favonigobius exquisitis Exquisite Sand-goby
GOBIIDAE Favonigobius lateralis Goby
GOBIIDAE Gobiopterus semivestita Goby
GOBIIDAE Parkraemeria ornata Goby
GOBIIDAE Pseudogobius olorum Pseudogobius olorum
GONORHYNCHIDAE Gonorhynchus greyi Beaked Salmon
HEMIRHAMPHIDAE Hyporhamphus regularis Eastern River Garfish
ISONIDAE Iso rhothophilus Surf Sardine
LABRIDAE Achoerodus viridis Eastern Blue Groper
LABRIDAE Coris sandeyeri Eastern King Wrasse
MUGILIDAE Liza argentea Flat-tail Mullet
MUGILIDAE Mugil cephalus Sea Mullet
MUGILIDAE Myxis elongatus Sand Grey Mullet
PARALICHTHYIDAE Pseudorhombus jenynsii Small-toothed Flounder
PERCICHTHYIDAE Macquaria colonorum Estuary Perch
PLATYCEPHALIDAE Platycephalus fuscus Dusky Flathead
POECILIIDAE Gambusia holbrooki Eastern Gambusia
POMATOMIDAE Pomatomus saltatrix Tailor
PSEUDOMUGILIDAE Pseudomugil signifer Pacific Blue Eye
RHOMBOSOLEIDAE Ammotretis rostratus Long-nosed Flounder
SILLAGINIDAE Sillago ciliata Sand Whiting
SPARIDAE Acanthopagrus australis Yellowfin Bream
SPARIDAE Rhabdosargus sarba Tarwhine
SYGNATHIDAE Urocampus carinirostris Hairy Pipefish
TERAPONTIDAE Terapon jarbua Crescent Perch
TETRAODONTIDAE Tetractenos glaber Smooth toadfish
TETRAODONTIDAE Tetractenos hamiltoni Common Toadfish
TETRAROGIDAE Centropogon australis Fortescue
TRIGLIDAE Chelidonichthys kumu Red Gurnard

MAMMALS

Family Species Common name
BALAENIDAE Eubalaena australis Southern Right Whale
CANIDAE Vulpes vulpes Fox
DASYURIDAE Antechinus stuartii Brown Antechinus
FELIDAE Felis catus Cat
LEPORIDAE Oryctolagus cuniculus Rabbit
MACROPODIDAE Wallabia bicolor Swamp Wallaby
MINIOPTERIDAE Miniopterus australis Little Bentwing-Bat
MINIOPTERIDAE Miniopterus schreibersii Bent-Wing Bat
MOLOSSIDAE Austronomus australis White-Striped Freetail-Bat
MOLOSSIDAE Mormopterus (Ozimops) ridei Ride's Free-Tailed Bat
MURIDAE Rattus fuscipes Bush Rat
MURIDAE Rattus lutreolus Swamp Rat
MURIDAE Rattus rattus Ship Rat
OTARIIDAE Arctocephalus tropicalis Subantarctic Fur-seal
PERAMELIDAE Isoodon macrourus Northern Brown Bandicoot
PHALANGERIDAE Trichosurus vulpecula Australian Brushtail Possum
PHOCIDAE Hydrurga leptonyx Leopard Seal
PSEUDOCHEIRIDAE Pseudocheirus peregrinus Common Ringtail Possum
PTEROPODIDAE Pteropus poliocephalus Grey-Headed Flying-Fox
TACHYGLOSSIDAE Tachyglossus aculeatus Short-Beaked Echidna
VESPERTILIONIDAE Chalinolobus gouldii Gould's Wattled Bat
VESPERTILIONIDAE Chalinolobus morio Chocolate Wattled Bat
VESPERTILIONIDAE Nyctophilus gouldi Gould's Long-Eared Bat
VESPERTILIONIDAE Vespadelus darlingtoni Large Forest Bat
VESPERTILIONIDAE Vespadelus pumilus Eastern Forest Bat
VESPERTILIONIDAE Vespadelus vulturnus Little Forest Bat
VOMBATIDAE Vombatus ursinus Bare-Nosed Wombat

REPTILES

Family Species Common name
AGAMIDAE Amphibolurus muricatus Jacky Lizard
AGAMIDAE Intellagama lesueurii Water Dragon
AGAMIDAE Rankinia diemensis Mountain Dragon
COLUBRIDAE Dendrelaphis punctulatus Green Tree Snake
ELAPIDAE Cacophis krefftii Southern dwarf Crowned Snake
ELAPIDAE Cacophis squamulosus Golden Crowned Snake
ELAPIDAE Demansia psammophis Yellow-Faced Whip Snake
ELAPIDAE Hemiaspis signata Hemiaspis signata
ELAPIDAE Pseudechis porphyriacus Red-Bellied Black Snake
GEKKONIDAE Phyllurus platurus Leaf-tailed Gecko
PYGOPODIDAE Pygopus lepidopodus Common Scaly-Foot
PYTHONIDAE Morelia spilota Diamond Python
SCINCIDAE Bellatorias major Land Mullet
SCINCIDAE Ctenotus robustus Robust Ctenotus
SCINCIDAE Eulamprus quoyii Eastern Water Skink
SCINCIDAE Lampropholis delicata Dark-Flecked Garden Sunskink
SCINCIDAE Lampropholis guichenoti Pale-Flecked Garden Sunskink
SCINCIDAE Saiphos equalis Three-toed Skink
SCINCIDAE Saproscincus mustelinum Weasel Skink
SCINCIDAE Tiliqua scincoides Eastern Blue-Tongue
TYPHLOPIDAE Ramphotyphlops nigrescens Common Blind Snake

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Roy, P. S; Williams, R. J; Jones, A. R; Yassini, I; et al. (2001). "Structure and Function of South-east Australian Estuaries". Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science. 53 (3): 351–384. doi:10.1006/ecss.2001.0796.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Estuaries of NSW: Wamberal Lagoon". Office of Environment and Heritage. Government of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 24 June 2014. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  3. ^ a b "Map of Wamberal Lagoon, NSW". Bonzle Digital Atlas of Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  4. ^ "Wamberal Lagoon" (PDF). Environmental fact sheets: W11. Gosford City Council. January 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 March 2012. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  5. ^ "Wamberal Lagoon Nature Reserve". NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service: Office of Environment and Heritage. Government of New South Wales. Archived from the original on 5 April 2015. Retrieved 6 April 2013.
  6. ^ White, A.W. and Pyke, G.H. 1996. Distribution and conservation status of the Green and Golden Bell Frog Litoria aurea. Australian Zoologist 30, 177-189.
  7. ^ Mahony, M.J., Hamer, A.J., Pickett, E.J., McKenzie, D.J., Stockwell, M.P., Garnham, J.I., Keely, C.C., Deboo, M.L., O'Meara, J., Pollard, C.J. and Clulow, S. 2013. Identifying conservation and research priorities in the face of uncertainty: a review of the threatened bell frog complex in eastern Australia. Herpetological Conservation and Biology 8, 519-538.
  8. ^ "Gross Pollutant Trap". Local Government & Municipal Knowledge Base. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021.
  9. ^ BMT WBM. 2013. Gosford Coastal Lagoons Coastal Zone Management Study.
  10. ^ BMT WBM. 2015. Coastal Zone Management Plan for Gosford Lagoons.
  11. ^ Cardno. 2010. Gosford Coastal Lagoons Processes Study, prepared for Gosford City Council, July 2010
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