Bool Lagoon Game Reserve South Australia |
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IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
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Bool Lagoon. The red plant is samphire.
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Nearest town or city | Naracoorte |
Coordinates | 37°07′S 140°41′E / 37.117°S 140.683°ECoordinates: 37°07′S 140°41′E / 37.117°S 140.683°E |
Established | 8 June 1967 |
Area | 31.03 km2 (12.0 sq mi) |
Managing authorities | Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources |
Website | Bool Lagoon Game Reserve |
See also | Protected areas of South Australia |
Bool Lagoon Game Reserve is a protected area located in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia, about 24 kilometres (15 mi) south of the town of Naracoorte.
While Bool Lagoon is officially a game reserve, in dry years it attracts a lot of waterbirds of many species, and is frequently a point of contention between duck hunters and animal rights activists. The adjacent Hacks Lagoon Conservation Park also provides refuge for waterbirds. There are a number of boardwalks and bird hides at both lagoons to facilitate birdwatching. The lagoons are visited by up to 150 species of birds, many having migrated from the Northern Hemisphere. In 1985, the area covered by both the game reserve and the Hacks Lagoon Conservation Park was added under the name "Bool and Hacks Lagoons" to the List of Wetlands of International Importance maintained by the Ramsar Convention. The reserve is classified as an IUCN class VI protected area.
Mosquito Creek flows into Hacks Lagoon, and any overflow flows into Bool Lagoon. Mosquito Creek used to continue out of Hacks Lagoon to spread out on the plains near Naracoorte, but is now blocked and any excess water is directed through a drain from Bool Lagoon to the coast near Beachport.
Another ecological issue is that in the past, a lot of lead shot was used by hunters. In recent times, even when the lagoon is opened for hunting, only steel shot may be used.
Bool Lagoon provides boardwalks and bird hides.