Lake Burrumbeet
| Lake Burrumbeet | |
|---|---|
 Lake Burrumbeet
Location in Victoria
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| Location | West of Ballarat, Victoria |
| Coordinates | 37°29′35″S 143°38′13″E / 37.49306°S 143.63694°ECoordinates: 37°29′35″S 143°38′13″E / 37.49306°S 143.63694°E |
| Type | Eutrophic |
| Primary inflows | Burrumbeet Creek, Blind Creek |
| Primary outflows | Baillies Creek (when full); evaporation |
| Catchment area | 228 km2 (88 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Australia |
| Max. length | 6.6 km (4.1 mi) |
| Max. width | 4.7 km (2.9 mi) |
| Surface area | 24 km2 (9.3 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 2 m (6 ft 7 in) |
| Max. depth | 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) |
| Water volume | 38,000 ML (8.4×109 imp gal; 1.0×1010 US gal) |
| Surface elevation | 380 m (1,250 ft) |
Lake Burrumbeet is a large but shallow eutrophic lake in central western Victoria, Australia. Located 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Ballarat and 140 kilometres (87 mi) west of Melbourne, the lake has been progressively emptying since 1997 and was declared completely dry in 2004. It has however in recent years refilled because of good rainfalls, making water sports in the lake once again possible, with recreational jet skiing and boating taking place in the winter of 2010. The lake is a major wetland for the region because of its size and is utilised as a recreational area for boating, fishing and camping.
Burrumbeet is the largest of four shallow lakes in the Ballarat region covering approximately 24 square kilometres (9.3 sq mi). The lake reserve is of important historical significance as many Aboriginal camp sites and areas of geological interest are located around its foreshore.
The lake is a large open water body with a surface area of approximately 24 square kilometres (9.3 sq mi). Burrumbeet Creek is the main input to the lake with some other catchment areas to the north and south. The flow of the creek is supplemented by a release of 2,000 megalitres (440,000,000 imp gal; 530,000,000 US gal) of treated waste water per year from the Ballarat North Treatment Plant. The lake outlet is situated in the south-west shore of the lake and flows into Baillie Creek, which is a tributary of Hopkins River. The outlet is controlled by a series of boards which are raised or lowered depending on water levels. The lake is characterised by a sand and mud bottom with rock outcrops.
Surrounded by grazing land the lake has suffered from a rise in salinity levels due to abnormally dry conditions. This is reflected also by a fall in lake levels. High nutrient levels and algal blooms occur in the lake from time to time. The lake is often discoloured and has seasonal changes in turbidity levels.
Before European settlement the area around Lake Burrumbeet was inhabited and frequented by the Burrumbeet balug clan of the Wada wurrung people. The area would have provided a good source of food, particularly short-finned eel. The name Burrumbeet derives from the local aboriginal word burrumbidj meaning 'muddy or dirty water'. Some artifacts and tools have been found on the northern edge of the lake in the past.
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Wikipedia