First glimpses of a restored Lake Hawdon North

Environmental restoration projects can be a slow burn, taking years between the initial idea and on-ground implementation. Fifty years ago, in 1975, an ecologist named Warren Jones visited Lake Hawdon North as part of a broader survey of wetlands in the lower South East. His report contains the following:

“Lake Hawdon North is an interesting proposition. While it is unlikely that it could become important as a reserve for plant communities it seems possible that if the bulk of the area were flooded more frequently and contained water for a longer period than now seems the case, it could become more useful to waterbirds. This could be achieved relatively simply and cheaply by constructing a regulator on Drain L, which carries considerable amounts of water, such that the lake basin may be flooded. It should be possible to do this without reducing the efficiency of the drain with respect to pastures to the east. The area could then be managed for the optimal benefit of waterbirds in general or game species in particular. Of course a more thorough examination of the area and the potential benefit to waterbirds would be necessary before this proposal could be more fully defined and implemented.”

Fast forward 33 years, to November 2008, and Lachie Farrington and I spent a couple of days on quad bikes mapping the vegetation of the lake, following which I wrote a report titled “Native Vegetation and Restoration Potential of Lake Hawdon North”. By that stage we had more sophisticated tools, including digital topography of the lakebed and surrounding area, which could be used to specify a water level that, if a regulator was constructed on Drain L, the lake could be held at without flooding adjoining agricultural properties.

Another step towards restoration was taken in 2019 when Thomas Hunt, Fiona Paton and David Paton wrote a report titled “An initial assessment of the potential for wetlands in the South East and Lower Lakes regions of South Australia to support key species of Coorong waterbirds.” That report, commissioned by the Healthy Coorong Healthy Basin program, was prompted by the poor ecological condition of the Coorong South Lagoon, which had not (and still has not) recovered well following the Millenium Drought, and the need to provide or restore habitat for shorebirds and other wading birds elsewhere to help compensate. The report described Lake Hawdon North as a “high priority wetland that should now undergo more detailed feasibility assessments”.

In 2020, NGT were tasked with writing the restoration feasibility assessment, which provided a comprehensive evidence base for the Australian and South Australian Governments to proceed with restoration. In 2021 we commenced baseline (pre-restoration) monitoring of waterbirds, fish, benthic macroinvertebrates (shorebird food resources) and vegetation, enabling the restoration outcomes to be measured. We have actually just completed a synthesis report, summarising the outcomes of four years of baseline waterbird monitoring.

Finally, in October 2024, on-ground works commenced; construction company Leed started constructing the regulator and fishway on Drain L and clearing woody vegetation from the lakebed to restore open wetland habitat. The Department for Environment and Water (DEW) has also conducted prescribed burns to enhance and restore wetland habitat.

We are thrilled to report to our readers that the regulator is now complete and operating, holding water in Lake Hawdon North, much more than would be the case otherwise, given the relatively dry conditions.

The project has been implemented by the SA Government, with Project Officer Mark de Jong (Limestone Coast Landscape Board) and Construction Manager Sarah Murphy (DEW) doing a great job to get construction completed on time and within budget. NGT have provided ecological advice along the way and we have written the Lake Hawdon North Wetland Management Plan, which will guide regulator operations and other management issues, such as sheep grazing of the lakebed and prescribed burning, the primary objective of management being to maintain and enhance the ecological values of this 2,475 ha wetland. The South Eastern Water Conservation and Drainage Board will operate and maintain the regulator now that it is complete.

On 24th July 2025, Mark Bachmann and I visited the new regulator with members of the South East Aboriginal Focus Group, who have been long-term supporters of the project, meeting Mark de Jong on site. The regulator had been holding back water for about a week but already thousands of ducks had arrived, mostly grey and chestnut teal and pacific black duck. It’s fair to say that all present were very happy to see this ambitious wetland restoration project finally come to fruition.

Now we wait to see the picture that nature paints onto this restored canvas – stay tuned.

Please click on the images below to enlarge them, and so that the captions don’t obscure the photo too much!

The restoration of Lake Hawdon North was supported by the Australian Government and the Government of South Australia under the Healthy Coorong Healthy Basin program.