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Environment and Heritage

Blue Lake Ramsar site: Ecological character description

Ecological character has been defined as ‘the combination of the ecosystem components, processes and benefits/services that characterise the wetland at a given point’. Blue Lake and Hedley Tarn became a Ramsar site on 17 March 1996, and the Australian Government is required to establish the ecological character of sites at the time of listing.
Publisher: Department of Environment and Climate Change NSW
Cost: Free
Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-74122-838-0 / ID: DECC20080273
File: PDF 1.69 MB / Pages 88
Name: ecological-character-description-blue-lake-ramsar-site-080273.pdf
 
Tags: WetlandsWater

This document summarises the ecological information available for this Ramsar site. Key ecological benefits/services provided by the Blue Lake Ramsar site include that it is a rare and unique example of a near-natural wetland; flora, fauna, bioregion and biosphere support; hydrological stability; sediment retention; recreation and tourism; and cultural heritage. Processes and components that support these services may be summarised as climate, geomorphology, hydrology, physico-chemical environment, habitats, flora and fauna. 

Blue Lake and Hedley Tarn are located in Kosciuszko National Park in the alpine region of NSW at a surface elevation of approximately 1890 m and 1850 m above sea level, respectively. Together with Lake Cootapatamba, Albina Lake and Club Lake, they make up the alpine lakes of south-eastern Australia. Blue Lake is one of only four cirque lakes on mainland Australia and is the only lake exhibiting a dimictic thermal regime.