Loch McNess

Loch McNess
Yanchep Lake
Wagardu Lark (Nyungar)
Sunset over Loch McNess
Loch McNess
Location	Swan Coastal Plain, Western Australia
Coordinates	31°32′S 115°40′E
Type	Freshwater
Basin countries	Australia
Designation	Yanchep National Park
Max. depth	3.4 m (11 ft)
Islands	Several
References	[1]

Loch McNess (Nyungar: Wagardu Lark),^[2] also known as Yanchep Lake, is a freshwater lake located near Yanchep in the northern part of the coastal plain of Perth, Western Australia. Loch McNess is part of the Wanneroo wetlands, a chain of lakes, and is part of the Yanchep National Park. Water from the lake was used to refill the underground pools and streams in some of the nearby caves, however the project was ultimately unsuccessful and subsequently discontinued.^[3][4]

Description

The lake is named after Sir Charles McNess, a wealthy Western Australian philanthropist.

Galaxiidae (fish) and Gilgies (freshwater crayfish) are endemic to the region.^[5] Introduced species include mosquitofish (Gambusia).

CSIRO study nutrients and plankton in the lake.^[6]

The lake is also known as Wagardu Lark by the Nyoongar aboriginals^[2] and along with the caves is of significant cultural importance.^[7]

Since European colonisation of the area and specifically with the building of Gloucester Lodge on its shores in 1933^[8] it has traditionally been used for boating outings. There is no longer sufficient water in the lake for boating.

See also

• List of lakes of Western Australia

References

1. Predicting wetland water storage
2. "Yanchep National Park. Yanchep, Western Australia. Akerz Does Australia". Archived from the original on 2 September 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
3. "Caves". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. April 2004.
4. Kruijff, Peter de (16 June 2022). "Once used to moor rowboats, the jetties on this Yanchep lake now sit 10 metres from the shore". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 October 2024.
5. Allen, Gerald (1981), A Field Guide to Inland Fishes of Western Australia, Perth: Western Australian Museum, ISBN 9780724484096
6. Gordon, DM; Finlayson, CM; McComb, AJ (1981). "Nutrients and phytoplankton in three shallow, freshwater lakes of different tropic status in Western Australia". Marine and Freshwater Research. 32 (4): 541. doi:10.1071/mf9810541.
7. "Secrets of a sunshine city". TheGuardian.com. 4 March 2001.
8. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 September 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.