Threatening Processes

 Since European settlement, native vegetation has been extensively cleared in the central western slopes for agricultural production. In some areas, 95% of the native vegetation has been cleared. Clearing has been the most obvious change however several other degrading processes are also affecting native vegetation. These include: 

• Overgrazing of livestock and feral grazers;
• weed invasion and introduction of exotic plants;
• alterations of fire regimes;
• modification and pollution of waterways;
• increased used of pesticides and fertilizers; and
• fragmentation.

Due to landscape clearing and European agricultural practices occurring within the catchment, Lake Cowal suffers from salinisation, loss of habitat and biodiversity and declining water quality as well as reduced productivity on surrounding agricultural lands. Weeds and pests such as Lippia and European Carp are also major problems threatening this unique wetland ecosystem.