Saline lagoon restoration - size and shape

Generally the larger the lagoon the better. This allows for more diverse structure, offering a variety of depths, substrate types and resistance to adverse environmental change. Key points identified in the Saline Lagoon Guide (Section 3.3.2.) are:

1. Larger lagoons of high aspect ratio, or complexes of small lagoons, support more diverse communities of lagoonal specialist species;
2. The potential of large lagoons of low aspect ratio is enhanced by a convoluted shape or the inclusion of islands to disrupt wind-induced turbulent mixing;
3. Isolated lagoons of <1 ha are particularly susceptible to adverse environmental impact;
4. The extent of shallow but continually submerged lagoon bed is most significant to the lagoonal specialist species;
5. The majority of a lagoon should be < 1 m in depth in order to favour lagoonal specialists and submerged plants, with shallow margins providing a feeding resource for birds;
6. A small proportion of deeper habitat offers some protection from adverse environmental impacts.