Brown Lake (Stradbroke Island)

Brown Lake
Bummeria[1]
Brown Lake is located in Queensland
Brown Lake
Brown Lake
LocationNorth Stradbroke Island, Queensland
Coordinates27°29′24″S 153°25′57″E / 27.49000°S 153.43250°E / -27.49000; 153.43250
TypePerched[2]
Primary inflowsPrecipitation[3]
Basin countriesAustralia
Max. length1 km (0.62 mi)
SettlementsDunwich, Amity, Point Lookout

Brown Lake (Bummeria) is a perched lake on North Stradbroke Island, in South-East Queensland, Australia.[4] The ecosystem is an example of a coastal non-floodplain sand lake[5] and is characterised by acidic water, nutrient-poor and sandy soil, shrub-like vegetation and wet heathland.[3]

Brown Lake is of geographical significance, possessing ecological value.[5] The geomorphology of the ecosystem is representative of the unique parabolic dune ridge systems that formed during the Pleistocene epoch.[6] As a perched lake, the hydrological operations of Brown Lake are highly diverse and complex.[2]

The lake is also of cultural significance to the Aboriginal population of North Stradbroke Island, the Quandamooka people, as they possess a spiritual and physical relationship with the ecosystem.[1] The indigenous population care for and protect the landscape, sharing traditional environmental management knowledge.[7][8]

Brown Lake’s cultural heritage and ecological value, along with the environmental damage associated with tourism, has led to increased conservation.[7] The Queensland Government and the Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) have proposed an improved environmental management plan, combining traditional and contemporary management practices.[7]

  1. ^ a b Moult, L. (2012). "'To just be here': Aboriginal relationships to, and management of, freshwater at Bummiera, North Stradbroke island". Australian Archaeology. 74 (74): 114. JSTOR 23621539.
  2. ^ a b Cox, M.E.; James, A.; Hawke, A.; Specht, A.; Raiber, M.; Taulis, M. (2011). "North Stradbroke Island 3D hydrology: surface water features, settings and groundwater links". Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland. 117: 47–64. doi:10.5962/p.357746. S2CID 60506479.
  3. ^ a b Coastal and subcoastal non-floodplain sand lake—Perched (Report). Department of Environment and Science. 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  4. ^ Soil Indicators of Queensland Wetlands, Brown Lake North Stradbroke Island (PDF) (Report). Department of Environment and Science. 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  5. ^ a b Saunders, M. (2010). Wetland management profile coastal non-floodplain sand lakes (PDF) (Report). Queensland Wetlands Program. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  6. ^ Wallum Freshwater Biogeographic Province (Report). Department of Environment and Science. 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b c Minjerribah Protected Area Expansion Strategy (PDF) (Report). Department of Environment and Science. 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  8. ^ Moore, T. (18 October 2016). "Quandamooka dreaming targets big dollars from tourism". Brisbane Times. Retrieved 10 June 2021.