The beginning of 2016 has reinvigorated areas of South Australia, with the heaviest rainfall in decades rising water levels in Lake Eyre. The normally arid lake has come back to life, with birds and other small mammals enjoying the wetland.
The Australian Bureau of Meteorology told Mashable Australia after the rainfall over the New Year, the Warburton River that flows into Lake Eyre rose four metres (13 feet) in one day. The Lake Eyre Yacht Club reported the lake is currently at 1.8 metres (5.9 feet) in depth -- and continuing to fill.
Australia's largest salt lake is known for its unusual pink hue, and is a popular tourist destination among photographers and adventurists alike. The rainfall has rejuvenated the area, encouraging visitors earlier than usual.
A photo posted by AustralianWildlifeConservancy (@australianwildlifeconservancy) on Jan 8, 2016 at 5:10pm PST
The Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC), which looks after the Kalamurina Wildlife Sanctuary, a 1.7 million acre property near Lake Eyre, has posited it may be the largest rainfall event the area has seen since 1974.
AWC Chief Executive Atticus Fleming told Mashable Australia in an emailed statement, "This is an extraordinary event –- the rapid filling of Lake Eyre by local flooding is unusual and a stark contrast to the slow arrival of floodwaters from rain in the far-off channel country of Queensland. The desert around Kati Thanda (Lake Eyre) may not flood like this again for decades."
The rain has restored life and greenery to the region in unusual summer conditions and many creatures have returned.
"The local rain and associated flooding is important because of the benefits for our desert wildlife -- including waterbirds, small mammals and even frogs – and a diverse network of habitats featuring lignum thickets, coolibah woodlands and wetlands," Fleming said.
A spokesperson for the South Australian government told Mashable Australia, "Regardless of whether there is follow up rainfall, recent rains have provided important water to replenish some of the region’s catchments and waterholes, and allow seeds to germinate and vegetation to grow; this will kick-start the food chain again with an increase in insects, fish, birds and mammals."
A once in a lifetime desert flood at #Kalamurina Wildlife Sanctuary #awc #awcsanctuaries #lakeeyre #wildlife #savingthreatenedwildlife #conservation #nature #australianwildlife #flooding #lakeeyrefloods #australianwildlifeconservancy A photo posted by AustralianWildlifeConservancy (@australianwildlifeconservancy) on Jan 8, 2016 at 5:11pm PST
According to Travel Outback Australia, Lake Eyre's primary water source is usually from catchment areas in Queensland and the Northern Territory, taking between six to eight weeks for water from these channels to reach the lake. The influx in rainfall has expedited the process of filling the lake and resulted in unseasonably lush conditions.
A photo posted by AustralianWildlifeConservancy (@australianwildlifeconservancy) on Jan 8, 2016 at 5:12pm PST
Local pilot and owner of Wrightsair, Trevor Wright, who has lived and worked in William Creek for 30 years, told Mashable Australia how the burgeoning life will affect tourism in the area.
"It's interesting to see how many Australians actually come and visit when the lake fills up. We're on retirees' bucket lists now and the expectation is that this season should be a good one. We're already getting enquiries," he said. "It's definitely a good change from the parched earth."
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All images were taken by Australian Wildlife Conservancy field staff at Kalamurina Wildlife Sanctuary, a property owned and managed for conservation by the non-profit Australian Wildlife Conservancy.