Wimmera Catchment Management Authority and Parks Victoria are kicking off the Wimmera Wetland Investigation with an information session in Natimuk Soldiers Memorial Hall on March 19 at 7pm.

The study will focus on Edenhope’s Lake Wallace, Natimuk Lake and Tooan’s St Mary’s Lake.

Wimmera CMA chief executive David Brennan said the study would take about three months.

“It will involve a combination of fieldwork and a review of previous technical studies and computer models showing catchment responses to rain,” he said.

“It will also assess the potential environmental impacts of a proposed new weir and embankment at Natimuk Lake, which is managed by Parks Victoria,” he said.

Mr Brennan said local knowledge would be critical to the investigation.

“These wetlands are important to the community and are key recreational and tourism destinations for the region,” he said.

“They are significant environmental assets, whether they are full or empty, and we want to better understand what impacts on the frequency and duration that they hold water.”

The investigation will look at landscape and climatic factors that influence runoff into the lakes.

Parks Victoria regional director Sally Lewis said the investigation would provide an evidence-based assessment of the potential impact of the proposed weir at Natimuk Lake.

“Natimuk Lake has important environmental, recreational, tourism and community values that need to be protected,” she said.

“We look forward to sharing the findings of this study with the community when it’s complete.”

St Mary’s Lake, Lake Natimuk and Natimuk Creek Lake Reserve are part of the Natimuk-Douglas saline wetland system and are recognised as nationally significant wetlands.

Lake Wallace supports a diverse range of flora and fauna.