Regular monitoring is carried out by the Department of Conservation and Land Management to assess the progress of the recovery project.

Criteria Limitations

Many of the Recovery Criteria relate to water quality and migratory waterbirds. However, Lake has had below average rainfall since 1994 and has not filled since the early 1990’s. Consequently, the success of the project has not been assessed against these Recovery Criteria.

Biological Criteria

Permanent vegetation plots have been assessed approximately every 3 years since 1977. The most recent assessment occurred in 2002. This assessment found significant numbers of sheaok (Casurina obesa) seedlings on the floor of the Lake but also found a continuing decline in the health of the Lake’s population of paperbark trees (Melaleuca strobophylla).

Physical Criteria

The Department of Conservation and Land Management measures the depth to groundwater in 40 bores across Toolibin Lake every month. All of these bores, with the exception of one, have a depth to groundwater greater than 1.5m.