Making of Stamford Lakes

The project aims to:

Enhance the visual appeal of the lakes and their surroundings
Improve water quality
Increase ecological diversity
Increase awareness of the need to manage urban lakes
Improving local environment
Give the community the opportunity to enjoy their local environment

Phase 1 of the project

Sept 2003 we began thinning out the shrubbery around the water line to allow room for the construction of the new path way, the access has previously been restricted to boats only, with the new path this would give the lakes visitors access by foot to the lake environment.

Before & After

The trees and shrubs were shredded

Over the Christmas holiday 2003 the Catch Nature team worked hard chipping the trees and removing rubbish from around the lake.

The trees and shrubs were shredded and were re-used as chippings within the park. The logs will be stored to dry out then sold as fire wood.

The new path around the lake

The new path will give the public access, by foot to the surroundings of the lake, which is not available at the moment; it will be 2m in width and will cater for disabled and push chairs.
The pathway will be restricted on match days, as per public timetable.

Fishing platforms

The 60 fishing platforms will be adequately spaced and purpose built to suit all our anglers needs.
The platforms will be level with the path creating a wheelchair friendly facility.

Dredging the lakes

Over a period of years, the lakes have filled with mud, silt, plant material and leaf litter along with other organic debris.

The depth of the lake was originally 1.5m now the lake has a average depth of 600mm, causing problems for the Stamford bell by becoming grounded due to the lake having a blanket weed problem, which forms extensive mats over the bed of the lake which causes the propellers to get clogged up. In summer pieces of this can rise to the surface and require physical removal. These conditions are likely to persist in future years given the relatively high phosphorus levels unless higher aquatic plants are established. The silt will be re-used on site to create wet land areas between the fishing platforms we plan to carry out this stage in September 2004.

Aquatic planting

Marginal planting is as important as bank side planting for visual effect and can provide another valuable habitat for wildlife. We plan to use pre-planted coil fibre roll system, the rolls are pre-planted and brought to the lake with plants already partly established they are placed in the water at an appropriate level and anchored to the bank. We will also be placing Victorian water lilies in pots in to the lake in the spring of 2005.

Victorian water lilies & Pre-planted coil fibre roll system

Water quality

The water supply to the lakes is a stream which runs in to Chadwick Dam then down the overflow into the boating lake. We plan to maintain overflows and keep clear of rubbish.
Inlet to boating Lake Outlet from Chaddwick Dam.

Waterfowl management

Waterfowl have always been present on park lakes, but in recent years the numbers of particular birds, such as Canada geese, have risen dramatically. Feeding of waterfowl by the public encourages higher numbers of birds than a lake would naturally support. The birds eat large amounts of plants and their droppings add substantial amounts of phosphate to the water and are potentiality harmful to humans.