Photograph Taken by Brett Smith (August 2004)

Located 6 kilometres from Moorunde, Lake Short Conservation Reserve is a 34 hectare reserve encompassing an ephemeral lake. The lake is usually dry and only fills in years of exception rainfall, approximately once every 11 years.

While dry, rapid germination of eucalypt and melaleuca seedlings occur.

When filled with water, water birds and fish quickly find the lake. One can only assume the fish are from nearby farming damns. It only takes a matter of months for the lake to once again dry out.

The Natural History Society acquired this reserve as a gift from the Lands Department, South Australia.

Similar grazing pressure research projects to those at Moorunde are in progress on Lake Short. With the introduction of the caleci virus (dramatically reducing rabbit populations), and fences (removing 100% of sheep) growth of native species has been dramatic. Society members moved quickly, after acquiring the Lake, to protect the new growth; the Lake was donated when full of water! The results have been astounding, as can be seen by the above photograph.