Knott ct al . : Increasing salinity in Lake Clifton? 
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Sep-85 Sep-88 Sep-91 Sep-94 Sep-97 Sep-00 
Figure 2. A comparison of changes in annual rainfall, water level and salinity of Lake Clifton 1985 to 1999. A: Rainfall and water level 
data. B: Salinity and water level data. C: Total salt and water level data. mLD = mean lake data, equivalent to Australian height datum 
+ 4.035 m. Rainfall data from the Commonwealth of Australia Bureau of Meteorology; water level and salinity measurements from the 
Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management. 
also be acknowledged that concerted action by the 
government departments responsible for managing the 
environment may be required to prevent them presiding 
over the irreversible loss of a major scientific laboratory 
of international standing. 
Acknoivledgements: We wish to acknowledge bathymetric and mass 
balance data from the Water and Rivers Commission, and help from 
CALM National Park Rangers T Smith and S Dutton. 
References 
ANON 1990 Wetlands nominated by the Government of 
Western Australia for inclusion on the List of Wetlands of 
International Importance, Ramsar Convention. Nominating 
Document prepared by The Department of Conservation and 
Land Management, Perth, Western Australia. 
Burke CM & Knott B 1997 Homeostatic interactions between the 
benthic microbial communities and the waters of a 
hypersaline lake. Lake Hayward, Western Australia. Marine 
and Freshwater Research 48:623-631. 
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