Because of its diverse wildlife, the lake provides an important source of food and economic activity for these towns.

[5] With the surrounding low-lying topography, the lake is expected to double in size and flood as the current global climate change gradually affects the sea level.

[3] This development carries a risk of future salinisation, which will make the freshwater lake more brackish and potentially change its ecology.

[3] Different sections of the lake currently alternate between freshwater and brackish ecosystems at an average depth of 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in).

[1] The lake is a site of deposition of both pesticides and heavy metals from upstream industry and human habitation.