Wading species are often seen along the margins of the lake such as the Australian white ibis, yellow-billed spoonbill and the white-faced heron.

Birds that can be spotted amongst the lake vegetation include spotless crake, masked lapwing, dusky moorhen, purple swamphen and buff-banded rail.

Conservation groups are trying to restore the area starting with the old tip site which has been cleared and re-planted with several natives such as bluegums, Albany woolly-bushes and kangaroo paws.

Around 20,000 years ago the sea level was about 130 metres (430 ft) lower than present and the coastline was about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) from the lake's current shoreline.

[5] Lands along the eastern shore of the lake once were part of an estate belonging to Joseph Spencer of Balgarrup near Kojonup in 1884.

[9] The local indigenous Australians are the Noongar people whose name for the lake is Tjuirtgellong which means "The place of the long-necked tortoise".

The lake has a special significance to the Noongar who believe it to be the footprint of the spirit Djrat who created the south coast of Western Australia.