Mohingyl Lake
Location:
17°30'-17°36'N, 96°32'-96°41'E; 25 km NNE of Pegu, east of the Rangoon to Mandalay highway, southern Pegu Division.
Area:
9,060 ha.
Altitude:
7-11m.
Biogeographical Province:
4.4.1
Wetland type:
17 & 19
Description of site:
A large, shallow, water storage reservoir on the Sittang plain, about 24 km west of the Sittang River and 45 km from the coast. The reservoir was constructed in 1904 in a flat area at the headwaters of the Zwebat Creek and Malaka Chaung, to provide water for a canal linking the Sittang and Pegu rivers. The bund is 5-9m high, with two sluices in the east draining into the canal and thence to the Sittang River. The water level reaches a maximum in about September, and by the end of the dry season, large areas are completely dry, although some fairly extensive lagoons and channels remain flooded throughout the year. As the water level recedes, the exposed mudflats are converted into rice paddies. The reservoir is surrounded by almost treeless agricultural land, much of which is seasonally flooded. The geology of the area comprises old alluvium, deeply incised by rivers, and more recent alluvial deposits confined to the existing drainage courses and their floodplains.
Climatic conditions:
Tropical monsoonal climate typical of southern Burma, with some 3,200 mm rainfall during the May to October monsoon.
Principal vegetation:
The reservoir supports a variety of marsh plant communities including water lilies, aquatic grasses and reeds which sometimes break free to form rafts. A few trees and shrubs grow on the bunds. Surrounding areas are mostly under cultivation for rice.
Land tenure:
State owned.
Conservation measures taken:
None.
Conservation measures proposed:
A proposal has been made to designate the reservoir and its environs as a Wildlife Sanctuary, and the final draft notification has been deposited with the Government (FAO, l985a). It is proposed that people should be allowed to continue fishing in the reservoir, but that a few small areas should be fully protected as breeding sites for waterbirds. A simple rest house and boat should be provided for visitors (FAO, 1985a).
Land use:
The area is densely populated. The reservoir is very intensively fished; there are several duck farms along the western margin, and large numbers of domestic water buffalo and some cattle graze in the marshes. Hunting is widespread. Surrounding areas are almost entirely under cultivation for rice.
Disturbances and threats:
The large human population, particularly near the western shore of the lake, and intensive fishing activities cause a considerable amount of disturbance to waterbirds. There is a great deal of hunting and collecting of birds' eggs. This constant disturbance and persecution is probably the main reason that bird populations are now well below the apparent carrying capacity of the wetland. The populations of some of the larger waterbirds are also limited by the lack of undisturbed nesting sites. This problem could be partially overcome by the construction of artificial islands with nesting trees.
Economic and social values:
No information.
Fauna:
An important area for both resident and migratory waterfowl. In the 19th Century, enormous concentrations of waterfowl were recorded on the Sittang plain in this general area, and the region was famous for its duck-hunting. In recent years, however, the numbers of birds using Mohingyi Lake have been comparatively low, probably because of the high levels of disturbance. Less than 1,000 waterfowl were recorded during censuses in early February 1987 and January/February 1988. These included:
up to 50 Phalacrocorax niger 300 Bubulcus ibis
50 Egretta intermedia 46 Anastomus oscitans
19 Threskiornis melanocephalus 185 Dendrocygna javanica
140 Anas crecca 60 Pluvialis dominica
along with small numbers of Tachybaptus ruficollis, Anhinga melanogaster,Ixobrychus sinensis, Ardeola grayii, Egretta garzetta, E. alba, Ardea purpurea, A. cinerea, Tadorna ferruginea, Nettapus coromandelianus, Anas acuta, Porphyrio porphyrio, Metapidius indicus, Vanellus cinereus, Charadrius dubius, C. alexandrinus, Numenius arquata, Tringa nebularia, T. ochropus, T. glareola, Gallinago gallinago, G. stenura, Calidris temminckii, C. ferruginea, Larus brunnicephalus, Chlidonias hybrida, Sterna aurantia and S. albifrons. Other species known to occur at the lake include Mycteria leucocephala (30 in December 1982) and Sarkidiornis melanotos. In May 1983, some 70 Anastomus oscitans and 50 Threskiornis melanocephalus were present.
Special floral values:
No information.
Research and facilities:
The area was surveyed in December 1982 and May 1983 (FAO, 1985a), and waterfowl censuses were carried Out in February 1987 (D.A. Scott) and January and February 1988 (Maung Maung Soe and Mm Tung Aung).
References:
FAO (1985a); IUCN (in prep); Karpowicz (1985); Luthin (1984); van der Yen (1987).
Criteria for Inclusion:
2b, 3b.
Source:
Derek A. Scott and references