Risk assessment of increasingly acidic and saline pit lake water to regional birdlife to meet state government mining approval requirements. Expected pit lake water quality models indicate acute toxicity to aquatic life and the risk of bioconcentration leading to trophic bioaccumulation to waterfowl feeding there.
A literature review of the ecology of the expected bird species against the likely poor quality foraging habitat (steep sides, deep water) and food resources (low primary productivity rates) afforded by the pit lake demonstrated that little risk was likely to exist due to little bird dietary intake occurring from the lake.