Dee Why Lagoon

Dee Why Lagoon is a wildlife refuge located in the Sydney Metropolitan region of New South Wales.

Managed by the Northern Beaches Council, it covers an area of 77 hectares, with approximately 30 hectares being water and the remaining 47 hectares consisting of native bushland. Declared a Wildlife Refuge in 1974, it is listed under the NSW Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 and contains several threatened ecological communities.

The water quality of Dee Why Lagoon has been monitored by the Northern Beaches Council since 2010. A water quality monitoring program is in place, which assesses the estuary's health using various indicators. The most recent report card shows that the estuary is in good health, with algae abundance and water clarity receiving a grade of B.

The catchment area of Dee Why Lagoon covers 4.3 square kilometres, while the estuary area is approximately 0.3 square kilometres. The average depth of the lagoon is 0.1 metres, and the estuary volume is 12.7 megalitres.

Dee Why Lagoon is home to endangered migratory bird species and provides habitat for resident and migratory wildlife. It is an excellent location for bird-watching and represents coastal ecosystems rarely found in urban environments.

Visitors can access Dee Why Lagoon throughout the year, but it is recommended to visit during the warmer months when the water quality monitoring program takes place. The lagoon is located in the suburb of Dee Why, New South Wales, and can be reached via public transportation or the Dee Why Beach walkway.

The Northern Beaches Council facilitates a Bushcare Program for local residents to participate in conservation and restoration efforts around Dee Why Lagoon. The council is