Oerkhaussee mit Beobachtungsstation

<< Oerkhaussee nature reserve >>
"... Former gravel excavation with very clear water between the Garather Forest and Hilden-Süd. The underwater vegetation is well developed with lawns of stoneworts and submerged aquatic plants. In the south there are also local floating leaf plants. The older steep banks in the south, west and east are covered with poplars, alders and willows. In the east, large shore areas are separated from the rest of the lake by small embankments as periodically drying out shallow water zones, on the edges of which reed beds and tall herb meadows have developed. This is followed by a larger, sandy-gravelly wooded area with pioneer - and dry grassland elements as well as a small body of water.
The lake is of great importance as a breeding and wintering habitat with little disturbance for rare water bird species such as cormorant, great crested grebe, pochard, gadwall and tufted duck. In winter, geese and smews as well as goldeneyes use the water. The shallow water zones and small bodies of water are of great importance for amphibians and a potential habitat for the rare natterjack toad. The open sand and gravel areas are a potential habitat for the endangered sand lizard. ..."
nsg.naturschutzinformation.nrw.de/nsg/de/fachinfo/gebiete/gesamt/ME_015