The lake is separated from Bass Strait by a narrow strip of coastal dunes. It forms part of the Swan Bay wetland system of shallow marine areas and lagoons, and is an important wetland for waterbirds and waders.[3]
Plant communities consist of salt tolerant species typical of coastal dune woodland and saltmarsh in the region.[6]Woodland and tall shrubland along the southern lakeshore mainly consist of Moonah Melaleuca lanceolata, a species that is listed as threatened in Victoria under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act.[6]
^Hewish, M.J. (2003). Fauna values of three sub-coastal wetlands on the Bellarine Peninsula: Lake Victoria, Freshwater Lake and St Leonards Salt Lagoon. Parks Victoria Technical Series No.10. Parks Victoria: Melbourne. ISSN 1448-4935