The Site is a representative agricultural landscape lake below sea level, of which the western part along with the adjacent land areas is protected as a nature reserve. The vegetation belt and swamp areas are excellent breeding sites for a number of nationally threatened birds, such as the garganey Anas querquedula, the greater scaup Aythya marila, and the smew Mergellus albellus. More than 1% of the Svalbard population of the pink-footed goose Anser brachyrhynchus rests regularly at the Site during its migration. The main hydrological values of the Site are sediment trapping and shoreline stabilization. The  cessation of mowing and grazing in the 1950s and increasing ditching and fertilization from the surrounding areas have resulted in significant water eutrophication and vegetational succession. The Site is used for birdwatching and other nature-based tourism, environmental education and transport.