The Site is an extensive wetland complex, consisting of an endorheic freshwater lake and a major dune system. It is important for groundwater recharge. It supports an abundance of fish, and extensive plant life including species which are rare in Algeria. It is the only Algerian site of the water chestnut Trapa natans and the yellow water-lily Nuphar luteum. It is home to several avian species, including nesting, sedentary and wintering birds, including some globally threatened species. Sedentary species include the western swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio and the western osprey Pandion haliaetus; among the wintering birds are the white-headed duck Oxyura leucocephala, the greylag goose Anser anser and the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo; while the glossy ibis Plegadis falcinellus and the greater flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus are among the birds observed throughout the year. Mammals are represented by the otter Lutra lutra. The Site is important for human activities including water extraction for irrigation and domestic use. The surrounding area supports grazing and agriculture. The wetland was the subject of a Ramsar Advisory Mission and added to the Montreux Record in 1990; it was removed from the Record in 1997. In 2017, the ecological character of the Site was again reported as threatened due to the introduction of the alien fish species Cyprinus carpio.