Flamingos have begun returning to the 30-acre DPS lake in Nerul, Navi Mumbai, after three years following partial restoration of intertidal water flow to the wetland. Range forest officer Sudhir Manjare said the water flow has cleared 60-70% of accumulated algae. The lake's tidal water inlets had earlier been blocked. This led to an overgrowth of algae, which forced the migratory birds to skip the site. A govt-appointed panel and the state mangrove cell then asked Cidco to clear the blockage. The lake, part of the Ramsar site Thane creek flamingo sanctuary's satellite wetland system, used to serve as a resting and feeding ground for flamingos during high tide. The state forest department recently initiated the process of granting conservation reserve status to it. —B B Nayak