At the heart of the Lorraine Regional Nature Park, Madine Lake is both a water reservoir for the city of Metz, a hunting and wildlife reserve, and a recreational area. The National Office For Hunting and Wild Fauna (ONCFS) monitors the lake's biodiversity and ensures its preservation. The reserve dedicated to Madine Lake covers 4,450 acres (1,800 ha) and encompasses its entire banks and their surroundings. Since its creation in the 1970s, the site has become a conducive area for the wintering of aquatic and migratory birds such as ducks and common cranes.