Workshop focuses on shallow lakes restoration
Science Centres: Aquatic Biodiversity and Biosecurity
Waikato’s shallow lakes — lakes less than 15 m deep — are highly valued but often degraded as a result of human activities and introductions of exotic species. About 80 people with a diverse range of interests gathered in Hamilton in December to review the state and value of these lakes, and discuss science and policy tools for shallow lake restoration.
Values and threats to shallow lakes
The Waikato shallow lakes and their associated wetlands are recognised for their ecological, aesthetic, cultural, and recreational values. The lakes provide valuable habitat for native plants, birds, insects, and fish, as well as game species. They also have many utility values, such as aiding flood control and assimilating farm runoff.
More than a century of land development, combined with the introduction of exotic plants and animal pests, has significantly decreased the lakes’ health. Many lakes have flipped from having a vegetated bed and clear water to having no plants and low water clarity.
Sharing experience on lake restoration
Participants in the Hamilton workshop in December 2008 shared their experience and views on how to restore these lakes and the decisions that need to be made to achieve this goal. They included scientists, community volunteers, lake users, and representatives from regional and district councils, iwi, NGOs, and industry.
Participants met at Serpentine Lakes, north of Te Awamutu, to hear from scientists involved in NIWA’s Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems programme and to explore:
- key goals for restoration
- key barriers to progress
- innovative ways to make progress.
They covered tools for reducing and treating nutrient inputs, controlling internal lake loads of nutrients, and ‘biomanipulation’ (adjusting the biological community) to restore lakes.
Key workshop sponsors were: Solid Energy, Environment Waikato, NZ Landcare Trust, the University of Waikato, Waipa District Council, and Waikato District Council.
Contact: Dr John Quinn, NIWA Hamilton
