Cards report on state of our lakes

For immediate release: Tuesday 2 September 2008

Did you know that...

* Lake Tarawera is a deep lake, and any water flowing into it stays there for around 10 years. * Lake Rotorua was formed 140,000 years ago. * Lake Rotoma is the cleanest of all the Rotorua lakes with a clarity of around 11 metres.

These are just some of the important and interesting facts that are available on the iconic Rotorua lakes through Environment Bay of Plenty's new report cards. The cards provide a quick and easy information reference for lakes Tarawera, Tikitapu, Rotorua, Rotomahana, Rotoma, Rotokakahi, Rotoiti, Rotoehu, Rerewhakaaitu, Okataina, Okaro and Okareka.

Environment Bay of Plenty, Rotorua District Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust have produced the cards as part of the Rotorua Lakes Protection and Restoration Action Programme. The report cards, which will be updated and distributed annually, follow a recommendation by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment.

Rotorua Lakes Programme Manager Andy Bruere said the cards included a snapshot of information about each lake on the front and an 'at a glance' fact file and graphic on the back.

"The cards are a great way to inform people about the conditions of their lakes and are ideal for someone needing a quick overview, or students doing a project," Mr Bruere said.

The cards provide useful facts about each lake and its conditions. They allow you to see some of the actions planned for each lake and the progress made towards completing them.

"The easiest way to view the cards is by visiting Environment Bay of Plenty's website, or calling into any of our offices to pick up a set," he said. The cards are available in sets of 12 or individually.

Residents of Rotorua should look out for a postcard in their letterbox in the next few days that they can send back to Environment Bay of Plenty free of charge if they would like a set of the information report cards sent to them.

For more information people can ring Environment Bay of Plenty on 0800 368 267 or visit their website, www.envbop.govt.nz.

Some other interesting facts we can tell you about the lakes are:

* The four buoys near the centre of Lake Rotoma mark a submerged Maori pa site;

* Lake Rotoiti is a relatively large lake, despite its name meaning "the little lake";

* The deepest point of Lake Tikitapu is 27.5 metres;

* Lake Okaro is the smallest Rotorua lake under public management.

For further media information please contact Andy Bruere on 0800 368 267

ENDS

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