Weed harvesting to begin in lakes

Weed harvesting in Lake Rotoiti’s Okawa Bay and Lake Rotoehu is planned to begin next week, with several thousand tonnes of weed in total expected to be removed from the two lakes.

Environment Bay of Plenty Chairman John Cronin said hornwort - one of the most damaging aquatic weeds – and other weed species will be removed to reduce the nutrient levels in the lakes. The weed removal will also improve access and reduce navigation issues in Okawa Bay.

Once work in Okawa Bay is complete weed harvesting on Lake Rotoehu will begin.
Last year, Environment Bay of Plenty removed more than 3,000 tonnes of hornwort from Lake Rotoehu - the lake’s entire nutrient reduction target for the year - and it is anticipated that similar amount will be removed again this year.

Nearly 130 tonnes of weed was removed from Okawa Bay in 2009.

“The weed removal planned for Okawa Bay is largely in response to community concerns about the weed affecting navigation and impacting on recreational use of the area,” Chairman Cronin said.
The weed harvesting programme on Lake Rotoehu, part of the Rotorua Lakes Protection and Restoration Action Programme, a joint project between Environment Bay of Plenty, Rotorua District Council and Te Arawa Lakes Trust, will be timed to coincide with the peak period of weed growth in the lakes.

Environment Bay of Plenty Pest Plant Officer Richard Mallinson said the regional council was really pleased with the results from last year’s harvesting.

“We received positive comments from local residents in Okawa Bay and Lake Rotoehu about the success of the weed harvesting programme last year and we are hoping for similar results this year,” Mr Mallinson said.

“Weed harvesting is a valid means of reducing nutrients in the lake but it’s not a quick fix solution to improving the lake’s overall health and reaching the water quality targets. We still have a lot of work to do.”

ENDS

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