Table 11: Lake water quality monitoring done by regional councils in 2006 - programme description

Northland Regional Council

Northland Regional Council contracted NIWA to assess the status of 65 lakes during 2004-2005.  Information was collected on macrophytes using LakeSPI, water quality, birds, fish and invertebrates.  LakeSPI was used on all 65 lakes, water quality samples were collected from 37 lakes.  32 lakes were identified for further monitoring (water quality and LakeSPI) and 11 of these lakes identified for ongoing exotic plant surveillance.

Samples have been collected quarterly at 32 lakes since December 2005 with the intention to identify possible seasonal trends and controlling factors.

In addition, Lake Omapere is sampled monthly at two sites for water quality and cyanobacteria.

Bathing beach monitoring is done at two lakes for E. coli and cyanobacteria.

None planned

Northland Regional Council (2005a), Northland Regional Council (2005b),Champion et al (2005)

Auckland Regional Council

The current programme began in 1988 with the seven largest lakes sampled quarterly (except Lake Pupuke which is sampled six times per year and has water quality records back to 1966).  Additional parameters were included in 1992.  Samples are collected from the top and bottom waters at a single sample site located mid-lake along with measurement of DO‑temperature profiles.

Bathing beach monitoring is done at Lake Pupuke and Lake Wainamu (measuring E. coli and cyanobacteria) by Northshore CC and Waitakere CC respectively.

Extend the use of LakeSPI beyond Lakes Ototoa and Wainamu.

Barnes and Burns (2006); Gibbs et al (1999); Auckland Regional Council 2005

Environment Waikato

Environment Waikato has 13 lakes in the shallow lakes monitoring programme.  Water quality samples are collected monthly from a single site mid-lake except for lakes Waahi, Waikare and Whangape which are monitored every two months.  The method is consistent with Burns et al (2002).  In addition, Lake Rotoroa is monitored monthly by NIWA on behalf of Hamilton City Council.  Monitoring is on hold at four of these lakes (Lake Mangahia, Lake Ngaroto, Lake Rotokauri and Lake Rotomanuka South) as there is sufficient data to determine their trophic status.

Lake Taupo is monitored at three deep water sites every 2–3 weeks (top and bottom samples + DO‑temperature profiles).

There was a LakeSPI investigation and survey of 33 lakes in 2004/05 including a comparison with historical data.

Bathing beach monitoring including cyanobacteria is undertaken at Lake Taupo and Lake Kainui.

Possible review of shallow lake monitoring in 2006/07.

Barnes (2002), Edwards et al (2005), Gibbs (2005)

Environment Bay of Plenty

EBOP monitor 12 lakes in the Rotorua district every month.  Monitoring began between 1990 and 1994.  Sample sites are located at the deepest basin of each lake and samples collected from the surface (integrated) and bottom (half hypolimnion depth + 1 m above bottom) to assess trophic status.  Monthly profiles of: temperature, DO, EC, turbidity, fluorescence, and irradiance.

The LakeSPI method is used to assess lake condition every second year.

In addition, weekly summer monitoring is undertaken at bathing beaches to assess recreational water quality (E. coli and cyanobacteria).  In 2006 monitoring also began to assess changes in koura and kakahi (freshwater mussels) in some lakes.

Cyanobacteria also assessed in mid-lake stations since 2004.

Extend koura and kakahi monitoring in 2006.  Possibly extend the programme to smaller and hard to access lakes.

Scholes and Bloxham (2005)

Taranaki Regional Council

Taranaki Regional Council has monitored water quality in Lake Rotorangi since 1984.  Samples are collected from the surface and bottom at three sites four times per year.

Bathing beach monitoring is undertaken at one site on Lake Rotomanu during the summer bathing season.  Samples are scanned for cyanobacteria with cell counts where needed – there has never been sufficient densities to require further action.

Additional cyanobacteria monitoring of three small recreational lakes is beginning in the 2006/07 summer (Lakes Ratapiko, Opunake and Rotokare)

Taranaki Regional Council (2005a), Taranaki Regional Council (2005b)

Gisborne District Council

Gisborne District Council has monitored water quality in Ratahi Lagoon (Te Puia springs) since 1980.  Grab samples are collected bimonthly.

Three-yearly reviews.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council

No lakes are currently monitored, however lake monitoring will commence in September 2006.  Eight lakes will be monitored on a rotational basis.

Initiate a lake monitoring programme in 2006, review in 2015.  Monthly water quality samples for two years plus use of LakeSPI every four years.

Hawke’s Bay Regional Council (2006)

Horizons Manawatu-Wanganui RC

Horizons MW have collected monthly water quality samples from Lake Horowhenua since 1998.  Three sites in the lake are sampled and bulked into a single sample for analysis.

Macrophyte monitoring was undertaken by NIWA on Lake Horowhenua, Lake Wiritoa, Lake Duddings and Pukepuke Lagoon in 2001 prior to development of LakeSPI.

Bathing beach monitoring (measuring cyanobacteria) is undertaken weekly during the summer at Lakes Horowhenua, Lake Pauri, Lake Wiritoa and Lake Dudding.

Will consider extending SoE monitoring to dune lakes.

Edwards and Clayton (2002)

Greater Wellington Regional Council

Greater Wellington RC monitors Lake Wairarapa quarterly at four sites since 1994.  A single sub-surface grab sample is taken at each location.

Bathing beach monitoring is also undertaken at Lake Wairarapa but cyanobacteria are not measured.

Possibly extend monitoring to include: Lake Pounui, Lake Onoke, Lake Kohangatera and/or Lake Kohangapiripiri

Perrie (2005)

Marlborough District Council

No lakes are currently monitored by MDC.  Lakes within the district are considered to have few pressures or threats to water quality and most are in the Conservation estate.

None planned

Nelson City Council

There are no natural lakes within the Nelson City Council boundary.

None planned

Tasman District Council

No lakes are currently monitored by TDC but the surface water monitoring strategy is being reviewed.

Lake Rotoiti was sampled by NIWA from February 1992 to June 1994 and there was some paleolimnological sampling of the Lake Rotoiti sediments by NIWA (2001–03).

Cobb Lake was briefly monitored for a consent application in 2003 (see Cawthron for data).

Possibly extend monitoring to include: Lake Rotoiti, Otuhie and the Kaihoka lakes.

Environment Canterbury

Environment Canterbury monitors water quality in four lowland coastal lakes. In Lake Ellesmere monthly surface samples are collected from four mid-lakes sites (since 1993).  At Lake Forsyth, fortnightly lake edge samples are collected (since 1993).  Monthly lake edge samples are collected from Wainono Lagoon and Coopers Lagoon (since 2000 and 2003 respectively).

ECan monitors 21 high-country lakes five times per year during the summer (since December 2004).  Surface samples are collected mid-lake using a helicopter.  Samples are analysed for TN, TP, turbidity and Chl a.  A subset of these lakes was previously sampled ad hoc since the early 1990s.

Bathing beach monitoring is also undertaken on Lake Ellesmere (including cyanobacteria).

None planned

CRC (1996), Meredith (2004a), Meredith (2004b)

West Coast Regional Council

Lake Brunner is monitored quarterly by NIWA on behalf of West Coast Regional Council (records since 1995).

Bathing beach monitoring is undertaken during the summer on Lake Brunner and Lake Kaniere but cyanobacteria is not assessed.

None planned

Kelly (2006), WCRC (2005)

Otago Regional Council

Otago Regional Council has monitored 10 lakes bimonthly at the lake margin or outlet since 1994.  Monthly TLI monitoring is being phased in on a rotational basis for nine lakes: Lake Waihola and Lake Waipori, 2002–2005 (but also records from Otago University 1997–1998); Lakes Hayes, Johnson, Wakatipu, Wanaka and Onslow, December 2005–present.  TLI monitoring is proposed for Lakes Mahinerangi and Tuakitoto in July 2007–2010.

Lakes monitored for TLI (Wakatipu, Wanaka, Johnson, Hayes): a profile is taken and then the Burns et al (2000) protocol applied. Where samples are taken on that profile depends on lake stratification status.

For Lakes Waihola and Waipori, a single top sample is taken. For Lake Onslow, samples are still from the outlet.

In addition, samples are collected fortnightly from the outlet of Lake Hawea and Dunstan as part of the river SOE monitoring network.

Phasing in the lake monitoring programme to include Lakes Mahinerangi and Tuakitoto in July 2007–2010.

Otago Regional Council (2005), Milne (2002)

Environment Southland

Environment Southland collects monthly samples from Lake Te Anau, Lake Manapouri and Waituna Lagoon.  Regular SoE monitoring began on Lake Te Anau in July 2000 and on Lake Manapouri in July 2002.  Surface and bottom samples are collected from two sample locations on Lake Te Anau and three on Lake Manapouri (based on Burns et al (2000)).

A single surface sample is collected from four sites on Waituna Lagoon (since 2002).

Bathing beach monitoring is also done at Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri but cyanobacteria are not measured.

A single sample and DO profile is collected from Lake George (D46:146 154).

Regular reviews.

Environment Southland (2005)

Chatham Islands Council (monitored on behalf by Environment Canterbury)

Environment Canterbury, on behalf of Chatham Islands Council, has monitored Chatham Islands streams and lakes since April 2005.  A single sample is collected from lake margins and analysed for TN, TP, DRP, NNN, NH4, Chla, turbidity and black disc.

Currently baseline assessment.  May reduce for long-term depending on resources.

Meredith (2005)