Lake Taupo: a national jewel in a state of change
Lake Taupo is the largest lake in Australasia, with a surface area of 610 km2 and a water volume of over 60 km3. Such water volumes have long response times. The groundwater aquifers in the catchment add to the response time. There have been significant land developments in the Taupo catchment during the last 50 years, and there is little doubt that the lake is changing as a result. There is also little doubt that this change will show up as a decrease in water clarity as nutrients from land development enter the lake. The long response time means that even if we curb undesirable developments now, the results may not be apparent for many years. By international standards the lake is still clear, but there are indications of reducing clarity, and we can’t wait for the clarity to fall further before taking action.
NIWA, working with Tūwharetoa Māori Trust Board, Environment Waikato, and our science collaborators, AgResearch and Lincoln Ventures, will be researching nutrient delivery by the lake’s catchment and water clarity in the lake over the next 5 years. This research supports the government’s recent initiatives to fund catchment protection work around the lake.
Clive Howard-Williams [ [email protected] ]