Lake Forsyth
Encyclopedia
Lake Forsyth is a lake
in the Canterbury
region of New Zealand
.
It is fed by the Takiritawai River
, a short arm of the Okuti River
, and exits via a gravel bank into the sea in the vicinity of the small community of Birdling's Flat
.
State Highway 75
leading to Akaroa
and part of the Little River Rail Trail
follow the north-western shore of the lake.
Wairewa used to be an important for providing tuna [eel]s as food for the Ngai Tahu tribe (indigenous Maori people of South Island). It is the only Ngai Tahu customary lake. Wairewa Runanga one of the 18 Ngai Tahu Runanga are the guardians or kaitiaki of the lake. However deforestation
of the surrounding hills has led to erosion and silting up of the lake. The lake is hypertrophic, leading to eutrophication
with corresponding poor water quality. This decline in water quality has been known since the early 1900s. So far, attempts to rectify the problem have had limited success.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in the Canterbury
Canterbury, New Zealand
The New Zealand region of Canterbury is mainly composed of the Canterbury Plains and the surrounding mountains. Its main city, Christchurch, hosts the main office of the Christchurch City Council, the Canterbury Regional Council - called Environment Canterbury - and the University of Canterbury.-...
region of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
It is fed by the Takiritawai River
Takiritawai River
The Takiritawai River is a river of the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. A short river of approximately , it flows from the confluence of the Okana and Okuti Rivers to feed the top of Lake Forsyth, at the southwest of Banks Peninsula....
, a short arm of the Okuti River
Okuti River
The Okuti River is a river of Banks Peninsula, in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand's South Island. It flows west to meet the Okana River. The combined waters form the Takiritawai River, a short stream which flows into the eastern end of Lake Forsyth two kilometres south of the settlement of...
, and exits via a gravel bank into the sea in the vicinity of the small community of Birdling's Flat
Birdling's Flat
Birdling's Flat, originally named Poranui, is a settlement in Canterbury, New Zealand, close to the shore of Lake Ellesmere / Te Waihora.Birdling's Flat also commonly refers to the nearby pebble beach that is part of Kaitorete Spit...
.
State Highway 75
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
leading to Akaroa
Akaroa
Akaroa is a village on Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury region of the South Island of New Zealand, situated within a harbour of the same name—the name Akaroa is Kāi Tahu Māori for 'Long Harbour'.- Overview :...
and part of the Little River Rail Trail
Little River Rail Trail
The Little River Rail Trail is a cycling and walking track on Banks Peninsula in the Canterbury region of New Zealand's South Island.-Location:...
follow the north-western shore of the lake.
Wairewa used to be an important for providing tuna [eel]s as food for the Ngai Tahu tribe (indigenous Maori people of South Island). It is the only Ngai Tahu customary lake. Wairewa Runanga one of the 18 Ngai Tahu Runanga are the guardians or kaitiaki of the lake. However deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
of the surrounding hills has led to erosion and silting up of the lake. The lake is hypertrophic, leading to eutrophication
Eutrophication
Eutrophication or more precisely hypertrophication, is the movement of a body of water′s trophic status in the direction of increasing plant biomass, by the addition of artificial or natural substances, such as nitrates and phosphates, through fertilizers or sewage, to an aquatic system...
with corresponding poor water quality. This decline in water quality has been known since the early 1900s. So far, attempts to rectify the problem have had limited success.
External links
- Wairewa Research Project - a collaborative project by the Wairewa runanga focussing on rehabilitation of Te Roto o Wairewa/Lake Forsyth
- Department of Conservation report into Lake Forsyth