Lake Rotoma

Formed by the Rotoma eruptions, this eastern-most lake has two distinct basins. The lake has a small outflow through porous pumice substrate to Lake Rotoehu, and has some outflow to groundwater.

Lake Rotoma is the cleanest of all the Rotorua Lakes, with around 11 metres depth water clarity and no invasive lake weeds. This is likely to be because only 15% of the catchment is in pasture, and this is not intensively farmed. However the lake has a high risk of lake weed infestation from nearby Lake Rotoehu or other lakes.

Action Plan Status:  Initiated with working party
Quality Now:  2.5 TLI
Quality Goal:  2.3 TLI

• Reticulation of septic tanks, or alternatively upgrade of existing septic tanks to collective advanced on-site treatment systems.
• Phosphorus-trapping farm management techniques.
• Rules to cap nutrient leaching from land use at existing levels.

• Working party meeting - 12 July 2006
• Working party meeting - 6 September 2006