Outstanding Dune Lakes Management Plans

These plans formed the basis of a successful bid for funding from the Ministry for Environment’s Freshwater Improvement Fund.

Lake management plans

Aupōuri Peninsula
Dargaville
Karikari Peninsula
Pōuto Peninsula

The plans present the physical, chemical, biological and social/cultural features of each lake. These time series of the council's water quality monitoring data is presented in graphs, with an inventory of presence and absence records of all aquatic plant, fish, waterbird and invertebrate species displayed in tables.

Although water quality clearly changes through time, this effect cannot be easily linked back to absolute causes, since data on land-use activities is rarely available. However, each lake plan contains a suggested work plan, based on best knowledge of where gains can be made.

The council has now secured matching-funding from the Freshwater Improvement Fund, which is administered by the Ministry for the Environment, to implement the plans' action points, in partnership with eight mana whenua hapū and iwi.

This work will take place from 2018 to 2023 and covers nine of the outstanding lakes as well as 15 additional dune lakes which have specific management needs, for a total of 24 lakes being managed.

The project includes control of water-weeds and pest fish, grass carp management, farm fencing and sediment detention and native plant aquaculture aiming to remove nutrients from the water column.

The public will have an opportunity to get involved in riparian planting days, and the Enviroschools and Te Aho Tū Roa education programmes will track the progress of the project at local schools.

Want more information?

If you’d like further information about this project, please contact the Biodiversity Team:

Northland Regional Council
Freephone: 0800 002 004