Pest Plant Surveillance

In February 2006, NIWA resurveyed seven lakes, of the 11 recommended for ongoing pest plant surveillance, for new introductions of pest plants. No new weeds were found at any of the seven lakes surveyed, however, a large handful of relatively fresh and still viable Elodea canadensis was found on the foreshore of Lake Taharoa. The source of the weed was tracked down to the owners of a boat who had launched earlier in Lake Tarawera. This shows just how easily and far a weed can be unintentionally transported.