Lake Okareka
General information
Lake Okareka is a shallow lake that stratifies for approximately six months of each year. It has the second highest density of human habitation, increasing during summer months.
Lake Okareka is linked to Lake Tarawera via the Waitangi Spring.
There are few problems with the lake, however during periods of deoxygenation of the bottom waters nutrients are released from the sediments. The quality of the lake is poorer than the baseline quality requirements of EBOP's regional plan (EBOP, 2000).
The Lake is threatened by the impacts of existing and future urban and rural development as well as natural hazards. Urban septic tanks and the fluctuating lake levels are also issues of concern.
Lake Okareka taken from the peninsula. Photo taken by Wendy Paul.
| Water quality: | Moderate |
| Max Depth: | 30m |
| Catchment % pasture: | 55.8% |
| Catchment % urban: | 2.9% |
Available Data
Click here to download past water quality data
Catchment Information
The following data is from the Environment Bay of Plenty lake Okareka Catchment Management Action Plan.
| Land Cover | Area (ha) | Area (%) |
| Bare ground Forest indigenous Forest planted Pasture Scrub mixed Urban TOTAL | 8 513 93 839 125 45 1624 | 0.5 31.6 5.8 51.6 7.7 2.8 100 |
| Farming type | Area (ha) | Area (%) |
| Sheep and beef Sheep Beef Deer Other TOTAL | 691 15 83 32 16 839 | 42.6 0.9 5.1 2.0 1.0 51.6 |
For more information click here (PDF) to access the report (Lake Okareka Catchment management Action Plan by Environment Bay of Plenty)
