Lake Whangape

Lake Whangape (also written as Wangape,[1] Whangapu,[2] or Whangapae)[3] is shallow, supertrophic,[4] lateral[5] and the second largest lake (after Lake Waikare) in the lower Waikato River basin.[4] One source said the name translated to 'a large sheet of water',[6] another that it was a chief's name.[7]

Not to be confused with Whangape Harbour in Northland.
Lake Whangape
Lake Whangape
Lake Whangape is in the Waikato region of the North Island.
LocationWaikato District, Waikato region, North Island
Coordinates37°28′S 175°03′E
Lake typeriverine lake
Primary inflowsAwaroa Stream (NB a different stream, with the same name, further south, flows into Lake Waahi)
Primary outflowsWhangape Stream
Catchment area310 km2 (120 sq mi)
Basin countriesNew Zealand
Max. length7 km (4.3 mi)
Surface area1,450 ha (3,600 acres)
Average depth1.5 m (4 ft 11 in)
Max. depth2.7 m (8 ft 10 in)
Shore length129 km (18 mi)
Surface elevation5 m (16 ft)
IslandsMotukauere Is, Roaroa Is
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

From the 1860s the catchment has lost most of its forest cover and the lake has changed from clear and rich in aquatic vegetation to a murky, algal lake.

Geology

The lake is a lateral lake, dammed by a levee of the Waikato,[5] probably built up as a result of sea-level rise and sediment from the Taupo Volcanic Zone[8] about 2,000 years ago.[9]

To the west of the lake the rocks are made up of the 30m year old (Tertiary) Whaingaroa and Glen Massey Formations, the Whaingaroan rocks of the Te Kuiti Group. The Karapiro Formation[10] (part of the Walton subgroup)[11] outcrops towards the east of the lake.[10]

Hot springs

Two springs (ranging from 65 °C (149 °F) to 93 °C (199 °F) and many seepages occur along Te Maire Stream, a tributary of the main lake feeder, Awaroa Stream, about 9 km (5.6 mi) west of the lake. They are close to a contact between outcropping Early Jurassic “greywacke basement” and the overlying Tertiary rocks consisting of claystones, limestones and sandstones.[12] It has been suggested that Waikorea, Naike and Waingaro may all source their water from depths of more than 3,000 m (9,800 ft), as they all have similar chemical composition.[13]

The springs have been named as Whangape, Awaroa, Naike, Waiora, Te Maire,[14] or Te Puia.[6] In the 1890s boat trips were made to the springs from Rangiriri.[15][16] In 1868 the temperature was measured at 168 °F (76 °C).[6] A 1905 earthquake enlarged the main spring.[17] The springs are on private land and not now open to the public.[18]

History

The lake was on the edge of the area which Ngāti Tipa had settled.[19] At the entrance to the lake, Ngapuhi killed 40 or 50, during the Musket Wars in 1832.[20] In 1843, Rev Benjamin Ashwell intervened in a dispute between Ngāti Pou and Ngāti Mahuta over an eel (tuna) weir at the lake outlet.[21] It seems it wasn't fully resolved, for, in 1866, a similar dispute was settled by giving the Ngāti Mahuta hapus, Ngāti Naho and Ngāti Tipa, equal rights over tuna at the lake.[22]

In 1864 the Whangape area was described as inaccessible to the British troops in the Invasion of the Waikato, due to the swamps and bush.[23]

Whangape was one of 5 ridings making up Raglan County Council when it was formed in 1876.[24]

In the confiscated area, which included the lake,[7] as part of a policy of opening up land for settlement under the deferred payment scheme, the Government built bridleways from the river, to give access to two 20,000 acres (8,100 ha) blocks. A 12 mi (19 km) road to Awaroa was approved in 1878.[25] The northernmost of the 2 routes began at Churchill, a settlement which then stood on the west bank of the river about 4 mi (6.4 km) west of Rangiriri. By 1881, 10 mi (16 km) had been opened as far as Glen Murray, through heavy swamp at the Churchill end. By 1883 a through track from the Waikato River to the West Coast was in existence. At the same time another was built from south of the lake, towards the Awaroa. By the middle of 1883, nearly 24 mi (39 km) had been opened[26] Work began on roads at Rangiriri in 1889,[27] the first section being to the lake.[28]

However, the surrounding roads remained poor, so the lake and its neighbouring streams were used for transport, a Whangape Launch Company being set up in 1906 to convey goods from Rangiriri.[29] Earlier, in 1894, Parliament had been asked to "have obstructions in the shape of eel weirs removed from the navigable creeks flowing from Whangape Lake into the Waikato River, so as to enable steamers now running on the Waikato River to carry goods for settlers in that district."[30] In 1889 the weir had been partly removed to allow a boat to get through.[31]

Water levels

Between 1968 and 2000 the water level in Lake Whangape fluctuated between 4.5 m (15 ft) and 7.941 m (26.05 ft) above sea level. Water flows into the lake from the Waikato River, when it is high. Since 1999 a weir at the outlet has maintained the minimum water level at 5 m (16 ft).[32]

Pollution

Until at least 1869 the lake was clear enough to see plants growing in the deepest parts and it supported a diverse community of native submerged vegetation.[33] In the 1890s the native forest catchment was cleared for pasture.[15][34]

A 2006 Ministry for the Environment report said water quality was declining.[35] Frequent monitoring by Waikato Regional Council from 2008 to 2013 showed a Secchi depth of 0.04 m to 0.69 m (average 0.24 m) and chlorophyll concentrations exceeding 100 mg m-3.[32] Between 2010 and 2014, 62% of samples exceeded recreational guideline levels for blue-green algae.[36]

Wildlife

Parts of the lake and wetlands around it were gazetted as a Wildlife Management Reserve of 1,330.37 ha (3,287.4 acres) in 1986.[37] To the west, Awaroa Wildlife Management Reserve extends 2.3 km (1.4 mi) up the Awaroa Stream, on 308 ha (760 acres) of the floodplain.[38]

Aquatic vegetation

Thomas Kirk's 1869 survey found a diverse, low growing mixed plant association. Quillwort (Isoetes kirkii), fennel pondweed, blunt pondweed (Potamogeton ochreatus) and red pondweed (Potamogeton cheesemanii) were abundant, waterwort (Elatine gratioloides), horses mane weed and horned pondweed were common and Lepilaena bilocularis and green algae (charophytes - corallina, fibrosa, globularis, Nitella hyalina and Nitella leptostachys) were also present . The only charophytes remaining by 1993 were Nitella and P. cheesemanii.[33] It was claimed in 1889 that growth was too lush to allow a canoe to be paddled through parts of the lake.[39]

By 1921 the lake was said to be infested with weeds and by 1958 the original vegetation was almost completely replaced by Egeria densa, first seen in the Waikato in 1946. Elodea Canadensis and Indian doab[33] (Myriophyllum triphyllum)[40] were also identified. In 1977-1979 the Wildlife Service found the same plants, but also the introduced Potamogeton crispus, the native Myriophyllum propinquum and rediscovered blunt pondweed.[33]

In 1987 the macrophyte beds declined to about 10% of the lake area,[41] turbidity increased (possibly due to coal mine waste)[42] and they were dominated by hornwort, another invasive exotic. High levels of suspended sediment and phytoplankton biomass, largely shade out re-establishment of submerged macrophytes.[32]

Fish and other water life

Despite the pollution, 14 fish species live in the lake,[37] with large populations of native fish, including short-finned eel (making up the most biomass),[9] Galaxias maculatus, longfin eel, common bully and grey mullet, as well as pest fish - koi carp (next most biomass,[9] introduced in 1872),[43] mosquito fish, catfish and goldfish. Perhaps due to turbidity created by mining waste,[42] or by koi carp, the native mysid shrimp is the common food of eels, smelt and common bully.[32]

Riparian vegetation

Much of the lakeside vegetation grows in mineralised swamps.[37] 48% of it consists of turf communities, categorised into 21 types, the longest being some 3.5 km (2.2 mi) of 'Indian doab–water purslane (Hydrocotyle hydrophila) herbfield'. The lake supports the largest known population of the indigenous sedge, Fimbristylis velata. Regionally important populations of Lobelia perpusilla and Carex gaudichaudiana are present. Dominant species were usually perennials, with the alien Mercer grass and the indigenous emergent spike sedge most common.[44]

In 1871 vegetation was dominated by raupo, flax, sedge, kahikatea, lancewood and shrubs such as Raukaua anomalus and swamp māhoe (Melicytus micranthus), which remain west of the lake.[33]

Raupo remained on much of the lake’s margin until the 1950s, but by 1991 only 9% remained in a narrow fringe.[41] As early as the 1890s willows were mentioned as a problem[15] and in 1917 the river board was clearing the stream of willow.[45] Now the shores have been colonised by crack and grey willow and floating sudds of American primrose willow and Amazonian parrots feather (Ludwigia peploides and Myriophyllum aquaticum) are now along most of the lake shore. However, a 1991 survey found 541 vascular species of which 300 were indigenous (and another 13 now apparently extinct there). Endangered or uncommon turf plants include Amphibromus fluitans, Fimbristylis velata, Carex cirrhosa, C. gaudichaudiana, Lachnagrostis striata, Pratia perpusilla, pillwort and mud buttercup (Ranunculus limosella). Threats perceived by DOC were encroachment of the weeds Paspalum distichum, Centipeda cunninghamii, Myriophyllum aquaticum, and Ludwigia palustris, and the effects of cattle grazing.[41]

The Awaroa Reserve is mainly formed of crack willow forest, with some open swamp of flax, cabbage tree, manuka, and mingimingi. It also has 32 ha (79 acres) of regularly flooded kahikatea forest,[38] with kowhai, totara, matai, pukatea and climbers, including Supplejack, swamp lawyer, bush lawyer, jasmine and pōuwhiwhi (Calystegia tuguriorum) and haaka (Viola lyalli) ground cover.[46]

Birds

56 species have been recorded on and around the lake, the commonest being black swan, Canada goose, paradise duck,[37] grey duck (pārera were common in 1905),[47] mallard, shoveler and pukeko. Other birds include shag, bittern, heron, crake, pied stilt, gulls, fernbird and grebe.[37]

Since colonisation some birds have been introduced and others have become locally extinct. A pair of mute swans, presented by Sir George Grey to Captain Hutton, hatched their second brood in 1870,[48] were donated to the Auckland Acclimatisation Society in 1871,[49] by 1873 were a larger flock[50] and, by 1878, there were enough to send some elsewhere.[51] The Society added geese to the lake in 1905.[52] Karakahia, or Australian white-eyed duck once bred on the lake[53] and were reported in 1868.[6]

Restoration

Although the lake is identified as a priority 1 waterbody for stock exclusion[54] in the Waikato Regional Plan,[36] only about a third has been fenced to exclude cattle.[55] A restoration project has fenced 4.5 km (2.8 mi) of the south shore[56] and planted it with over[57] 20,000 trees.[58] In 2017 Government contributed $900,643, as part of a $2.8m scheme, towards that and accelerated alligator weed containment,[59] which has been sprayed since 2002.[55] Spraying of alligator weed and yellow flag iris was done again in 2014.[60]

Drainage proposals

Various proposals were made to drain the lake from 1892.[61] Some drainage was done in 1917, when the Rotongaro Canal was cut.[45] In 1956 the local MP, Hallyburton Johnstone, suggested the lake could be turned into farmland "at no great cost",[62] a claim probably based on a 1933 estimate[63] and a 1911 engineers' survey.[64] In 1937 Raglan County Council raised a loan for extensive drainage of the lake.[65]

Boat ramps

There are boat ramps at Whangape Domain and Shuggs Landing.[66] There is also road access to the lake edge at Beverland Rd.[67] To prevent the spread of alligator weed, which was first found at the lake in 2003,[68] boats need to be cleaned before and after using the lake.[69] The Domain ramp is hard to access and Waikato District Council wasn't aware that it owned it.[70]

gollark: What if I just say them very loudly and use a sound mirror thing™ positioned a few hundred metres away?
gollark: What if I secretly automate memorizing numbers?
gollark: These are mostly correlated, apparently (not typing speed and aim) so this is weird.
gollark: Yes; most people are, as it turns out, awful at typing.
gollark: Here we are, I was able to pull the relevant page from my notes.

References
  1. "A geological survey by Ferdinand von Hochstetter, 1859". www.aucklandcity.govt.nz. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  2. Parliament, New Zealand (1913). Parliamentary Debates: House of Representatives.
  3. "MERCER (Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, 1918-02-12)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  4. "Raglan County Council". Waikato Argus. 1912-05-09. p. 2. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  5. Mosley, Paul. "Geomorphology and Hydrology of Lakes" (PDF).
  6. "Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute, 1869. [electronic resource]". rsnz.natlib.govt.nz. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  7. "WAIKATO. THREATENED FIGHT AMONGST THE MAORIS AT RANGIRIRI. (Daily Southern Cross, 1866-02-28)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  8. Hogg, Alan. "Extension of New Zealand kauri (Agathis australis) tree-ring chronologies into Oxygen Isotope Stage (OIS) 3". Journal of Quaternary Science.
  9. Brendan J. Hicks, Dudley G. Bell, Warrick S. Powrie and Charlotte C. Caldwell (2016). "Comparative fish abundance in the shallow Waikato lakes Whangape and Hakanoa" (PDF). University of Waikato.
  10. "QMAP text & maps / 1:250 000 Geological Map of New Zealand (QMAP) / Geological Maps / Regional Geology / Earth Science / Our Science / Home - GNS Science". www.gns.cri.nz. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  11. "New Zealand Stratigraphic Lexicon". data.gns.cri.nz. Retrieved 2017-10-30.
  12. R. Reeves, S. Bennie, C.J. Bromley, S. Soengkono. "Geophysical techniques for shallow hot water exploration: lessons from some New Zealand case studies" (PDF). New Zealand Geothermal Workshop, Nov. 15-17, 2006.
  13. M.P. HOCHSTEIN, S. SISWOJO, A.S. KASONTA (1985). "NAIKE HOT SPRINGS: A HOT SPRING SYSTEM" (PDF). Geothermal Institute University of Auckland.
  14. "New Zealand Springs (by name)". Department of Computer Science, Auckland University.
  15. "The Whangape Lake and the Hot Springs". The New Zealand Herald. 1891-03-28. p. 1. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  16. "Waikato Argus". 1899-04-01. p. 2. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  17. "The Late Earthquakes". Waikato Times. 1905-05-01. p. 2. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
  18. "Te Maire Hot Springs - NZHotPools.co.nz: ALL NZ's Hot Pools In One Place". Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  19. Taonga, New Zealand Ministry for Culture and Heritage Te Manatu. "Kukutai, Waata Pihikete". teara.govt.nz. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
  20. "Reminiscences of the Late Mr. C. Marshall". The New Zealand Herald. 1892-09-10. p. 1. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  21. "Recollections of a Waikato Missionary". Daily Southern Cross. 1867-05-29. p. 5. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  22. "The Threatened Hostilities Between Kukutai and Te Wheoro". Daily Southern Cross. 1866-02-14. p. 5. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
  23. "The Rebel Positions in Waipa and Whangape". Daily Southern Cross. 1864-02-01. p. 7. Retrieved 2017-10-23.
  24. "Counties' Ridings". Daily Southern Cross. 1876-11-30. p. 3. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  25. "General Assembly". The New Zealand Herald. 1878-09-14. p. 5. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  26. Susan Williams, CW Vennell (1976). Raglan County Hills and Sea 1876-1976. ISBN 9780868640020.
  27. "Country News". The New Zealand Herald. 1889-02-28. p. 6. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  28. "Country News". The New Zealand Herald. 1889-02-16. p. 6. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  29. "Auckland Star". Auckland Star. 1906. p. 4. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  30. "Parliamentary Gossip. (Auckland Star, 1894-10-10)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  31. "A CRUISE IN A CATAMARAN. (Press, 1889-06-01)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 2017-11-04.
  32. David P. Hamilton, Hannah F. E. Jones (Feb 2014). "Hydrodynamic modelling of Lake Whangape and Lake Waahi" (PDF). Environmental Research Institute.
  33. "The vegetation of the lower Waikato lakes Volume 2" (PDF). NIWA. Aug 1993.
  34. "The New Zealand Herald and Daily Southern Cross. Saturday, October 17, 1891". 1891-10-17. p. 4. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  35. "Snapshot of Lake Water Quality in New Zealand" (PDF). Ministry for the Environment. November 2006.
  36. "Lake Whangape". www.lawa.org.nz. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  37. "A Directory of Wetlands in New Zealand WAIKATO CONSERVANCY Lower Waikato River and Estuary" (PDF). Department of Conservation.
  38. Burns, Bruce (1998). "Awaroa wetlands: value assessment" (PDF). Department of Conservation.
  39. "ACCLIMATISATION. (New Zealand Herald, 1889-04-25)". paperspast.natlib.govt.nz National Library of New Zealand. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  40. "Myriophyllum triphyllum | New Zealand Plant Conservation Network". www.nzpcn.org.nz. Retrieved 2017-11-03.
  41. Sarah M. Beadel, and Tony M. Dugdale, Paul D. Champion (Nov 2001). "Turf communities of Lake Whangape and some potential management techniques SCIENCE FOR CONSERVATION 186" (PDF). Department of Conservation.
  42. Hayes, John W.; Rutledge, Martin J. (1991). "Relationship between turbidity and fish diets in Lakes Waahi and Whangape". New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research. 25 (3): 297–304. doi:10.1080/00288330.1991.9516482.
  43. "Acclimatisation Society". The New Zealand Herald. 1872. p. 3. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  44. Tony M. Dugdale, Paul D. Champion, Sarah M. Beadel (November 2001). "Turf communities of Lake Whangape and some potential management techniques SCIENCE FOR CONSERVATION 186" (PDF). Department of Conservation.
  45. "Waikato River Works". The New Zealand Herald. 1917-06-29. p. 6. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  46. "NEWSLETTER No. 37" (PDF). Waikato Botanical Society. November 2013.
  47. "The Shooting Season". The New Zealand Herald. 1905-05-03. p. 5. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  48. "Acclimatisation Society. Annual Meeting". Daily Southern Cross. 1870-03-10. p. 4. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  49. "Acclimatisation Society". Daily Southern Cross. 1871-06-06. p. 3. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  50. "The Daily Southern Cross". 1873-12-25. p. 2. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  51. "Acclimatisation Society". The New Zealand Herald. 1878-11-05. p. 3. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  52. "Acclimatisation Society". Auckland Star. 1905-08-16. p. 3. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  53. "Australian white-eyed duck | New Zealand Birds Online". nzbirdsonline.org.nz. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  54. "4.3.5 Implementation Methods - Livestock Access to Water Bodies". Waikato Regional Council. Retrieved 2017-11-05.
  55. "2016 Pilot Waikato River Report Card: Methods and Technical Summary 71" (PDF). NIWA.
  56. "The Ripple Effect". www.makearipple.co.nz. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  57. "Lake Whangape southern arm planting project Phase 2" (PDF).
  58. "Lake Whangape restoration" (PDF). Waikato Regional Council.
  59. "Waikato | Ministry for the Environment". www.mfe.govt.nz. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  60. "Regional Pest Plant Direct Control (Amphibious) Monthly Report" (PDF). Waikato Regional Council. July 2014.
  61. "Raglan County Council". Waikato Times. 1892-02-27. p. 2. Retrieved 2017-10-22.
  62. Representatives, New Zealand Parliament House of (1956). Parliamentary Debates.
  63. "Whangape Swamp Land". The New Zealand Herald. 1933-08-22. p. 5. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  64. "A Big Drainage Scheme". Auckland Star. 1911-11-29. p. 11. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  65. "£50,000 Loan Scheme". Auckland Star. 1937-12-09. p. 24. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  66. "Where To Hunt Game Birds | Fish & Game New Zealand". Fish & Game. Retrieved 2017-10-17.
  67. "Fishing and Outdoors Newspaper - Lake Whangape access". fishingoutdoors.org. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  68. "Alligator weed control 2011/2012". Waikato Regional Council. Retrieved 2017-10-19.
  69. "Local and General". Waikato Times. 1906. p. 2. Retrieved 2017-10-21.
  70. "Auckland and Waikato branch meeting". Fish and Game. October 2017.

Maps

Illustrations -

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.