12 October 2018
Lake Ōkāreka water level is now about 40mm above the range maximum with the expectation that the water level comes down comfortably into the targeted range over the next few weeks.
It will be the first time the lakes water level has been in the range since April 2018.
Last year, Lake Ōkāreka’s water level peaked at 650mm above the targeted range during September 2017.
This year we have been able to keep the water levels within 150mm of the targeted range due to the emergency flow consent which has allowed a higher volume of water to be released down the Waitangi Stream.
This has been achieved with lower peak flows on the Waitangi Stream as we have responded earlier with the experience gained from managing the lake through the high rainfall of 2017.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is managing the flow at about 300l/s and planning Waitangi Stream erosion protection works for the first half of 2019.
