Lake Okataina infected

Sloppy boaties are being told to tighten up their housekeeping after the noxious lake weed hornwort was discovered in Lake Okataina this year.

Hornwort is considered New Zealand's worst submerged weed because of its rapid spread, growth in a wide range of waterbodies, and growth to deeper depths than other weed species.
It's also the tallest-growing weed, recently found to be growing to 10m in height in Lake Maraetai as a very dense surface-reaching weed bed.
Hornwort reproduces from broken-off fragments that are easily moved to new sites on boats, boat trailers, fishing gear, float planes, and weed harvesters. Just a small fragment of the plant can generate enough new plants to fill another lake.
The Lake Okataina hornwort was probably introduced via a boat's anchor warp because the boat owner neglected to check for weed fragments before entering the lake, says Bay of Plenty Regional Council land resources manager Greg Corbett.
Until April Lake Okataina was free of two of the most damaging aquatic pest plants, hornwort and egeria.
Known infestations in Lake Okataina have been contained and are restricted from access. A weed cordon will soon be set up at the boat ramp to minimise further incursions.
The boat ramp at Lake Okataina will be monitored for the start of the trout fishing season by Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff, as part of a public awareness campaign on aquatic pests.
"We're working with Land Information New Zealand and Te Arawa Lakes Trust to try and eradicate the hornwort infestation which can be a costly and time consuming exercise," says Greg.
"Lake Okataina is an exceptional lake with very good water quality, and high biodiversity and recreational values worth protecting."
The infestation is a reminder to boaties of the absolute importance of checking boats and trailers for weed fragments, and to clean boats before taking them into new lakes or rivers in the region for the opening of the trout fishing season.
"We have these damaging weeds in some of our lakes but don't want them spread any further - and boaties and anglers have a major part to play in that," says Greg.
It's important for boaties to inspect their boat including its propeller and anchor chain, as well as the trailer and for anglers to check their gear including waders.

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1 comment

penalize laziness

Posted on 26-09-2010 12:41 | By morepork

Although the majority of the fishing fraternity will take care to preserve the environment for everybody, there will always be some who "don't give a stuff" or "can't be bothered". Inspectors should be able to have boats and gear impounded or, in particularly flagrant violations, confiscated permanently. It's time people who use the facilities woke up to their responsibility.


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