The Bay of Plenty Regional Council's nutrient reduction targets look set to improve water quality in Lake Okareka.

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The Lake Okareka catchment management action plan is the first of the Rotorua lakes action plans to be developed.

The council's chairman, John Cronin, says the achievement is a significant milestone in the clean up of the region's lakes.

'Monitoring on progress towards nitrogen targets shows the action plan nutrient targets of 2500kg of nitrogen per year has now been met,” says John.

'Further monitoring of sediment detention dams may get the additional 30kg of phosphorus required to reach the target of 80 kg of phosphorus per year.”

John says this will need to be monitored closely, but it's likely the nutrient target has been met.

The budget sets aside $1 million to achieve land use change in the Okareka catchment.

Half of this is funded through the deed of funding agreement, and to date nearly 50 percent of the budget has been spent.