Lake Okaro

Water Quality poor Max Depth 18 m Catchment % pasture 95.7% Catchment % urban 0% Lake Okaro is a small crater located 2 km north of Rainbow Mountain. A small stream enters the lake from the North West, while the Haumi stream drains the lake from the south east. The Haumi stream then joins the Waimangu Thermal Valley stream which then enters Lake Rotomahana.

Lake Okaro is the most eutrophic of all the Rotorua Lakes. The sources of the high nutrient levels are believed to be the geothermal activity, remobilisation from the bottom sediments as well as inputs from farmland.

The issues concerning the lake include the impacts of rural development. Surface water runoff and seepage to ground water from pastoral land uses as well as septic tank discharges may be adversely affecting the water quality of the lake.

Available Data:

1977-1992
Temperature and DO profiles, water quality

1991-2002
Temperature and DO profiles, water quality, lake heights

1991-2002
Above information in DYRESM format

Rotorua Airport Meteorological data

Bathymetry

Data Table