Awatapu Lagoon is a 12.9 ha oxbow lake created when the Ōhinemataroa / Whakatāne River was straightened in 1970. The lagoon has poor water quality but provides good ecological values for birds and has high potential for restoration.

River Lake has undertook monitoring and a series of investigations to characterise the water quality of Awatapu Lagoon and identify practical options for improvement.

Improvement of water quality in Awatapu Lagoon over the long term will require multiple actions over a sustained period to reduce nutrient loads (internal and external) and enhance natural processes that attenuate nutrients. Reducing the biomass of hornwort is a high priority that would provide multiple benefits. However, maintaining some aquatic plants is also important for maintaining reasonable water quality in small natural lakes.

The report for Whakatāne District Council can be found here: