| Waituna Lagoon | |
|---|---|
.png)  Waituna Lagoon Waituna Lagoon in the South Island to the south-east of Invercargill. | |
| Location | South Island of New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 46°33′58″S 168°35′25″E / 46.5662°S 168.5904°E |
| Type | lagoon |
The Waituna Lagoon is on the southern coastline of the South Island of New Zealand. It forms part of the Awarua Wetland, a Ramsar site that was established in 1976. It gives its name to waituna, a type of ephemeral coastal lake.[1]
The lagoon is an important habitat for resident and migratory birds with seventy three different species being recorded. The expansion in the area of Leptocarpus rushes that has been observed over a 47-year period in the lagoon have been attributed to artificial openings of the lagoon to the sea, and the increase in sedimentation.[2]
The lagoon is largely unmodified by human activity but there are elevated nutrient levels, sedimentation and algal blooms with a fear that it may lead to eutrophication.[3] Awarua Runaka, Department of Conservation and Environment Southland suggest that cutting an opening through the bar to the sea helps waituna to flush itself.[4]
- ^ Single, M.B. and Hemmingson, M.A. (2001). "Mixed sand and gravel barrier beaches of South Canterbury, New Zealand". Ecology and Geomorphology of Coastal Shingle.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Thompson, R. M. C; Ryder, G. R. (2003). Waituna Lagoon : summary of existing knowledge and identification of knowledge gaps. Wellington, N.Z.: Dept. of Conservation. ISBN 9780478223590.
- ^ Robertson, Barry; et al. (26 May 2011). Interim recommendations to reduce the risk of Waituna Lagoon from flipping to an algae-dominated state (PDF). Lagoon Technical Group.
- ^ Regional reporter (12 July 2024). "Joint resource consent application lodged for Waituna Lagoon". Stuff. Retrieved 13 July 2024.