Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere - the 2009 Living Lake Symposium: a summary of the key findings and conclusions

Abstract

The 2nd Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere Living Lakes Symposium was held at Lincoln University, 4th November 2009. The symposium had three main objectives: 1. to report on ‘research’ undertaken since 2007; 2. report and discuss PLOVER , a model of how lake values change in relation to lake opening scheduling/management; and 3. to consider where to from here for future management of the lake. Scientists reported on these objectives and contributed to evaluation of a range of potential future lake level management scenarios. These scenarios helped focus debate around some key issues and to clarify some potential ways forward, e.g.: higher lake opening trigger levels come with costs but few obvious gains; a higher average lake level can occur without raising the trigger level, but by incorporating other decision criteria; targeted openings around September and/or October have potentially great benefits for fisheries management; and, each of the former needs to be associated with a reconsideration of who pays the cost of management. Future debate around these options is now much better informed by the modelling and by discussions which occurred at the symposium. It is clear also that the lake’s future is tied to much more than the lake level management regime. Riparian (willow control, stream edge planting, and stream side fencing) management is clearly necessary now and has started, albeit in a very limited way.