Lake Brunner
Encyclopedia
Lake Brunner is the largest lake in the northwestern South Island
of New Zealand
, covering an area of 40 km². The lake's outflow is the Arnold River
, a tributary of the Grey River. The lake lies 31 kilometres to the southeast of Greymouth
. The main settlement close to the lake is Moana
, on the northern shore.
Located several kilometres inland from the coast road (State Highway 6
), it is less frequently visited by tourists than many of the West Coast
's scenic highlights, but it is becoming increasingly popular, in part due to its reputation for fishing
.
Lake Brunner is named for the 19th century explorer Thomas Brunner
and the Maori
name for the lake, Kotuku moana, means "Sea of herons".
The New Zealand freshwater mussel
(Hyridella menziesi) is found in the lake.
By 1976 twenty percent of the catchment of the lake was farmed and there was a population of 84 at the settlement of Moana
.
of the lake is declining.
By 2010 all the measured determinates for water quality were trending up but it was still considered to have good water quality. The poorest water quality is at Cashmere Bay, next to Moana.
The West Coast Regional Council 2007 Proposed Water Management Plan is to have the water quality maintained or improved.
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, covering an area of 40 km². The lake's outflow is the Arnold River
Arnold River, New Zealand
The Arnold River is located in the west of New Zealand's South Island. It is the outflow of Lake Brunner, which it links with the Grey River. The Arnold River flows northwest for 20 kilometres, joining the Grey immediately above the town of Brunner, some 15 kilometres from the Tasman Sea...
, a tributary of the Grey River. The lake lies 31 kilometres to the southeast of Greymouth
Greymouth
Greymouth is the largest town in the West Coast region in the South Island of New Zealand, and the seat of the Grey District Council. The population of the whole Grey District is , which accounts for % of the West Coast's inhabitants...
. The main settlement close to the lake is Moana
Moana
Moana is a documentary film, the first docufiction in the history of cinema, directed by Robert J. Flaherty, the creator of Nanook of the North . Moana was filmed in Samoa in the villages of Safune on the island of Savai'i...
, on the northern shore.
Located several kilometres inland from the coast road (State Highway 6
New Zealand State Highway network
The New Zealand State Highway network is the major national highway network in New Zealand. Just under 100 roads in both the North and South Islands are State Highways...
), it is less frequently visited by tourists than many of the West Coast
West Coast, New Zealand
The West Coast is one of the administrative regions of New Zealand, located on the west coast of the South Island, and is one of the more remote and most sparsely populated areas of the country. It is made up of three districts: Buller, Grey and Westland...
's scenic highlights, but it is becoming increasingly popular, in part due to its reputation for fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
.
Lake Brunner is named for the 19th century explorer Thomas Brunner
Thomas Brunner
Thomas Brunner was an English-born surveyor and explorer remembered for his exploration of the western coastal areas of New Zealand's South Island....
and the Maori
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
name for the lake, Kotuku moana, means "Sea of herons".
The New Zealand freshwater mussel
New Zealand freshwater mussel
The New Zealand freshwater mussel, scientific name Echyridella menziesi, or kakahi, is a species of freshwater mussel, an aquatic bivalve mollusc in the family Unionidae, the river mussels....
(Hyridella menziesi) is found in the lake.
By 1976 twenty percent of the catchment of the lake was farmed and there was a population of 84 at the settlement of Moana
Moana, New Zealand
Moana is a small town in the West Coast Region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the northern shore of Lake Brunner, and is beside the outflow of the lake into the Arnold River. There is a pedestrian suspension bridge crossing the Arnold from the town to access the lake shore...
.
Water quality
The waters of Lake Brunner have been monitored since the 1990s and it shows that the water qualityWater quality
Water quality is the physical, chemical and biological characteristics of water. It is a measure of the condition of water relative to the requirements of one or more biotic species and or to any human need or purpose. It is most frequently used by reference to a set of standards against which...
of the lake is declining.
By 2010 all the measured determinates for water quality were trending up but it was still considered to have good water quality. The poorest water quality is at Cashmere Bay, next to Moana.
The West Coast Regional Council 2007 Proposed Water Management Plan is to have the water quality maintained or improved.
External links
- Lake Brunner at the Department of Conservation
- Water Quality of Lake Brunner at the West Coast Regional Council