The region has almost 1000 lakes that, in terms of water quality, reflect the national picture.
Results from Land, Air, Water Aotearoa’s first lake water quality national picture summary indicated lowland lakes tended to have poor water quality while lakes in upland areas were more likely to have good water quality.
Environment Southland regularly monitored seven lakes in Southland and this data was factored in.
These were three lowland lakes with poor or very poor quality (Lake George, the Reservoir and Lake Vincent); two brackish lakes with poor quality (Waiau Lagoon and Waituna Lagoon); and two deep lakes (Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri), which have very good water quality.
