Bain Bay (currently closed) from Mitchells, the Mount Te Kinga / Aora o Te Kinga Track from Iveagh Bay, and the short Valenski Walk and Rakaitane Track from Moana. Water quality Lake Brunner is recognised for its ecological value and importance to the tangata whenua, to tourism and to fisheries. The lake is classified as oligotrophic, meaning that it has naturally low levels of nutrients, low levels of algae and the water is of high quality. Regular monitoring of water quality in Lake Brunner began in the early 1990s. A report in 2006 identified declining water quality, and this was followed in 2010 by an update describing increasing nutrient levels in surface water, increasing chlorophyll (an indicator of biomass of algae), and a decrease in water clarity. The report suggested that intensification of agriculture in the catchment area could be the cause of the deterioration. There are 25 dairy farms in the catchment area of Lake Brunner. Dairy farmers responded to the concerns about deteriorating water quality by investing in riparian planting, improved fencing of waterways and bridging of streams on their properties. Many also invested in improved effluent treatment systems. A community group, the Lake Brunner Community Catchment Care Group, was formed to support environmental initiatives include riparian planting around waterways on farms and on public land. The group comprised around 60 individuals, and had support from regional and local councils, NZ Landcare Trust, Te Rūnanga o Ngāti Waewae, Fish & Game, the Brunner Residents Association, and representatives of the dairy industry, including Westland Milk Products. In 2016, at the Local Government Excellence Awards, the West Coast Regional Council received a "highly commended" award for its entry: Lake Brunner Water Quality Enhancement Project. By 2021, it was reported that of fencing had been constructed on farms in the catchment along with 21,000 plants in riparian strips. Water quality updates are published periodically by the West Coast Regional Council. The December 2021 update reports that the lake is safe for swimming and recreation, and has remained in an oligotrophic (low nutrient) state. The levels of phosphorus are graded A on the National Objectives Framework issued under the National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management, and are sufficiently low that growth of algae is inhibited. Levels of total nitrogen and lakebed dissolved oxygen are graded B on the same scale. Gallery See also Lakes of New Zealand References Further reading External links