Public warned to stay out of Waituna Lagoon
Tuesday, 29 August 2017
People and dogs should avoid contact with Waituna Lagoon in Southland after blue-green algae was found in it, Environment Southland says.
Monitoring carried out by Environment Southland on August 15 has shown a high abundance of planktonic cyanobacteria [blue-green algae] in the lagoon.
The algae produces toxins that can be harmful to people and animals if swallowed, or through contact with skin, an Environment Southland spokesman said.
'People and animals, in particular, dogs, should avoid contact with the lagoon, or be mindful of the potential health risks until health warnings are removed.'
Cyanobacteria occur naturally but can increase rapidly during warmer periods of the year.
People who experience health symptoms after contact with contaminated water are urged to visit a doctor immediately.
Animals that consume cyanobacteria should be taken to a vet immediately.
The public will be advised of any changes in water quality that are of public health significance.
The Waituna Lagoon was one the first sites in the world to be named 'a wetland of significance' under the Ramsar Convention.
It is one of the best remaining examples of a natural coastal lagoon in New Zealand.
Environment Southland, the Department of Conservation, the Southland District Council and Maori have been working together in a partnership since 2013 to improve the health of the catchment.
Early this month, Environment Minister Nick Smith announced the Government would give $5 million in funding to build a buffer to protect the lagoon.
The Southland lagoon was one of 33 projects nationwide that had received a total of $44 million in grants that were announced at the time.
Smith said the priority for the investment had been projects that would contribute towards the Government's goals of improving the swimmability and ecological health of waterways.
The project, which is administered by Environment Southland and a group of partners, will see the establishment of a buffer zone that will allow water levels to be managed independently of the need to keep surrounding farm land drained.
Contaminant reduction targets for the lagoon and its tributaries will also be established and farm plans developed to reduce the rate of sediment and nutrient losses originating from on-farm and off-farm activities.