WAIRARAPA LAKE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 June 1938, Page 9

WAIRARAPA LAKE

THE PROBLEM OF THE OUTLET. AN OBSERVER’S SUGGESTION. (To the Editor.) Sir,—The Lake is closed again—this is about the sixth time within the last twelve months —chiefly because it is being opened in the wrong place each time. Three years ago the Lake was opened under the cliffs, west of the hotel, and remained opened for about 18 months, but since they have been opening it in front of the Ferry it has never stayed open for more than two months at a time, due to this reason. When the Lake is opened, it is done by digging a channel at right angles through the sandspit. After the water has flowed through this channel for a couple of weeks, the channel takes a diagonal course to the westward, due to the natural fall of the Lake and the prevailing north-west winds. As soon as the Lake level becomes low, the flow through this channel decreases and the sand begins to form a delta in the mouth, which, with the action of the sea, soon closes the outlet, or, if a heavy sea rises while the channel has this diagonal course the sea comes over the sandspit, and through the channel, up to the other side, and falls back into the channel, depositing tons of sand in the channel each time, very soon filling it, and thus closing the outlet. This occurs every time the Lake is opened in front of the Ferry, but not so when opened under the second cliff to the west of the hotel, because when it is opened there the water has a greater fall to the sea and the action of the sea is nulified, because when the heavy seas hit up against the cliffs they go back as clean water, not carrying any sand, and thus help to keep the outlet open.

But the sea also comes over the sandspit in front of the Cave and the Sheep Rock, carrying large quantities of sand which are deposited in the channel, which soon becomes too narrow to carry enough water through to keep the mouth, lower down, open\ This is the main factor to contend with. To keep the Lake permanently open, a wall must be built to prevent the sand from falling in the channel at these points. I am prepared to meet those responsible for keeping the Lake open and to explain this part in detail. When the Lake is open under the cliffs it is much safer for bathing, fishing, or boating, as anybody that happens to get into difficulties always has a chance to make the bank on either side, but not so when the Lake is open in front of the Ferry. As for fishing, unless the Lake is open, flounders, whitebait and other fish cannot enter. When the Lake is closed during the game nesting season, thousands of eggs are destroyed, besides thousands of acres of good land become flooded for weeks and remain unfit for grazing for weeks after the lake is opened, owing to the silt which is deposited. I have been fishing on the Lake for over 25 years and have kept the Lake open on several occasions when it was on the verge of closing, so am in a position to know something about the habits of the Lake. Yours, etc, M. BOUZAID. Greytown, June 1.