Question

case study - lake taupō

visitor numbers to taupō are on the rise. statistics show us that in the year ending march 2024, there were approximately 1,200,000 visitors that stayed at least one night in taupō accommodation. that is, hotels, motels, holiday parks, and backpackers. tourists, along with day trippers to taupō, spent a staggering $736 million over the course of the year ending december 2023 (source https://www.taupodc.govt.nz/). in that one year, think of all the coffees purchased, meals cooked, showers taken, and pillowcases washed. not to mention the number of times toilets were flushed!

lake taupōs water quality is at risk from what visitors put into stormwater drains. stormwater is not treated, and the drains push the water straight into the lake (or into rivers/streams that flow to the lake). with a growing number of visitors, the stormwater drains are of more at risk of being polluted. visitors are not the only culprits of the water quality being at risk. boat owners (for personal or tourist reasons) can also put the lake at risk, by not carefully washing down boat keels, motors, and trailers, before putting boats into lake taupō. this increases the chances of introducing water weeds.

exercise thirteen

think back to the various impacts of tourism you have learnt about in this workbook. what other impacts could occur from boating activities on lake taupō?

Explanation:

Analyze the case study context

The text highlights that boat owners can introduce water weeds if they do not wash down boat keels, motors, and trailers.

Identify other boating impacts

Boating activities can cause physical, chemical, and biological impacts on freshwater ecosystems like Lake Taupō.

Formulate concise impacts

1. Fuel and oil leaks from boat motors polluting the water.
2. Noise and physical disturbance disrupting local wildlife and nesting birds.
3. Wake from boats causing shoreline erosion.

Answer:

Based on the case study and general environmental impacts of recreation, other impacts from boating activities on Lake Taupō include:

• Water Pollution: Fuel, oil, and exhaust emissions from boat engines can contaminate the lake water.
• Shoreline Erosion: Wakes and waves generated by speeding boats can erode the lake's banks and damage shoreline habitats.
• Wildlife Disturbance: Noise and physical movement from boats can disrupt aquatic life and nesting waterbirds.
• Littering: Accidental or deliberate disposal of trash and plastic waste from boats into the lake.