Monitoring and hydrodynamic modelling of groundwater inflows into Lake Rotokakahi, New Zealand

Noakes, Katie

Monitoring and hydrodynamic modelling of groundwater inflows into Lake Rotokakahi, New Zealand

dc.contributor.advisor	Hamilton, David P.
dc.contributor.author	Noakes, Katie
dc.date.accessioned	2017-07-28T04:40:05Z
dc.date.available	2017-07-28T04:40:05Z
dc.date.issued	2016
dc.date.updated	2016-10-26T22:45:44Z
dc.description.abstract	Lake Rotokakahi is located 10 km south of Rotorua and is of immense cultural importance to the local iwi. The lake also has significant historical and recreational values, which prompted iwi to make the lake private in 1996. Lake Rotokakahi is one of several Rotorua/ Te Arawa lakes. Several of these lakes have become eutrophic and some have declining water quality. This study was prompted by declining water quality of Lake Rotokakahi and the need to identify potential sources of nutrients to the lake, particularly groundwater inflows. The interaction between groundwater and surface water has a major influence on the trophic status of lakes, particularly those that are predominantly or solely groundwater fed systems. Lake Rotokakahi has one small spring-fed surface water inflow and one outflow, the Te Wairoa stream. Thus the lake is predominantly groundwater fed. The main objective of this thesis was to quantify the contribution of groundwater and surface water to Lake Rotokakahi and to examine interactions of the groundwater system with the lake, in order to provide a basis to improve lake management practices. Multiple monitoring sites were established around the perimeter of the lake to determine the spatial and temporal variation of groundwater inputs, as well as the groundwater nutrient dynamics. A three-dimensional hydrodynamic lake model was set up and simulations were used to examine how groundwater and surface water inflows were dispersed within the lake upon entry. Monitoring of the shallow groundwater system took place from 1 January to 1 July 2016. Three separate storm events were monitored at high frequency within this monitoring period. The monitoring results showed the groundwater system varied significantly both spatially and temporally and also contributed a high proportion of the total nutrient load to the lake. Groundwater discharge and nutrient concentrations generally increased in association with or immediately following high rainfall events. The three-dimensional model ELCOM was set up using hydrological data for the catchment, meteorological data from a nearby station and bathymetry of the lake. Simulations were based upon different methods of calculating groundwater inflows. Simulation 1 was based upon the common water balance equation method. Simulation 2 used constant groundwater inflow and outflow volumes as determined by a groundwater flow model, MODFLOW, which had been applied to the catchment by White et al., (2015). Simulation 3 combined MODLFOW values and measured groundwater levels to create a varying inflow volume based on water level. The three simulations accurately captured surface and bottom temperatures and had varying lake water levels. Only simulation 3 accurately captured the presence of the groundwater spring near the lake shore and was concluded the more accurate method of groundwater inflow calculation.
dc.format.mimetype	application/pdf
dc.identifier.citation	Noakes, K. (2016). Monitoring and hydrodynamic modelling of groundwater inflows into Lake Rotokakahi, New Zealand (Thesis, Master of Science (Research) (MSc(Research))). University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/11239	en
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/10289/11239
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher	University of Waikato
dc.rights	All items in Research Commons are provided for private study and research purposes and are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
dc.subject	Groundwater
dc.subject	Lakes
dc.title	Monitoring and hydrodynamic modelling of groundwater inflows into Lake Rotokakahi, New Zealand
dc.type	Thesis
pubs.place-of-publication	Hamilton, New Zealand	en_NZ
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Waikato
thesis.degree.level	Masters
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (Research) (MSc(Research))