SAVE OUR SOUL (The Piha Lagoon)
THE PROBLEM – OUR LAGOON IS SERIOUSLY POLLUTED
This is dangerous for the health of anyone swimming in it and deadly to the lagoons natural aquatic life including the protected endemic Long Finned Eel(Tuna-Kuwharuwharu) and the rare Lamprey(Kanakana) that uses the Piha Stream to breed.
HOW THE COMMUNITY CAN HELP
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CREATION OF A CLEAN LAGOON WE CAN BE PROUD OF BY SIGNING THE PETITION DURING FEBRUARY. Following the Love our “Lagoons” event on Feb. 8th the petition is available at the Piha Post Office, Westcoast Gallery, Piha Store and Piha Camping Ground
THE SOLUTION
Open the lagoon mouth to the tidal flow of fresh clean salt water as needed, when it does not occur naturally.
The Coastal Engineers Lagoon Enhancement Options Report to Auckland Council in February 2015 recommends “Fix point source of pollution periodically excavate to provide the most comprehensive approach to reducing contamination levels in the Piha Lagoon.”
Historically, the Piha Lagoon has been opened to the flow of fresh salt water periodically, usually with the combination of a high rainfall event coinciding with a full moon high tide. When this does not occur naturally, the lagoon stagnates and, combined with pollution from other sources, becomes unsafe for swimming.
The report to Auckland Council recommends that when the tidal flow of sea water into the lagoon does not occur naturally, it should be assisted by a small excavation, (we are talking Bobcats,) that allows a high tide to enter the lagoon. This small excavation would then be allowed to close naturally and it is expected that would occur within two or three tide cycles.
AUCKLAND COUNCIL HAS DONE THE WORK TO DEFINE THE PROBLEM AND OUTLINE THE SOLUTION. THE COMMUNITY NOW NEEDS TO GET BEHIND THE PROJECT, GIVE THEM OUR SUPPORT AND MAKE IT HAPPEN.