Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere lower tributaries

The lower tributaries of Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere are spring-fed streams that emerge on the Canterbury Plains and flow into the lake. These streams, along with extensive land drainage systems around the lake margins, strongly influence the water quality and ecological health of Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere. The catchment is predominantly pastoral farmland and small settlements, with remnant wetlands near the lake margin. Together, these waterways provide important mahinga kai, fish, and bird habitats, while directly affecting the lake’s ecological condition.