Federated Farmers says an improved water quality reading for Lake Rotorua is a sign of what farmers have been doing to try to improve the lake's health.
Bay of Plenty Regional Council says recent water testing of Lake Rotorua shows the Trophic Level Index (TLI) has come down to 4.1, which is below a target it set in its regional water and land plan.
The council says the unusually good result may be because of the colder and wetter summer, coupled with remedial action such as alum dosing of streams which feed into the lake.
Federated Farmers Rotorua-Taupo president Neil Heather says earlier modelling done by the council and scientists indicated that things were going to get worse before they got better, but says the water quality index for Lake Rotorua has been improving for the past six years.
Mr Heather says among the work being done around the lake is the reticulation of sewage into Lake Rotorua to be treated and farmers are putting in more intensive irrigation systems and ponds to filter water.
The Bay of Plenty Regional Council allocated $45.5 million as part of its Ten Year Plan to work with land owners in the Lake Rotorua catchment to help with land use and management change.
Mr Heather says the council is trying to work with farmers and hopes the relationship will improve.
