Lake Koromatua is located 5km south west of the edge of Hamilton. The 6.5 hectare lake is perched on the edge of what was once the extensive Rukuhia peat dome, one of 11 major peat formations in the Waikato basin. It’s one of a meandering chain of more than 31 peat lakes, formed over 17,000 yrs ago as the Waikato River changed its course.
Uniquely, Lake Koromatua is free of pest fish such koi carp and gambusia that are commonly found in the majority of the region’s peat lakes. Instead, black mudfish burrow into the soft peat to aestivate (a fishy form of hibernation) during dry periods.
The lake is being restored through the addition of a weir, raising the water level to stop it drying out, silt and nutrient traps from farm drains, and community volunteer programs to remove pest plants and animals from the lake surrounds. (https://monicalogues.com/)
