Lake Rotongaro

{{Short description|Lake in the North Island of New Zealand}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=April 2024}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}

{{Infobox body of water

| name = Lake Rotongaro

| image =

| caption =

| image_bathymetry =

| caption_bathymetry =

|pushpin_map=North Island

| pushpin_map_alt = Location of Lake Rotongaro

| location = North Island

| coords = {{coord|37|29|00|S|175|07|00|E |region:NZ_type:waterbody |display=inline,title}}

| type = riverine

| inflow =

| outflow = Rotongaro Canal

| catchment = {{convert|19.5|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}

| basin_countries = New Zealand

| length = {{convert|2.5|km|abbr=on}}

| width = {{convert|2.2|km|abbr=on}}

| area = {{convert|292|ha|acres}} (open water)

| depth =

| max-depth = {{convert|3.3|m|ft}}

| volume =

| residence_time =

| shore =

| elevation =

| frozen =

| islands =

| cities =

| reference =}}

Lake Rotongaro is located to the west of Ohinewai in the Waikato Region of New Zealand. It is a large shallow riverine lake, which links to the Waikato River.{{Cite web|url=https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/environment/natural-resources/water/lakes/shallow-lakes-of-the-waikato-region/riverine-lakes/|title=Riverine lakes|website=Waikato Regional Council|language=en-NZ|access-date=25 December 2018}} It is situated between the Waikato River and the larger Lake Whangape.

The lake was lowered by {{Convert|2.33|ft|abbr=on}} in 1925, by means of a {{Convert|2.75|mi|abbr=on}} x {{Convert|18|ft|abbr=on}} canal,{{Cite web |date=28 May 1925 |title=RAGLAN COUNTY. Waikato Times |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/WT19250528.2.85 |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=paperspast.natlib.govt.nz}} which drains into Lake Rotongaroiti, which then flows through the Rotongaro canal, to drain into the Whangape Stream, just below Lake Whangape.{{Cite web |title=Rotongaro Canal, Waikato |url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz509/Rotongaro-Canal/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=NZ Topo Map |language=en}}

The lake area is approximately 292 ha, with a max depth of 3.3 m. The catchment area is predominantly pastoral, with an estimated area of 1950 ha.{{Cite web|url=https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/assets/PageFiles/37521/TR201459.pdf|title=Waikato region shallow lakes management plan: Volume 2|last=|first=|date=|website=Waikato Regional Council|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}