[1] Under the dunes a hard strong friable greywacke sandstone forms most of the coastline from Albatross Point to Awakino.

Waikato Biodiversity Forum said, "We know of only one other shallow lake in the region that is comparable in terms of water quality.

[1] Works such as a trial fish passage structure (installed in 2009), fencing a 37 to 80m buffer (started in 2005),[8] and about 10,000[9][10] new plants, selected to withstand the harsh coastal winds and dry summers,[11] aim to improve the lake's value.

[1] The health of the lake is indicated by the variety of zooplankton in it - rotifers (Anuraeopsis fissa, Synchaeta grandis, S. longipes, Ascomorpha ovalis, Brachionus angularis, B. caliciflorus, Keratella cochlearis, K. tecta, Polyarthra dolichoptera, Trichocerca similis), Bosmina meridionalis, Calamoecia lucasi, Mesocyclops leuckarti, nauplii.

[12] Harihari has the lowest non-native zooplankton of all Waikato lakes,[2] though alligator weed control was carried out in 2018.