Integrated Catchment Management

Freshwater

Tadmor River

Tadmor River

Introduction

High quality freshwater is one of New Zealand’s most important natural assets and a resource that is at enormous risk. Good management of water resources requires a firm understanding of the effects of adjacent land management on water quantity and quality, the equitable allocation of water for out-of-stream and in-stream uses, and potential connections between freshwater and coastal ecosystems.

Information on the holistic management of water resources for large and complicated catchments, like the Motueka, is very limited. Rainfall, geology and land use varies across the catchment therefore information collected in one area is not necessarily applicable in another.

Particular concerns have been raised over the condition of the Motueka River catchment in the last few years. Annual surveys of brown trout over the last 6 years have consistently shown that the observed number of adult trout were about one third of the numbers seen in 1985. The reasons for this decline are unclear but could relate to changes in physical habitat suitability for adult trout in the main river, spawning success in the tributaries, and/or declines in food availability.

Water allocation from the catchment is also coming under increased scrutiny. Consequently, important decisions need to be made regarding the amount of water that can be abstracted from the river without having harmful effects on aquatic life in the river.

This research will provide information to enable informed decision-making on issues that will affect freshwater resource management at large scales.

Researchable Issues

Research Areas

,Motueka River dishcarging into Tasman Bay Conducting riparian river surveys

,Motueka River dishcarging into Tasman Bay

Conducting riparian river surveys


Publications (Selection)

Year Title File Size
2005 Use of Plants for Ground Bioengineering and Erosion & Sediment Control in New Zealand. pdf       142KB
2003 Where the rubber meets the road: the role of riparian management in ICM. doc       375KB
2005 The SWAT model applied to simulating Nitrogen fluxes in the Motueka River catchment pdf       412KB
2007 Water augmentation options for irrigation in the Motupiko Catchment pdf       3.11MB
2004 Stabilising characteristics of New Zealand indigenous riparian colonising plants. doc       21KB
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Presentations (Selection)

Year Title File Size
2002 How old is groundwater in the Upper Motueka catchment and what does age say about groundwater?  
2011 Facilitating voluntary action to reduce rural land use impacts in the Motueka River catchment. pdf       26KB
2005 Stabilising characteristics of New Zealand riparian plants - Northland Workshops. pdf       1.61MB
2006 Integrating groundwater modelling and river ecology for improved understanding. pdf       466KB
2010 Concept and Introduction pdf       1.54MB
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Primary Contacts:


Image - Tim Davie Tim Davie  EmailSend email to tim.davie
Phone: 03 372 7084
Fax: +64 (0)3 365 3194
More details»
Institute
Environment Canterbury
Expertise
Hydrology & modelling, surface water resource management
Image - Andrew Fenemor Andrew Fenemor  EmailSend email to fenemora
Phone: 03 545 7710
More details»
Institute
Landcare Research
Expertise
ICM programme management; local liaison; resource management; hydrology and water resource management
Image - Roger Young Roger Young  EmailSend email to roger.young
Phone: (03) 548 2319
Fax: (03) 546 9464
Institute
Cawthron Institute
Expertise
Land/water interactions, water quality, fisheries, river health
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Page last updated Wednesday, 5 September 2007

Research areas

Cow crossings and water quality Dating groundwater Faecal bacteria in the Motueka River Fine sediment: bringing the geomorphology and biology together Flood gate design and management Gravel extraction Links between scientific and cultural indicators of river health Mechanisms of groundwater recharge Modelling water quantity and quality River bank styles River monitoring Sediment generation, delivery and impacts Sherry River Community Stream health – fish Stream health – invertebrates Stream health – productivity Thalweg Mapping: A measure of habitat quality Trout tracking Upper Motueka water resources Valuing water Water augmentation

Research Highlight

FRST research reviews School children go fishing Sherry River water quality improvement Stream health in the Motueka catchment Where do trout go?