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
2002 Modelling groundwater recharge and discharge in Motueka catchment.  
2008 Motupipi Catchment Nutrient Management – an ICM project with landowners of the Motupipi catchment, Golden Bay pdf       1.01MB
2001 Integrated Catchment Management for the Motueka River:
bridging the gap between hydrology and the human dimension
pdf       222KB
2007 Assessment of affects on fish passage at tide gates using DIDSON technology pdf       4.27MB
2003 Catchment nutrient discharges: good and bad news for the management of fish and shellfish resources in Tasman Bay.  
More publications on this topic »
All ICM publications »

Presentations (Selection)

Year Title File Size
2003 Hydrology of the Motueka catchment.  
2006 Afforestation and water yield: the New Zealand experience. pdf       452KB
2006 Bugs n mud: E. coli, turbidity and flow relationships for the Motueka River. ppt       1.11MB
2011 Facilitating voluntary action to reduce rural land use impacts in the Motueka River catchment. pdf       26KB
2009 Improving Water Governance –
Stakeholder Views Of Five South Island Catchment Management Processes
pdf       688KB
More presentations on this topic »
All ICM presentations »

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
go to top
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?