Ecosystem Actions
Maintaining and improving ecosystem health requires evidence-based measurement, monitoring and management. We need to address invasive pests, reduce the impacts from sediments, nutrients, bacteria, protozoans, and pollutants entering waterways, enhance wetlands and provide protection for native fish.
Below is the list of actions related to urban development as identified in the Community Catchment Plan. The actions show the current status of progress and who is responsible for their achievement.
Education campaigns to prevent introduction and spread of invasive species identified in the ORC Pest Management Plan
Support and extend education campaigns for public to prevent any further introduction and/or spread of invasive species identified in the ORC Pest Management Plan, namely Lagarosiphon, and other specified terrestrial and aquatic weeds.
Progress
ORC is working actively with WAI Wanaka’s Jobs For Nature team to support and extend education campaigns for public to prevent any further introduction and/or spread of invasive species identified in the ORC Pest Management Plan, namely Lagarosiphon, and other specified terrestrial and aquatic weeds. ORC is also working throughout the Upper Basin to implement the Pest Management Plan.
Related links
Implementation
Ongoing and as part of ORC’s and QLDC’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan consultation process.
ORC Communications team.
WAI Wānaka communication and engagement strategy.
Advocacy and input on policy, including PCE invasive species project.
Education campaigns to prevent introduction and spread of invasive species (not included in the ORC Pest Management Plan)
Support and extend education campaigns for public to prevent any further introduction and/or spread of invasive species not included in the ORC Pest Management Plan, namely Lake Snow and Didymo, and any other pest species not yet identified as a risk or concern.
Progress
Parliamentary Commissioner for Environment is currently scoping an Invasive Species project.
Implementation
Ongoing and as part of ORC’s and QLDC’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan consultation process.
ORC Communications team.
WAI Wānaka communication and engagement strategy.
Advocacy and input on policy, including PCE invasive species project.
Complete current research on Lake Snow
Complete current research on Lake Snow and how it can be reduced or eradicated.
Progress
Research already underway through ORC and other research institutions.
Implementation
Any further research could be sought through ORC’s and QLDC’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan consultation process, or external research funding.
Advocate for additional Didymo research
Advocate for additional research on how Didymo can be reduced or eradicated.
Implementation
As part of ORC’s and QLDC’s and ORC’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan consultation process.
Ongoing Lagarosiphon management
Continue management of Lagarosiphon as prescribed in the ORC Pest Management Plan and LINZ Lagarosiphon Management Plan.
Implementation
Support research.
Advocate for changes to management of Lagarosiphon
Advocate for changes to Lagarosiphon management if perceived deficient, with focus on non-chemical management.
Implementation
Through consultation on any revisions of ORC’s Pest Management Plan.
Advocate for further research into appropriate chemical spray setbacks from waterways
Advocate for further research into appropriate chemical spray setbacks from waterways for weed control and fertiliser applications.
Progress
Implement ORC’s Pest Management Plan.
Implementation
Through ORC’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan consultation process.
Weed control and fertiliser application education
Educate landowners and contractors on relevant rules and standards for weed control and fertiliser applications. Educate landowners and contractors on best practice and guidelines for weed control and fertiliser applications.
Progress
ORC undertook extensive consultation as part of Pest Management Plan development.
Implementation
Implement ORC’s Pest Management Plan.
ORC Communications team.
WAI Wānaka communication and engagement strategy. Identify behaviours to be encouraged and to be discouraged.
Advocate for fish passages
Advocate for necessary controls and programmes to ensure all future instream structures provide for appropriate fish passage (e.g. trout/salmon or indigenous fish depending on the waterway).
Understand whether existing fish passage programmes are meeting community expectations and existing conditions of consents.
Implementation
Ongoing as part of submissions on notified consent applications. 2020-2026 as part of consultation and notification on the new Land and Water Plan for the region.
Implementation of the Clutha dams’ consent conditions
Continue to oversee the implementation of the Clutha dams’ consent conditions including those addressing fish migration.
Progress
Ongoing.
Fish passage as part of the FMU process
Address fish passage as part of the FMU (Freshwater Management Unit) process for the Clutha/Mata-au main stem.
Implementation
2020-2026 as part of consultation and notification on the new Land and Water Plan for the region.
Read more about the Otago Regional Councils FMU’s here.
Improving eel and lamprey passages
Discuss possible additional opportunities for improving eel and lamprey passage at the Roxburgh, Clyde and Hawea dams, as part of the FMU process for the Clutha/Mata-au main stem.
Implementation
2020-2026 as part of consultation and notification on the new Land and Water Plan for the region.
AUG 2022: ORC comments – Our science team has been evaluating streams for endangered fish species/fish barriers to get an idea of what future work plans should look like.
Aquatic life objectives for fish
If required by the National Policy Statement (NPS) for freshwater management, establish a work programme to improve the extent to which existing structures achieve the Council’s aquatic life objectives for fish. This includes identifying existing instream structures and prioritising structures for remediation.
Progress
Dependent on National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management.
Implementation
2020-2026 as part of consultation and notification on the new Land and Water Plan for the region.
Wetland protection and restoration
Advocate for rules and policies to prevent further development by projects which diminish any wetland. Encourage wetland creation/re-instatement; and advocate for ORC and QLDC to assist with, or develop, wetland restoration programs.
Progress
Regionally significant wetlands managed through the ORC Regional Water Plan.
Implementation
2020-2026 as part of consultation and notification on the new Land and Water Plan for the region.
Promote re-vegetation of existing wetlands
Promote re-vegetation of existing wetlands through riparian planting projects and the expansion of existing wetlands, in collaboration with, or with the assistance of, ORC and QLDC.
Progress
- Glendhu wetland has been planted and maintained as part of the Wānaka Water Project in partnership with Te Kākano.
- Action Group workshops and on-farm sessions to come up with a plan and actions to re-vegetate wetlands.
- ‘Embracing Te Taiao – On the Farm‘ resources encourage detailed local learning around wetlands and riparian planting, action projects and field trips to visit wetland sites.
Monitoring buoy(s) on Lake Wānaka
Support ORC to locate monitoring buoy(s) on Lake Wānaka and to undertake research to improve understanding of lake hydrology.
Progress
Work to establish monitoring buoy in Lake Wānaka already underway at ORC. View media release from 11 Nov 2022 here.
Implementation
Funding through ORC’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan consultation process and other sources
Monitoring buoy(s) on Lake Hāwea
Advocate for a monitoring buoy(s) on Lake Hāwea and to undertake research to improve understanding of lake hydrology.
Progress
Work with potential funders for a buoy on Lake Hāwea underway.
Implementation
Funding through ORC’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan consultation process and other independent sources.
Knowledge gaps
Advocate for increased monitoring and research to fill in knowledge gaps identified in the Community Catchment Plan. This includes, for example, increased representative samples taken across lake-wide sites to measure the key attributes in the draft NPS-FM.
As part of the literature review for the Community Catchment Plan, a full list of current gaps in our understanding of the catchment has been developed. This is broken down into research gaps and monitoring gaps. The next steps would be to discuss these gaps with both the regional and district authorities and freshwater experts to determine their importance and which of these are essential for informing lake water quality / ecosystem management, along with timeframes to complete them.
Links
Progress
- Two funded studies on first flush stormwater and urban stream macroinvertebrates. (2020)
- Basin wide water testing programme with farmers and encouraging a range of other techniques that give an overall picture of water quality. (since 2020)
- eDNA data collected during a WAI Wānaka’s internship programme. (2021)
- Citizen science and volunteer programmes such as ‘Take a Walk on the Wild Side‘ involve some urban water data collection elements. (since 2021)
- ‘Conserving the Invisible’ project with DoC, ORC and Fish and Game to protect Flathead Galaxiids. (2022)
- Funded study undertaken by NIWA to undertake hydrological modelling within Roys Bay. (2022)
Implementation
Funding through ORC’s Long-Term Plan and Annual Plan consultation process and other independent sources such as research entities and private funders.
Allocation limit for water abstractions
Establish an allocation limit for water abstractions from Lakes Wānaka and Hāwea, as well as other rivers within the catchment. Guardians to assist ORC with interpretation of “protected” status of Lake Wānaka from the Act in respect of these allocation limits.
Implementation
2020-2026 as part of the preparation of the new Land and Water Plan for the region.
Maintaining base flow of rivers
Advocate for baseflow to be maintained at all times where possible (exceptions where rivers naturally run subsurface in summer e.g. Cardrona River).
Implementation
2020-2026 as part of the preparation of the new Land and Water Plan for the region.
Maintain or improve ecosystem health in the Clutha / Mata-Au
As part of the Freshwater Management Unit (FMU) process for the Clutha/Mata-Au, assess issues and options to maintain or improve ecosystem health in the Clutha/Mata-Au.
Progress
Business as usual for ORC
Implementation
2020-2026 as part of the preparation of the new Land and Water Plan for the region.
AUG 2022: ORC comments – The Upper Lakes and Dunstan FMU first consultation for the LWRP has happened with the second scheduled for the second half of 2022
Impacts of groundwater levels
Advocate for further investigation of groundwater levels and the inter-relationship between groundwater and lake levels, along with impacts of lake level changes on ecosystems / habitats and on flows and migration patterns.
Progress
- Engagement with ground water scientists ex Canterbury University re ground water levels.
- NIWA engaged for Lake Modelling, including change / impacts on ecology.
Implementation
2020-2026 as part of the preparation of the new Land and Water Plan for the region.
Access to lake and river shorelines
Advocate for access to lake and river shorelines being maintained or expanded and any further modification or development (urban or rural) of lake or river shorelines within a defined margin being prevented.
Progress
Would depend on existing zoning, land ownership and ORC Regional Plans. This action requires further consideration in relation to responsibilities and how it could be practically applied.
Implementation
This will be part of consultation and notification on the Regional Policy Statement (2020) and the new Land and Water Plan for the region (to be notified in 2023).
EXPLORE THE OTHER ACTIONS
LAND MANAGEMENT
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
COLLABORATION
