River Management

One of Tasman District Council’s major roles as a unitary authority is to look after the region’s rivers and drainage systems. This section details how that work is completed.

Council maintains 285 kilometres of the region's rivers.

Gravel Extraction

Who looks after the gravel in the rivers systems?

Rivers Annual Operation Maintenance Programme

Details of river maintenance work, including maps and a feedback form.

River Care Groups and Meetings

Details of groups and meeting dates.

Council Access to Rivers

When access to river bank sites is required, Council staff will work with landowners to obtain land entry agreements to cover all parties. All work related to the management of banks and fairways of rivers must be done in a legal, safe and healthy manner.

River Works and Spraying Resource Consent

A 2001 resource consent allows the Tasman District Council to be able to carry out river works within the District. Resource consent for land-based spraying of vegetation is also in place and expires in 2015.

Each year the general programme/timing of spray operations is advertised, usually in November.
No aerial spraying is permitted and the products approved for use are Roundup, Grazon and Escort.

Unwanted Organisms

Tasman District Council actively manages weed species through the Regional Pest Management Strategy.

Crack Willow

One plant that Council has an active programme on associated with our rivers is Crack Willow (salix fragilis). It is the tall gnarled willow that grows along many of our waterways. Other unwanted organisms include Old Mans Beard, gorse and broom.

A 20-year programme to minimise the existence of crack willow began in 2009. This is likely to involve 20km of classified river banks each year. Where Crack willow has been removed Council will be using other plants or control structures to manage the river banks. Propagation of crack willow is now prohibited in many areas.

Current River Maintenance
Annual Operation Maintenance Programme
River Care Groups
Streamcare Groups
River Rating Classifications