Enhancing Life in Waterways 

This page details work Council is doing to enhance waterways and how you can help.

Assistance and Advice 

River and Streams Management Fund

The Council provides expert advise and financial assistance through its River and Streams Management Fund. The types of work involved in the programme are:

1. Erosion Control

Work on streams and gullies including the clearance of blockages, planting of appropriate grass, shrub or tree species, protection fencing and drop control structure construction. Both native and exotic plants may be suitable. Further information can be obtained from:

Planting for Erosion Control

2.  Improving Water Quality

Controlling the grazing and access of grazing stock to watercourses can result in major improvements in water quality. Fencing off and management of the riparian areas is the major tool.

The type of fencing required depends on the farm management system that it has to compliment. It ranges from two-wire electric through to the standard post and batten fence. Similarly management of the riparian areas will vary from excluding stock totally through to controlled grazing.

Planting may be necessary in some circumstances to control or filter surface run-off and may incorporate erosion control planting.

3.  Protecting important habitat

Important habitats include wetlands, streams of high native fish values and significant riparian vegetation. Protection of these areas is primarily through fencing to exclude livestock. Where necessary, weed and pest management programmes may also need implementing.

The Fund mainly targets the upper catchment areas, ie. on small streams and watercourses. The extensive amount of research carried out indicates that upper catchment streams and creeks, drains and wetland areas that feed into major watercourses are more susceptible to degradation than other large watercourses. The best reward for effort will come where enhancement or restoration is first focussed on the headwaters. Other areas such as main rivers and wetlands will also be assessed and have been included into the works programme.

Rivers and Stream Management Fund

Biodiversity Reports

Council can arrange for a biodiversity report to be prepared for you if you own a patch of natural bush, including forest with streams flowing through. Greater awareness of the biodiversity values can lead to enhancing important plant and animal communities.

Biodiversity in Tasman

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Education and Advocacy 

  • Publications including, good practice guides on clearance of weed and sediment from streams, providing fish passage at in-stream structures,
  • Streamcare Groups
  • Meetings, field days and talks with the community

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Regulation of Activities Affecting Habitat in Waterways 

Regulation is often necessary to ensure that there is a level playing field. Part IV and V of the Tasman Resource Management Plan contain most of the relevant rules to protect stream life.

  • Part IV has rules for undertaking works in streams such as straightening of streams as well as any disturbance of the bed and banks, particularly in respect to timing of works in relation to fish spawning (inanga and trout)
  • Part V has rules for taking water, damming, or diverting water

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Ways You Can Improve a Degraded Stream 

Plant Trees

This will provide shading and enhance water quality as well as food and habitat for fish. Do it with a group to ease the workload. StreamCare groups will be supported by Council.

Report

  • Work, particularly with diggers, in waterways that not be authorised and may cause damage to stream life
  • Culverts or other structures that may be fish passage barriers
  • Water pollution

Note: If you provide photos it will greatly assist us in determining the urgency of the issue.

Contact Tasman District Council
Phone 03 543 8400 (after hours service available)

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Further Information 

For further information on learning about the ecology of our streams or joining us on a fish survey, please contact Trevor James.

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