Activities in the Beds and on the Surface of Rivers and Lakes

The floodplain formed by the Waimea River is intensively farmed and also supports some of the urban centers in the Tasman District. The Aorere River is one of the largest rivers in the District with a Q50 flow of 3067 cubic meters per second. e) The Takaka River catchment area drains a mountainous region of approximately 855 square kilometers in the lower part of the Takaka Valley comprising arable land. In the Tasman district, for example, more than 95 percent of the pre-European wetlands have now been drained.

Plant and animal pests threaten river biodiversity and reduce habitat quality for native species.

Methods of Implementation

Regulatory
Education and Advocacy
Monitoring and Investigations
Works and Services

When considering applications to undertake river and lake bed activities, you should have regard to the provisions of resource management plans such as the Eel Management Plan, the Nelson Marlborough Conservation Management Strategy, the Nelson Marlborough Fish and Game Council Management Plan and the Iwi Environmental Management Plans which promote the sustainable use of water and associated resources. Maintenance of culverts and tidal gates to restore fish passage on Council culverts within 10 kilometers of the coast and the provision of annual budgets to enable this work.

Principal Reasons and Explanation

There are probably existing culverts where the passage of fish has become obstructed over time. However, the new design of the anti-tidal gate means that there are practical options for re-establishing fish passage in these sensitive environments.

A.1 Issues

A.1.1 Mauri and Wairua

A.1.2 Wahi Tapu and Wahi Taonga

A.2 Objective

A.3 Policies

A.20 Methods of Implementation

Issues

River Management
Degrading Beds
Aggrading Beds
Material Transport
Erosion and Flooding Hazards
Structures
Gravel Removal
Connection with Groundwater
Emergency Works

Objective
Policies
Methods of Implementation

Regulatory
Works and Services
Monitoring and Investigation

Principal Reasons and Explanation

Council manages rivers to mitigate flood risks and erosion and maintain effective riverbed capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Soil Conservation and River Control Act. Gravel mining in alluvial plains is not encouraged as it is associated with a range of adverse effects, particularly adverse effects on the productive capacity of the land. Part of the River Works Control Program requires gravel management to achieve the results set out in the River Works Management Plan, which is prepared to fulfill the Council's duties and functions under the Soil Conservation and River Control Act 1941.

However, this must be done in the context of maintaining the stability of the entire stream. The process historically followed by council river asset managers to manage gravel mining as part of the riverworks program is not as transparent as a resource consent process. In the Tasman district, many of the shallow alluvial aquifers, and indirectly some of the impounded aquifers, are recharged by seepage from the rivers.

The recharge of Motueka Plains aquifers is also dependent on flow in the Motueka River. Maintaining the stability and efficiency of rivers to transport flood or sediment and avoiding, eliminating or mitigating adverse effects on its life-sustaining capacity (including mauri) and on other river uses, from carrying out activities in river beds, including gravel extraction. The overall trend for the main rivers and their tributaries (including Waimea, Motueka and Takaka) shows reductions in net bottom level.

For some rivers, including parts of the Buller and Matakitaki, a small amount of gravel may be available for other purposes. Relocation of gravel from beaches to other locations in the same river may be required as part of Council's river management works to maintain flood carrying capacity and maintain bed and bank stability and avoid further effects of bed degradation.

I MPACTS ON W ATER Q UALITY

Issues

Sediment Generation
Stock Crossing and Access to River Beds
River Water Quality
Clean Stream Accord
Other Stock Management Systems
Bridges and Regulations
Vehicle Access

Objective
Policies

Regulatory
Monitoring and Investigation

Most of the lakes and estuaries in the district bounded by dairy farms are protected from the negative effects of stock access to water. Some of these agricultural systems may need to change agricultural practices to reduce negative effects on water quality. Removing or reducing these regulatory barriers (resource and building consents) could increase the rate at which river crossings are built to avoid the negative effects of stock and vehicle crossings on rivers and water quality.

The extent of work in the river bed during construction will have a greater potential to cause adverse effects. To avoid, remedy or mitigate adverse effects on river uses and values from degraded water quality as a result of sediment, disease-causing organisms and nutrients, including ammonia on river uses and values from activities in, on, under or above river and lake beds, including:. The policies aim to avoid, remedy or mitigate negative impacts of sediment formation, nutrients and disease-causing organisms on aquatic values from activities in, on, under or above rivers and lake beds.

For many resource users, advice and advocacy will help them adopt sustainable management practices that reduce the risk of adverse impacts to water bodies resulting from the more routine activities carried out at the bottom of rivers. The Council will promote sustainable stock management practices that address negative impacts on water quality from access to water bodies. The Part IV policies are supported by the Part VI policies aimed at avoiding the adverse effects of pollutants associated with supplies and vehicle access to waterways and other soil disturbances, including sediment and disease-causing organisms , to remedy or to alleviate.

HAZARDS

Issues

Dam Hazards
Managing the Risks

Objective
Policies

Regulatory

This Construction Act safety assessment system will contribute to the ongoing monitoring of large dams in a manner that meets the requirements of the Resource Management Act. Although it can lead to positive community benefits, inundation drowns existing natural and human use values, including wetlands upstream of the dam structure, with the extent of inundation depending on the size of the dam structure and surrounding topography . land. While there is some overlap in considering the adverse effects of dams, the effects of water impoundment on river ecosystems above and below a dam are addressed in Part V, while this part provides for the management of structure effects on the river.

Water conservation orders for the Buller and Motueka Rivers and their tributaries specify restrictions on dams. Some dams were approved by consent under section 13 of the Act, which has now expired but still requires approval. However, many of these existing dams have been managed under permits granted under the rules of Part V of the Plan for the Damping of Water.

Some existing dams have no current permit for the continued presence of the dam in the bed of a river as required under section 13 of the Act. Where an existing dam structure has no permission for the dam structure, but where a water permit to impound water is in force and relevant conditions for the management of the dam structure and its safety, Council will seek consent under this part of the plan when those consents expire . Where there is no current water permit to impound water or no relevant conditions, the Council will require an application to approve the structure and to ensure proper ongoing maintenance of the dam.

N ATURAL C HARACTER , L ANDSCAPE , C ULTURAL , R ECREATIONAL A ND

Issues

Resources and Interests Affected and Nature of Environmental Effects Amenity and Natural Character
A Effects of Activities
B Cultural, Heritage and Social Values
Activities on the Surface
Use of the Beds for Recreation
Structures
Commercial Uses of the Surface of Rivers and Lakes
Te Waikoropupu Springs

Objective
Policies

Regulatory

Overcrowding and overuse of the rivers can result in negative impacts which can undermine the natural character and scenic values of the district's rivers. The use of watercourses and the surface of lakes is regulated by § 9 of the Act and is permitted, unless a rule in the plan provides otherwise. The use of lakes and rivers for recreational purposes may include the construction of structures and facilities along or on the fringes of the rivers.

In accordance with these provisions, the department controls a number of activities in the reserve, including access to the bottom of the springs and activities on the water surface. They also serve to protect scenic and natural values, including the aquatic habitat of springs. Negative impacts from the ever-increasing use of the spring by swimmers and divers were also identified by iwi and the Department of Conservation.

Conflicts regarding the use of springs for bathing and diving have already been identified by the Ministry of Nature Protection. Maintenance and if necessary improvement:. a) natural character, amenity, recreational and cultural values, including wairua values; and (b) public access to rivers and lakes;. from implementation as a result of activities in riverbeds and on the surface of rivers and lakes. The Council wishes to avoid creating adverse effects arising from commercial activities on the surface of rivers that may occur at a rate and scale that exceeds the absorption capacity of the river environment.

U SES AND V ALUES OF R IVERS AND L AKES

Issues
Objective
Policies

Regulatory
Investigation

A number of activities that could be carried out in river and lake beds could affect or cause risks to the uses and values already identified in Schedule 30.1A. Other uses and values are included in Part VI as a set of water classifications (for the Motueka and Waimea Rivers and their tributaries) based on identified water uses and not linked to any use importance criteria. This means that if the water is managed for fisheries or stocking, then the relevant schedule in Part VI specifies water quality parameters sufficient to maintain that value or use.

The policies and rules recognize that not all known values are listed in Schedule 30A and, where necessary, other values may need to be accounted for. The Council plans to develop the scope of Schedule 30.1A so that it will be relevant to considering the effects of any activity in or near a river or lake that impacts on those uses and values in terms of Parts II, IV, V and VI of the Plan. The development of the Annex will use work carried out nationally on significance assessment which will help to resolve uncertainties, improve consistency and clarify management objectives for rivers and lakes.

Any revision or amendment to the Annex will be subject to public consultation as required by law.

A NTICIPATED E NVIRONMENTAL R ESULTS