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Wainono Lagoon Restoration Newsletter Issue 4, February 2015

Welcome to the fourth Wainono Lagoon restoration newsletter It has been great to see the progression of the Hook catchment farm environment plans. We’re delighted by the response and commend all the farmers involved. Farm environment plans provide a useful overarching look into a farming operation, showing how small variances across the catchment can make a huge difference to the water quality in Wainono Lagoon. The Waitaki sub-regional section of the proposed Land & Water Regional Plan is in progress and we’re looking forward to the final draft shortly. We’ve recently started the sub-regional process and it has been fantastic to see the good attendance at the meetings so far. Collective Sediment involvement will mean the outcomes reflect the wider community’s goals and aspirations. mitigation works For more information about the catchment groups for the Lower Waitaki Zone, contact Emily Anderson on 03 687 7822. The main implementation phase of this project is well underway. Work started on properties in the south branch of the Hook River in August It was excellent to have the chance to do some planting 2014. The stream battering, sediment traps and rock armouring is well within the Wainono Lagoon area. Considerable work has been underway and fencing and planting is being completed as we go. done in the Hook catchment with great support from everyone involved in the Catchment Group. Further planting is planned We have had a good run with the weather, so the ground conditions early this year. have been perfect for the earthworks. These are the first properties to be done and much has been learnt that will make implementation of Robin Murphy project actions on the following properties easier to complete. Chair, Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Canterbury Zone Committee The observed settling rate of disturbed sediment during the work has been very quick; this and the low stream flows have meant the negative Remember to visit our website, impacts on the environment have been minimal. www.ecan.govt.nz/wainono or The landowners have been very helpful and accommodating and Facebook.com/canterburybiodiversity, are happy with how things are turning out. Plantings look to be and sign up to receive our newsletters. establishing well, but the seed strike for the grass that has been sown is patchy due to the very dry conditions. Engineering investigation We continue to work with a consultant engineer to plan for works in the main stem of the Hook River. One aspect of this work is to ensure that in trapping and removing sediment, we do not reduce the armouring effect that these gravels have in preventing bed erosion. We need to ensure that some gravels are still available for re-deposition. The gravel that performs this function is large and while not the target of our trapping, would be captured as a byproduct of trapping the silt and sand-sized particles. Preliminary investigations are underway for the large sediment trap that will go in the Hook delta area and have concluded that a Farm environment vegetation barrier, as opposed to an earthwork barrier, will be the best option. plans Workshops have been held in the Hook catchment to develop farm environment plans (FEPs). These plans will help farmers identify and manage a range of environmental variables on their farm. The plan template for the Hook catchment has been specifically developed to fit the location and to include things like sediment management measures that will directly help water quality for Wainono tributaries. Farmers have helped complete over 50% of the FEPs for the Hook catchment. If you are within the Hook catchment and have not completed a FEP, please contact Emily Anderson on 03 687 7822 to arrange support for doing this.

Eel monitoring In April 2014, the Timaru Biodiversity team sampled the lagoon and its tributaries for eel abundance. John Wilkie from Waihao Rūnanga helped in measuring and identifying the shortfin and longfin eels caught. Phillip Jellyman, an expert on eels in , has taken a look at the data provided. While no definitive conclusions can be drawn from one sample, this data provides a baseline record for future sampling and to determine future management options as eels can be used as a key indicator of ecosystem health and functioning.

Mudfish A consultant has been engaged to develop a population monitoring programme for the critically endangered Canterbury mudfish. This will provide a good indicator of productivity and general habitat suitability for mudfish, but may also be used to give insights into how changes in hydrology, water quality and habitat stability affect these populations. Te Punatarakao planting day Although they were flooded for a short time not long after they were planted, the plantings undertaken at Te Punatarakao are looking good. We are planning to organise another planting day in April to build on the work already done by the community at this site. Te Punatarakao wetland restoration is part of the Tuia partnership project that is developing stronger working relationships between Rūnanga, the wider community and Environment Canterbury.

Bittern monitoring Wainono Lagoon is one of the few remaining coastal habitats for a range of wetland bird species, one of the more unusual of which is the Australasian bittern. This enigmatic species is rarely seen and its secretive behaviour makes it difficult to survey for. To overcome this, recorders were recently placed around Wainono, with sound files soon to be analysed for the male bittern’s distinctive booming call, which they use to attract females during the mating season (October-November). These recorders have been deployed around the lagoon to determine the distribution and abundance of these unique birds. Bittern may be a good “indicator species”, meaning their population health may be a good indicator of the overall ecological functioning of the lagoon and its surrounding habitats. The Australasian bittern is a nationally threatened species.

Photos courtesy Peter Langlands What the project How you can get is doing involved The main activities the Restoration Project is undertaking: There are two main ways you can get involved in the • Fencing streams and drains in the Wainono catchment. Restoration Project: • Planting native species. • Register your interest by joining the Friends of Wainono contacts list. Email [email protected] and we will send you • Working with landowners to promote best practice updates and events information. management. • Finding obstructions to fish passage (important for migratory • If you are a land manager, enquire about funding assistance to protect biodiversity or for reducing the input of sediment and fish) and seeking to remedy them. nutrient into waterways. Contact Kennedy Lange at kennedy. • Working to protect wetlands (important for many species and [email protected] or 03 687 7800. for improving water quality). • Weed control to allow the native vegetation around the lagoon to regenerate. Who is involved The partners in the Wainono Restoration Project are local landowners and Rūnanga, the Wainono Water Users Group, the Department of Conservation, the Ministry for the Environment, QEII Trust, Fish & Game, District Council and the Lower Waitaki – South Coastal Zone Committee.

Funding Every big and important biodiversity restoration project needs funding to get it up and running and keep it on track. The Wainono Lagoon Restoration is no exception and the project is likely to cost nearly $2.5 million over 5 years. A good proportion of this money has already been committed from the government’s Fresh Start for Freshwater fund ($800,000) and Environment Canterbury. The money will be used for fencing, planting and weed management.

Land managers – for information about subsidised fencing/planting, contact [email protected]

Canterbury Water Management Strategy The Wainono Restoration Project was selected by the Canterbury Water Management Strategy Regional Committee as one of three key flagship restoration initiatives for Canterbury. The Canterbury Water Management Strategy captures the community’s shared vision for managing water. It is a collaborative process involving Environment Canterbury, Ngāi Tahu, and stakeholders with an interest in water management. The aim for biodiversity projects such as Wainono Lagoon is to provide more and better fresh water to support ecosystems, as well as to improve habitat and species numbers. Photos courtesy Sam Shannon E14/171

Facilitating sustainable development Environment Canterbury offices in the Canterbury region Christchurch Timaru Online: www.ecan.govt.nz www.ecan.govt.nz 17 Sir Gil Simpson Drive 75 Church Street Email: [email protected] PO Box 345 PO Box 550 Christchurch 8140 Timaru 7940 Customer Services: Free phone: 0800 324 636 or Christchurch: 03 353 9007