EPA Report: Verified Source: Pestlink Operational Report for Possum, Ship rat Control in the Dart Routeburn Caples BFOB 2016

21 Sep 2016 - 20 Oct 2016 19/04/2017 Department of Conservation Wakatipu Contents 1. Operation Summary

Operation Name Possum, Ship rat Control in Dart Routeburn Caples BFOB 2016 Operation Date 21 Sep 2016 - 20 Oct 2016 District Wakatipu Region: Southern Pestlink Reference 1617WAK01 Treatment Area Dart Routeburn Caples BFOB 2016 Size (ha) 19400.00 Conservation Unit Name(s) GA Id(s) Caples Valley Conservation Covenant 2791738 Conservation Area - Lower Dart 2800633 Mount Aspiring National Park 2801099

Treatment Block Details Treatment Blocks Size (ha) Grid Ref GIS Ref Routeburn Dart Caples 19400.00 CB10

Contractor Name Helicopters Otago

Treatment Dates Start Completion Routeburn Dart Caples 21 Sep 2016 20 Oct 2016

Target Pest Details Target Treatment Blocks Control Method Name Pests Routeburn Dart Caples Possum, Pesticide Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Routeburn Ship rat Dart Caples-(1)

Conservation Outcome(s) That birdlife in the Dart, Caples and Routeburn Valleys are not impacted on in Beech Mast event years. Species such as Mohua, Long Tailed Bats, Whio, , Kaka, Rock Wren, and the Bush Robin maintain long term viable populations. trapping networks in these valleys provide adequate protection in non mast years.

Result Target(s) Treatment Area/Block What we got • Dart Routeburn Caples BFOB 4 2016

Outcome Targets What we got monitoring yet to be carried • out. Bat monitoring only shows long term trends

2. Introduction

2.1 TREATMENT AREA

Non-target species Common Name Scientific Name Dog Canis familiaris Cattle Bos taurus

Target benefit species Common Name Scientific Name , Toutouwai, Petroica australis australis kakaruai, kakariwai Petroica macrocephala Mohua, Yellowhead, bush ochrocephala canary, mohoua, houa , Whio, mountain Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos duck, blue mountain duck Rock Wren Xenicus gilviventris South Island Kaka, bush parrot, Nestor meridionalis meridionalis brown parrot, kawkaw Long-tailed bat Chalinolobus tuberculatus

Threatened species Common Name Scientific Name South Island Kaka, bush parrot, Nestor meridionalis meridionalis brown parrot, kawkaw Blue duck, Whio, mountain Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos duck, blue mountain duck Long-tailed bat Chalinolobus tuberculatus Rock Wren Xenicus gilviventris Kea Nestor notabilis

Geographical location The Dart Routeburn Caples BFOB 2016 is situated 21 km North of Glenorchy.

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TREATMENT BLOCK DETAILS: Treatment block Routeburn Dart Caples Vegetation type Beech Forest, sub alpine scrub river flats Bioclimatic zone sub-montane sub-alpine Climate characteristics: Rainfall 2500 mm Temperature: Average Summer 10.0 Average Winter 4.0 Snow level 1500 m Altitude 400 - 1200 m Community and Iwi Both Southland and Otago Runanga interests Historic sites NA

2.2 MANAGEMENT HISTORY Management history was not chosen to be shown in this operational report. This history is, however, available via Pestlink 3 Outcomes and Targets 3.1 CONSERVATION OUTCOMES That birdlife in the Dart, Caples and Routeburn Valleys are not impacted on in Beech Mast event years. Species such as Mohua, Long Tailed Bats, Whio, Kea, Kaka, Rock Wren, and the Bush Robin maintain long term viable populations. Stoat trapping networks in these valleys provide adequate protection in non mast years. 3.2 TARGETS 3.2.1 Result Targets The result targets for the treatment area were:

3.2.2 Outcome Targets The outcome targets for the treatment area were:

4 Consultation, Consents & Notifications 4.1 CONSULTATION hunter groups, local community groups, adjoining landowners, concessionaires..

See communication plans doccm-2835457 and 2786635

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Consultation outcomes ongoing operation like the Dart, Caples, Routeburn are keeping both stakeholders and the general public well informed of operations Lessons learned No significant lessons for 2016 4.2 CONSENTS Consent Consent date File Reference Permission ID Resource consent 25/08/2016 RM16.153.01 DOC consent 05/09/2016 2863772 MOH Consent 08/09/2016 16/58/MLC/DUNPH

Lessons learned See op review document for site and national summary 4.3 NOTIFICATION Police, schools, vets, public notices as per SOP Lessons learned No issues. If operations delayed need to ensure notifications current 5 Methods 5.1 TARGET SPECIES Treatment Block Routeburn Dart Caples Control method Name Target pest species Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Possum Routeburn Dart Caples-(1) Ship rat

Target Treatment Block Control Method Name Pest Species Routeburn Dart Caples Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial in Routeburn Dart Possum Caples-(1) Ship rat Trade name of pesticide 0.15% 1080 Pellets RS5 Name of pesticide Type of bait Cereal pellet Toxic loading 1.5 g/kg Bait quality sampling Not Conducted Bait Details Bait type Pre-feed Toxic Lure/ mask/ deterrent Cereal pellet Cereal pellet Lure/ mask/ deterrent Cinnamon Cinnamon 0.00% 0.00% Dye None Green Individual Bait Weight 6.0g 6.0g

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Sowing Rate Details Pre-feed Wind Date Rate(kg/ha) Speed Direction 21/09/2016 1.00 Light South

Toxic Wind Direction Date Rate(kg/ha) Speed 20/10/2016 1.00 Light South

Time between pre-feed 29 and toxic

End of Caution Period 20/07/2017 Date Aircraft type Jet Ranger LongRanger Squirrel AS 350 Other Number of Aircraft 6 Sowing gear details Description Capacity standard agri buckets 900 kg

Type of navigational guidance capable of transferring and downloading data (esri system used shapefiles) via USB flashdrive

Loading Method Hiabs and loaders

Complaints and Incidents NA Other Details about this method NA Deviations from planned operation NA Lessons Learned NA

5.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 5.2.1 Effects on Non-Target Species Dogs, stock Performance standard(s) Followed? Monitored ?

Effectiveness of performance standards Farmers offered muzzles but due to ongoing operation they are less concerned than previous operations

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Bykill of non-target species 1 deer reported dead, no native species reported dead 5.2.2 Effects on Soil and Water Quality - Effects on Soil and Water Quality Not Applicable 5.2.3 Effects on Ecosystems - Effects on Ecosystems Not Applicable 5.2.4 Effects on Human Health All best practice, consent conditions and SOP guidelines followed. No impacts on human health Performance standard(s) Followed? Monitored ?

Effectiveness of performance standards No samples tested positive for 1080 6 Monitoring Results and Outcomes 6.1 RESULT MONITORING - TARGET SPECIES Result target(s)

6.1.1 Target Species Monitoring Tracking tunnels Method: Species monitored Ship rat - Rattus rattus in Dart Routeburn Caples BFOB 2016 Monitor method details tracking tunnel lines established within and outside 1080 control block Deviations NA Target pest result details Pre During/Post Monitoring dates August 2016 Nov 2016 Results 9 4

Result target met? Yes Lessons Learned NA 6.1.2 Target Species Monitoring Tracking tunnels Method: Species monitored Ship rat - Rattus rattus in Dart Routeburn Caples BFOB 2016 Monitor method details tracking tunnel lines established within and outside 1080 control block Deviations NA

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Target pest result details Pre During/Post Monitoring dates August 2016 November 2016 Results 9 4

Result target met? Yes Lessons Learned NA

6.2 RESULT MONITORING - ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS 6.2.1 Non Target Species No monitoring of non target species was undertaken. 6.2.2 Soil and Water Quality No monitoring of soil and water quality was undertaken. 6.2.3 Ecosystems No monitoring of ecosystems was undertaken. 6.2.4 Human Health No monitoring of human health was undertaken.

6.3 OUTCOME MONITORING Outcome targets

6.3.1 Outcome monitoring : Blue duck, Whio, mountain duck, blue mountain duck - Hymenolaimus malacorhynchos Long-tailed bat - Chalinolobus tuberculatus Mohua, Yellowhead, bush canary, mohoua, houa - Mohoua ochrocephala Monitoring Method(s) Monitoring information due date 10/17 Monitoring contact name Mark Mawhinney, Wakatipu Method details 5 minute bird counts, Mohua transects, bat transects Monitoring dates Outcome Results Bird monitoring yet to be carried out. Bat monitoring only shows long term trends Outcome target met? Monitoring incomplete Lessons Learned NA

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