Dear Tavisha We Act for Opuha Water Limited (OWL), Submitter No. PC7
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From: Georgina Hamilton To: Plan Hearings Cc: Glenire Farm; "Andrew Mockford"; Julia Crossman; Greg Ryder; Richard Measures; Keri Johnston; Tim Ensor Subject: Plan Change 7: Opuha Water Limited - Evidence Date: Friday, 17 July 2020 5:22:45 pm Attachments: Evidence in chief of Ryan O"Sullivan (OWL) 17.7.20.pdf Evidence in Chief of Andrew Mockford (OWL) 17.7.20.pdf Evidence in Chief of Julia Crossman (OWL) 17.7.20.pdf Quick reference guide (Annexure A to Evidence in Chief of Julia Crossman (OWL)).pdf Evidence in Chief of Richard Measures (OWL) 17.7.20.pdf Evidence in Chief of Keri Johnston (OWL) 17.7.20.pdf Evidence in Chief of Dr Gregory Ryder (AMWG & OWL) 17.7.20.pdf Evidence in Chief of Tim Ensor (OWL) 17.7.20.pdf Dear Tavisha We act for Opuha Water Limited (OWL), submitter no. PC7-381. We attach for filing, in relation to the above matter, statements of evidence in chief of the following witnesses on behalf of OWL: 1. Ryan O’Sullivan (OWL Board Chair) 2. Andrew Mockford (OWL CEO) 3. Julia Crossman (OWL Environmental Manager) 4. Dr Greg Ryder (Lake Opuha - water quality) – note this statement of evidence addresses matters also pertaining to the submissions of the Adaptive Management Working Group (AMWG) and has also been filed with other AMWG evidence today. 5. Richard Measures (water quality) 6. Keri Johnston (hydrology/allocation) 7. Tim Ensor (planning) We note that: Annexure A to the evidence of Ms Crossman comprises a “Quick Reference Guide” providing a location map and key information regarding the Opuha Scheme. This is also attached as a separate document for the assistance of the Hearings Commissioners. a flyover video of the Opihi catchment accompanies Mr Mockford’s evidence. A link is provided within Mr Mockford’s evidence by which the video can be accessed ( https://youtu.be/Kp6IuxCqWsk ). The video is also downloadable in mp3 format from the following link, which can then be shared/posted (e.g. on ECan’s PC7 webpage): https://we.tl/t-YgyExCMmGF Kind regards Georgina Hamilton Partner Level 1, 24 The Terrace, TIMARU 7910 | PO Box 244, TIMARU 7940 PHONE: 03 687 8004 | DDI: 03 687 8065 | MOBILE: 027 686 9252 | FAX: 03 684 4584 EMAIL: [email protected] NOTE: The information contained in this email (and any accompanying documents) is CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION and may also be LEGALLY PRIVILEGED, and is intended only for the individual or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any use, review, dissemination, distribution or copying of this document is strictly prohibited. If you have received this document in error, please immediately notify us by telephoning 0800 684 882 and destroy the original message. Gresson Dorman & Co accepts no responsibility for changes made to this email or to any attachments after transmission. BEFORE INDEPENDANT HEARING COMMISSIONERS APPOINTED BY THE CANTERBURY REGIONAL COUNCIL UNDER: the Resource Management Act 1991 IN THE MATTER OF: Proposed Plan Change 7 to the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan – Section 14: Orari-Temuka-Opihi-Pareora ___________________________________________________________________________ STATEMENT OF EVIDENCE OF DR GREGORY IAN RYDER ON BEHALF OF THE ADAPTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKING GROUP (SUBMITTER NO. PC7-385) AND OPUHA WATER LIMITED (SUBMITTER NO. PC7-381) Dated: 17 July 2020 ___________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ GRESSON DORMAN & CO Solicitors PO Box 244, Timaru 7940 Telephone 03 687 8004 Facsimile 03 684 4584 Solicitor acting: G C Hamilton [email protected] GH-148305-1-361-V1 2 CONTENTS 1 Introduction, background & experience ..................................................................... 3 2 Code of Conduct ....................................................................................................... 3 3 Scope of evidence ..................................................................................................... 3 4 Executive summary ................................................................................................... 4 5 Hydrology and proposed minimum flows ................................................................... 6 6 Overview of ecology and Water quality of the Opuha and lower Opihi Rivers ............ 9 7 Minimum flows ........................................................................................................ 16 8 Lake Opuha ............................................................................................................ 27 GH-148305-1-4114-V1 3 1 INTRODUCTION, BACKGROUND & EXPERIENCE My full name is Gregory Ian Ryder. My background, qualifications and experience, and involvement in PC7 were set out in my brief of evidence presented on behalf of the Flow and Allocation Working Party (FAWP). 2 CODE OF CONDUCT I confirm that I have read the Code of Conduct for expert witnesses contained in the Environment Court’s Practice Note as updated in 2014. My evidence has been prepared in compliance with that Code. In particular, unless I state otherwise, this evidence is within my area of expertise and I have not omitted to consider material facts known to me that might alter or detract from the opinions I express. 3 SCOPE OF EVIDENCE In this brief of evidence, I address the effects of abstraction and associated flow regimes on the water quality and ecology the Opuha River, lower Opihi River and Milford Lagoon. I also provide some comments on the water quality of Lake Opuha. My evidence is structured as follows: (a) An overview of the water quality and ecological values of the Opuha River and lower Opihi River. (b) Information on flow and habitat requirements for species and life stages relevant to these rivers. Habitat retention is assessed in relation to various proposed flow regimes put forward under PC7 and the Adaptive Management Working Group (AMWG). (c) The benefits of artificial freshes. (d) Effects on the Milford Lagoon and the Opihi River mouth; (e) Lake Opuha (relating to the submission of Opuha Water Limited on Tables 14(b), (e) and (f)). GH-148305-1-4114-V1 4 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Phosphorus concentrations in the lower Opihi River are generally low while DIN concentrations are elevated and in band C of the draft 2019 NPS-FM. Concentrations of ammoniacal nitrogen and nitrate nitrogen are low with respect to toxicity. E. coli levels place the river at Saleyards in either band A or band B of the draft 2019 NPS-FM. Phormidium is a recognised problem in the lower Opihi River and is probably linked to nutrient levels, warm temperatures and stable flows. Benthic invertebrate community health index scores have ranged between excellent and fair, and the lower scores are likely to be linked to the combined influence of nutrients, temperature and stable flows. The fish community of the Opuha River is dominated by brown trout, but its angling amenity is marred by Didymo, which flourishes in the river. The native fish community is similar to that found in the lower Opihi and Te Ana Wai rivers, and includes Canterbury galaxias, common and upland bully, longfin and shortfin eel, lamprey and torrentfish. Water quality in Milford Lagoon is generally good, with relatively low E. coli and DRP levels, however DIN are elevated and often exceed 1 mg/L. Lagoon temperature appears to be driven primary by the temperatures of incoming water from the lower Opihi River, which in turn is determined largely by climate, and to some extent by the degree of mouth closure. The effects of monthly minimum flows on the lower Opihi River instream ecology were assessed using instream habitat data and associated modelling undertaken by NIWA on behalf of ECan. Habitat retention under the monthly minimum flows in Table 14(v) and Table 14(w) of PC7 was compared against the monthly minimum flows proposed by the AMWG. There are some predicted losses in habitat for juvenile brown trout and juvenile salmon under the AMWG's January and February minimum flows relative to PC7 flows, and gains in juvenile brown trout habitat in the months of March, April and October. The AMWG minimum flows over the salmon spawning season provide more habitat than is the case under PC7. The AMWG's minimum flows over the brown trout spawning season provide better conditions than do those in PC7's Table 14(w). All minimum flow GH-148305-1-4114-V1 5 regimes considered provide similar habitat availability for algae species. The time between freshes is considered to be the main factor controlling nuisance periphyton growths, not the size of the minimum flow. The AMWG's monthly minimum flow regime provides adequate instream habitat in the Opuha and lower Opihi rivers for key species and life stages under low flow conditions. Minimum flows are considered to have relatively little effect on the extent and duration of nuisance algae growths in the Opuha and lower Opihi rivers. Floods and freshes are the primary mechanism for their removal through increasing the sheer stress on the bed and increasing the abrasive force of sediment movement along the bed. Modelling of the PC7’s Alternative Management rules by Mr Kerr found that the lower Opihi River would not be able to maintain the PC7's minimum flow regime for the February to April 2015 and March to April in 2016 period when the catchment faced drought conditions, and Lake Opuha would empty. This would not occur under the AMWG’s proposed regime which would maintain ecological flows of 3 cumecs more often than under PC7. From an ecological perspective,