Water quality and ecological health for rivers in the Catlins area
Otago Regional Council Private Bag 1954, 70 Stafford St, Dunedin 9054 Phone 03 474 0827 Fax 03 479 0015 Freephone 0800 474 082 www.orc.govt.nz
© Copyright for this publication is held by the Otago Regional Council. This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part provided the source is fully and clearly acknowledged.
ISBN 978-0-478-37617-3
Prepared by Rachel Ozanne
Published November 2011 Water quality and ecological health for rivers in the Catlins area Page i
Foreword The Otago Regional Council (ORC) carries out regular water quality monitoring as part of its State of Environment programme. It also performs short-term targeted water quality monitoring programmes. This report provides the results from one of these more detailed investigations carried out in the Catlins region.
The Catlins rivers are recognised for retaining historical natural values. All the rivers have a high percentage of native bush in their catchments, and the rivers are considered to have excellent water quality. Farming in the area has traditionally been sheep and beef grazing; however, land use is changing and more intensive farming is now prevalent in the Owaka catchment and is likely to expand.
ORC has a broad range of regulatory and non-regulatory approaches to ensure the water quality in the Catlins region is not only maintained, but also enhanced, where possible. In consultation with the Otago community, ORC is currently putting in place a new water quality strategy and revising its Water Plan to address any water quality issues that may arise from these changes to land use in the Catlins.
The results from this report will be used to guide future policy decisions and will be shared with the community and other stakeholders to promote good practice in order to maintain and enhance water quality in the Catlins region.