Status of Op Report: Verified Source: Pestlink Operational Report for Norway rat, Ship rat Control in the Oparara Valley 03 Dec 2009 - 04 Feb 2010 10/08/2010 Department of Conservation Buller - Kawatiri Contents 1. Operation Summary...................................................................................................2 2. Introduction................................................................................................................3 2.1 TREATMENT AREA .........................................................................................3 2.2 MANAGEMENT HISTORY...............................................................................4 3 Outcomes and Targets .................................................................................................4 3.1 CONSERVATION OUTCOMES........................................................................4 3.2 TARGETS ............................................................................................................4 3.2.1 Result Targets.................................................................................................4 3.2.2 Outcome Targets............................................................................................4 4 Consultation, Consents & Notifications .......................................................................5 4.1 CONSULTATION...............................................................................................5 4.2 CONSENTS .........................................................................................................5 4.3 NOTIFICATION.................................................................................................5 5 Methods.......................................................................................................................6 5.1 TARGET SPECIES..............................................................................................6 5.2 ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS .........................................................................7 5.2.1 Effects on Non-Target Species .......................................................................7 5.2.2 Effects on Soil and Water Quality...................................................................8 5.2.3 Effects on Ecosystems....................................................................................8 5.2.4 Effects on Human Health...............................................................................8 6 Monitoring Results and Outcomes ...............................................................................8 6.1 RESULT MONITORING - TARGET SPECIES ................................................8 6.2 RESULT MONITORING - ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS............................9 6.3 OUTCOME MONITORING ............................................................................10 Page 2 of 10 1. Operation Summary Operation Name Norway rat, Ship rat Control in Oparara Valley Operation Date 03 Dec 2009 - 04 Feb 2010 Area Office Buller - Kawatiri Conservancy: West Coast Tai Poutini Pestlink Reference 0910BUL02 Treatment Area Size (ha) Oparara Valley 10176.00 Conservation Unit Name(s) Conservation Unit Number(s) Kahurangi National Park M27001 Treatment Block Details Treatment Blocks Size (ha) Oparara Valley 10176.00 Contractor Name Coastwide Helicopters Treatment Dates Start Completion Oparara Valley 03 Dec 2009 04 Feb 2010 Target Pest Details Treatment Control Target Pests Name Blocks Method Oparara Valley Norway rat, Ship rat Pesticide Aerial Pesticide - Aerial rat control in Oparara Valley-(2) Conservation Outcome(s) The conservation objective is to protect from rat predation the locally endemic land snail, Powelliphanta annectens and short tail bats and to protect the fauna and flora values of the area in general. Result Target(s) Treatment Area/Block What we got • Low rat numbers Oparara Valley 0% in tracking tunnels. Outcome Targets What we got • To maintain viable populations of Powelliphanta annectens and protect general flora and fauna values especially short tail bats. Pestlink Ref: 0910BUL02 Date Printed: 12 Aug 2010 Page 3 of 10 2. Introduction 2.1 TREATMENT AREA Non-target species Common Name Scientific Name Prosthemadera Tui novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae Bellbird Anthornis melanura melanura New Zealand pigeon, Kereru Hemiphaga novaeseelandiae Grey Warbler Gerygone igata South Island Rifleman Acanthisitta chloris chloris South Island Fantail Rhipidura fuliginosa fuliginosa Nestor meridionalis South Island Kaka meridionalis Bush falcon Falco novaeseelandiae "bush" Great spotted kiwi Apteryx haastii Yellow-crowned Parakeet Cyanoramphus auriceps Yellowhammer Emberiza citrinella Ninox novaeseelandiae subsp. Morepork novaeseelandiae Long-tailed Cuckoo Eudynamys taitensis Chrysococcyx lucidus subsp. Shining Cuckoo lucidus Western Weka Gallirallus australis australis Kea Nestor notabilis Target benefit species Common Name Scientific Name Large land snail Powelliphanta annectens Mystacina tuberculata Southern short-tailed bat tuberculata (South Island) Threatened species Common Name Scientific Name Mystacina tuberculata Southern short-tailed bat tuberculata (South Island) Nestor meridionalis South Island Kaka meridionalis Great spotted kiwi Apteryx haastii Geographical location Pestlink Ref: 0910BUL02 Date Printed: 12 Aug 2010 Page 4 of 10 The Oparara Valley is situated 18 km NE of Karamea. TREATMENT BLOCK DETAILS: Treatment block Oparara Valley Vegetation type Mixed beech podocarp forest. Bioclimatic zone lowland sub-montane Climate characteristics: Rainfall 3000 mm Temperature: Average Summer 18.0 Average Winter 10.0 Snow level 0 m Altitude 100 - 800 m The area is used for recreational pursuits by the general public. Community and Mostly day visitors looking at the arches and caves and walking Iwi interests the newly formed valley track. The Oparara Valley Trust conducts cave tours and canoe trips within the valley. The Oparara Valley has had a history of gold, and timber Historic sites extraction dating back to the late 1800's. 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 The conservation objective is to protect from rat predation the locally endemic land snail, Powelliphanta annectens and short tail bats and to protect the fauna and flora values of the area in general. 3.2 TARGETS 3.2.1 Result Targets The result targets for the treatment area were: • Low rat numbers in tracking tunnels. 3.2.2 Outcome Targets The outcome targets for the treatment area were: • To maintain viable populations of Powelliphanta annectens and protect general Pestlink Ref: 0910BUL02 Date Printed: 12 Aug 2010 Page 5 of 10 flora and fauna values especially short tail bats. 4 Consultation, Consents & Notifications 4.1 CONSULTATION 02/09/09 - Iwi and the Buller District Council were consulted prior to the operation starting (letters were sent). Hunters are informed of the operation through the Pesticide Summary when applying for a hunting permit. Warning signs were placed along McCallums Mill road from the entrance to the Kahurangi National Park, at the Arch car park and at the start of tracks leading towards the operational area. Consultation outcomes No concerns were raised during the consultation and the operation commenced as planned. Lessons learned When consulting with Iwi post information and follow-up with a phone call. Any minor concerns can then be resolved at that time. 4.2 CONSENTS Consent Consent date File Reference Permission ID DOC 15/07/2008 NHT-02-16-1024 docdm- 500312 Iwi 05/06/2008 NHT-02-16-1024 Buller District Council 03/07/2008 NHT-02-16-1024 WCRC resource consent 20/11/2003 NHT-02-16-1024 MOH 04/06/2008 NHT-02-16-1024 09/397/GRYPH/CB Lessons learned Allow enough time for consultation in the planning stage and request a reply by a set date. 4.3 NOTIFICATION Public notice was put in the Westport News on the 16/10/09, due to delays in sowing the toxic bait (caused by the weather) it was again put in the Westport News on 19/01/10. Hunters were informed when applying for a hunting permit by receiving a copy of the Pesticides Summary. Lessons learned Pestlink Ref: 0910BUL02 Date Printed: 12 Aug 2010 Page 6 of 10 Signs need to be checked more regularly when there is more publicity about 1080 operations due to protest action. 5 Methods 5.1 TARGET SPECIES Treatment Block Oparara Valley Control method Name Target pest species Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial rat Norway rat control in Oparara Ship rat Valley-(2) Target Treatment Block Control Method Name Pest Species Oparara Valley Pesticide - Aerial Pesticide - Aerial rat Norway control in Oparara rat Valley-(2) Ship rat Trade name of pesticide 0.15% 1080 Pellets RS5 Name of pesticide Sodium fluoroacetate Type of bait Cereal pellet Toxic loading 1.5 g/kg Bait quality sampling Not Conducted Bait Details Pre-feed Toxic Bait type Cereal pellet Cereal pellet Lure/mask/deterrent Cinnamon Cinnamon Lure/mask/deterrent 0.02% 0.02% Dye None Green Individual Bait Weight 6.0g 6.0g Sowing Rate Details Pre-feed Toxic Wind Wind Date Rate(kg/ha) Direction Date Rate(kg/ha) Direction Speed Speed 03/12/2009 1.00 Light SW 04/02/2010 2.00 Calm Nil Time between pre-feed and toxic 63 End of Caution Period Date 03/06/2010 Aircraft type Hughes 500D or E Pestlink Ref: 0910BUL02 Date Printed: 12 Aug 2010 Page 7 of 10 Hughes 500NT Number of Aircraft 2 Sowing gear details Description Capacity Underslung