Enhancing life in our waterways

Regulation is often necessary to ensure that there is a level playing field. Part IV and V of the Tasman Resource Management Plan (TRMP) contain most of the relevant rules to protect stream life.

• Part IV has rules for undertaking works in streams such as straightening of streams as well as any disturbance of the bed and banks, particularly in respect to timing of works in relation to fish spawning (inanga and trout)
• Part V has rules for taking water, damming, or diverting water

Both an overview and the full volume of the TRMP can be found here.

The Tasman rural hub also has information regarding the rules and regulations for freshwater management and development:

Tasman rural sector rules

Freshwater Farm Plans

Improving a degraded stream can be a slow but rewarding project, with the goal being to improve the natural variety all streams should have. This variety might look like a streambed with stones, cobbles, sand, and woody debris. It also includes streams that may appear uneven with bends and curves to create areas of fast and slow-moving water. All of the below methods are used to give our fish and invertebrate species a range of potential habitat types, which can enhance our waterways as a whole.

Fencing

Streams that flow through livestock farms are at risk for pollution from the stock. To limit the amount of waste that enters a stream, fences are recommended. These form a riparian buffer of ground that can be used for naturally filtering dirty water before it reaches a stream. The general rule is that the larger your buffer, the more effective the filtering process will be. 

There are a few considerations to think of before putting any stakes in the ground:

• What is the slope and soil condition of your land? Having a steep bank towards a stream can mean a wider buffer zone is needed to allow for adequate filtering in soil. 
• What do you plan to plant (if anything) in your buffer zone? It is highly recommended to plant up the area between the fence and the stream with native plants to help with shade and erosion control. Because some plants require more space than others it is important to know what you plan to grow before you build.
• Do you know the geography of your stream? Fencing off stretches of your stream is most useful when stock are also excluded from the springs and drains that meet the stream. Pollution upstream will still affect the downstream stretch, so we recommend looking at your catchment as a whole and working with your neighbours.

Room for the river

Allowing rivers to reclaim areas that they would naturally flood into is part of allowing streams to grow and change overtime.

When your river has room to meander and flood, the environmental value of your property can improve. The area around a stream provides habitat and wetland expansion for native birds and fish, potentially forming successful long-term ecosystems. Leaving undeveloped space around a stream on your property means there is room for it to reshape and develop overtime. 

Willow Removal 

Willow trees can cause a number of issues in streams because of their large root systems. They can create blockages and reduce stream flows because they take up so much water. While the removal process may disturb sediment and cause some erosion initially, in the long-term they shade out native plantings you may have if they aren't removed. Getting professional help for willow removal is recommended because of the dangers with tree felling. 

Plant Native Trees

Native tree planting is one of the easiest and most common ways to improve stream health, it is an accessible and reasonably inexpensive process that improves shading and reduces the erosion potential of streams. Riparian planting of native trees, shrubs, and other vegetation can greatly enhance habitat, especially when plants overhang the stream. The benefits include keeping the water cool, providing insects for fish to eat, and providing woody debris for habitat. Community stream planting can be a great engagement technique for an area, as well as easing the workload. You may even consider starting your own catchment group.

If you are interested in starting a catchment group, please contact the Council Freshwater Improvement Team at freshwaterimprovements@tasman.govt.nz, or you can contact Landcare Trust.

Let us know 

Report anything that does not seem right to you. This could include:

• Work, particularly with diggers in waterways, may not be authorised and could cause damage to stream life
• Culverts or other structures that may be fish passage barriers
• Water pollution. This may be identified by a bad smell, poor water appearance, run-off from agriculture, or discharge from a pipe.

Note: If you provide photos it will greatly assist us in determining the urgency of the issue.

Helpful Resources

Catchment Groups

Cows out of Creeks (pdf 205 KB)

Riparian Fencing Setback Distances (pdf 914 KB)

As New Zealand’s freshwater legislation is changing to prioritise riverine health and wairua above human use of freshwater resources, how can we all work together to achieve better ecological outcomes? 

This was a question that our staff, contractors and community representatives considered during a well-received workshop around improving the ecological health of rivers, managing river hazards and protecting infrastructure associated with it. 

Senior Resource Scientist Freshwater & Estuarine Ecology Trevor James ran Council’s first Stream Ecological Rehabilitation Workshop in late-2021 with members of our Environmental Information, Community Infrastructure and Environmental Policy teams.  

The workshop began with an online presentation which discussed biodiversity and habitat in the Tasman District, in-stream ecological engineering for freshwater habitat improvement, fluvial geomorphology considerations for freshwater improvement projects, and the Freshwater legislation and its future implementation.   

You can check out a recording of it here. 

Workshop participants also saw first hand the results of a major collaborative work program to redirect Borck Creek through Richmond’s Berryfields subdivision. Ecological engineering principles were effectively implemented to return Borck Creek to a more natural pattern of flow and improve the diversity of habitats.

Great discussions were had regarding the challenges to balance engineering constraints and ecological goals within the project. A stream walk through the various habitats designed into the river plan highlighted successes and lessons that can be applied to future projects. 

The workshop was such a success with the team happy to run future workshops on demand.