NZFFA
NZFFA March 2022 Newsletter
{name} - Welcome to Your Newsletter

Editor's Note:

 

Welcome to the March issue. You may note that we are still a tad light on content this month, with several of our regular commentators still away hunting and/or fishing.

 

As always though, if you have any contributions you feel would be of interest to other Members, please send  them through to editor@nzffa.com

 

Could be a letter to the editor, or perhaps and article from one of your own Club newsletters.

 

Looking forward to your help with April's edition.

Better late than never!

NIWA staff installing an automatic sediment recorder below the gates of the Oakden canal 29 March 2022

Just Checking

On returning from the Coast I made a diversion to see if Trustpower was diverting the Wilberforce flows into Lake Coleridge given the Rakaia River was running below the March minimum flow of 105 m3/sec.

Lake Coleridge was low and the Oakden canal was not flowing. Good.

NIWA

I took the opportunity to ask the NIWA crew what they were working on and was advised they were installing a sediment recorder in order that Ecan and Trustpower would be able to measure compliance with CRC consent CRC173073.

I was aware of previous CRC consents issued to ECNZ regarding the amount of sediment allowed to enter Lake Coleridge via the Harper River and Wilberforce River diversions.

According to the NIWA crew, it would not have been possible to measure the sediment without a device such as they were installing.

When I asked about the lack of flow in the Oakden canal I was informed that Trustpower’s digger driver is presently off work due to COVID.

When I asked if a similar device was planned for the Harper River diversion I received a look of amusement.

 

Harper River Diversion

The delta formed at the head of Lake Coleridge by the Harper River Diversion

The bridge over the Harper diversion has recently been replaced after the previous bridge was washed out. Evidence Trustpower had allowed a massive flood through this canal

 

Further Investigation required

Decades ago my father and I used to fish the junction of the Wilberforce and Rakaia Rivers while jet boating to the Hydra Waters confluence further upstream.

There were usually a few salmon waiting to run up the Wilberforce as well as some feisty rainbow trout in the lower Wilberforce pools.

CRC consent CRC172936 stipulates only 3 m3/sec of residual flow immediately downstream of Trustpower’s dams need be left in the Wilberforce River.

It seems likely such a low flow would be lost to groundwater before the downstream confluence with the Rakaia River?

If this were the case a significant number of returning adult salmon would be blocked from the upstream Wilberforce River tributaries.

Conversely if adult salmon could negotiate this stretch of the Wilberforce, are there fish screens to prevent the returning juveniles from being diverted into Lake Coleridge?

The Rakaia River NWCO

The NZFFA, NZ Salmon Anglers and other river advocates are waiting for a reply from a letter NZFFA sent to David Parker requesting a meeting to discuss Ecan’s apparent failure to give effect to the minimum flows proscribed in the amended Rakaia River NWCO 1988.

We will post an update when we get a reply.

 Dr Peter Trolove

President
NZFFA

 

[Some relevant CRC consents attached below]

CRC173082

Client Name

Trustpower Limited

Consent Location

Lake Coleridge Power Station, LAKE COLERIDGE

State

Issued - Active

To

to discharge water from the Harper Diversion Canal to Lake Coleridge at or about map reference K34:849-736

Commencement Date

24 Dec 1996

Date This Consent Number Issued

28 Oct 2016

Expiry Date

19 Dec 2031

Please note there has been a change to how we represent the date fields. The ‘Date This Consent Number Issued’ is the date this version of the consent was issued. The ‘Commencement Date’ is when the original version of this consent was issued as per s116 of the Resource Management Act 1991.

  • 1

The maximum rate of discharge from the Harper Diversion Canal shall be 40 cumecs.

  • 2

The consent holder shall maintain a record of when the diversion of water through the Harper Diversion is shut off and shall make such record available to the Canterbury Regional Council on request.

  • 3

The cosnent holder shall carry out further delta surveys using the sites and methods used by R M Kirk and J C Allen as detailed in the Report W42 to the Lake Coleridge Working Party:

    1. at five year intervals and;
    2. one survey after an extreme natural event such as when the lake level exceeds the maximum operating level of 509.4 metres or is below the minimum ooperating level of 505.6 metres. The first survey under (i) above shall be undertaken within three years from the date of commencement of this consent. A report in writing on each survey shall be made to the Canterbury Regional Council.
  • 4

The consent holder shall advise the North Canterbury Fish and Game Council as soon as is practicable of the intention to close the Harper Diversion Intake gates to facilitate the salvage of fish in the Harper Diversion Canal.

  • 5

The consent holder shall take such measures as the Canterbury Regional Council may reasonably require to remedy or mitigate the effects of damage from erosion caused to property of other persons by the consent holders operations in the exercise of this consent.

  • 6

The provisions of Section 125 of the Resource Management Act shall not apply until six years from the date of commencement of this consent.

  • 7

If at any time, the consent holder does not exercise this consent for a continuous period of two years, the consent shall not be cancelled under Section 126 of the Resource Management Act 1991.

  • 8

The Canterbury Regional Council may annually, on the last working day of June, serve notice of its intention to review the conditions of this consent for the purposes of:

    1. dealing with any adverse effect on the environment which may arise from the exercise of the consent and which is appropriate to deal with at a later stage; or
    2. requiring the adoption of the best practicable option to remove or reduce any adverse effect on the environment; or
    3. complying with the requirements of a relevant rule in an operative regional plan.
  • 9

Charges, set in accordance with section 36 of the Resource Management Act 1991, shall be paid to the Regional Council for the carrying out of its functions in relation to the administration, monitoring and supervision of resource consents and for the carrying out of its functions under section 35 of the Act.

  

CRC172936

Client Name

Trustpower Limited

Consent Location

Lake Coleridge Power Station, WILBERFORCE RIVER

State

Issued - Active

To

to dam water in the Wilberforce River by means of a series of temporary gravel weirs/embankment at or about map reference K34:815-774

Commencement Date

24 Dec 1996

Date This Consent Number Issued

28 Oct 2016

Expiry Date

19 Dec 2031

Please note there has been a change to how we represent the date fields. The ‘Date This Consent Number Issued’ is the date this version of the consent was issued. The ‘Commencement Date’ is when the original version of this consent was issued as per s116 of the Resource Management Act 1991.

  • 1

The consent holder shall maintain a surface flow of water in the Wilberforce immediately downstream of the diversion bank which by estimation shall not be less than three cumecs.

  • 2

The consent holder shall take such measures as the Canterbury Regional Council may reasonably require to remedy or mitigate the effects of damage from erosion caused to property of other persons by the consent holders operations in the exercise of this consent.

  • 3

The Canterbury Regional Council may annually, on the last working day of June, serve notice of its intention to review the conditions of this consent for the purposes of:

    1. dealing with any adverse effect on the environment which may arise from the exercise of the consent and which is appropriate to deal with at a later stage; or
    2. requiring the adoption of the best practicable option to remove or reduce any adverse effect on the environment; or
    3. complying with the requirements of a relevant rule in an operative regional plan.
  • 4

Charges, set in accordance with section 36 of the Resource Management Act 1991, shall be paid to the Regional Council for the carrying out of its functions in relation to the administration, monitoring and supervision of resource consents and for the carrying out of its functions under section 35 of the Act.

 

CRC173073

Client Name

Trustpower Limited

Consent Location

Lake Coleridge Power Station, WILBERFORCE RIVER

State

Issued - Active

To

to discharge water from the Oakden Canal to Lake Coleridge at or about map reference K34:837-740

Commencement Date

24 Dec 1996

Date This Consent Number Issued

28 Oct 2016

Expiry Date

19 Dec 2031

Please note there has been a change to how we represent the date fields. The ‘Date This Consent Number Issued’ is the date this version of the consent was issued. The ‘Commencement Date’ is when the original version of this consent was issued as per s116 of the Resource Management Act 1991.

  • 1

The maximum rate of discharge from the Oakden Canal shall be 50 cumecs.

  • 2

When the suspended sediment content of the discharge to Lake Coleridge is likely to exceed 350 tonnes per day, the consent holder shall take immediate steps to cease the discharge until such time as the suspended sediment content of the discharge is unlikely to exceed 350 tonnes per day.

  • 3

The consent holder shall maintain a record of when the diversion of water through the Wilberforce Diversion Canal is shut off and shall make such record available to the Canterbury Regional Council on request.

  • 4

CRC173073

Client Name

Trustpower Limited

Consent Location

Lake Coleridge Power Station, WILBERFORCE RIVER

State

Issued - Active

To

to discharge water from the Oakden Canal to Lake Coleridge at or about map reference K34:837-740

Commencement Date

24 Dec 1996

Date This Consent Number Issued

28 Oct 2016

Expiry Date

19 Dec 2031

Please note there has been a change to how we represent the date fields. The ‘Date This Consent Number Issued’ is the date this version of the consent was issued. The ‘Commencement Date’ is when the original version of this consent was issued as per s116 of the Resource Management Act 1991.

  • 1

The maximum rate of discharge from the Oakden Canal shall be 50 cumecs.

  • 2

When the suspended sediment content of the discharge to Lake Coleridge is likely to exceed 350 tonnes per day, the consent holder shall take immediate steps to cease the discharge until such time as the suspended sediment content of the discharge is unlikely to exceed 350 tonnes per day.

  • 3

The consent holder shall maintain a record of when the diversion of water through the Wilberforce Diversion Canal is shut off and shall make such record available to the Canterbury Regional Council on request.

  • 4

The consent holder shall continuously measure and record the levels of turbidity of the water in the Oakden Canal except when the diversion is shut off.

  • 5

The consent holder shall, for a period of five years from the date of commencement of this consent:

    1. undertake at six-monthly intervals, surveys of the macrophyte communities of Lake Coleridge, in particular respect of species, abundance, cover and biomass estimates.
    2. undertake three surveys at two-yearly intervals at three selected sites and at two depths of macroinvertebrates in Lake Coleridge in particular respect of species and abundance
    3. continuously monitor the levels of water on Lake Coleridge using the Lake Coleridge datum as a reference
    4. undertake a creel survey every year
    5. measure and record samples of scales and otoliths from fish caught in the lake at the time the creel survey is carried out
    6. the consent holder shall supply such records and the results of surveys undertaken in an annual report to the Canterbury Regional Council
    7. the consent holder shall prepare a final report with a sumary and interpretation of the results of the surveys carried out under this condition and shall provide a copy of the report to the Canterbury Regional Council by 31 March 2002.
  • 6

The consent holder shall measure the secchi depth of the lake water monthly at a mid-lake location.

  • 7

The consent holder may apply for a change or cancellation of condition (6) of this consent at any time after five years from the date of commencement of this consent.

  • 8

The Canterbury Regional Council may annually, on the last working day of June, serve notice of its intention to review the conditions of this consent for the purposes of:

    1. dealing with any adverse effect on the environment which may arise from the exercise of the consent and which is appropriate to deal with at a later stage; or
    2. requiring the adoption of the best practicable option to remove or reduce any adverse effect on the environment; or
    3. complying with the requirements of a relevant rule in an operative regional plan; or
    4. requiring a reduction in the suspended sediment content in the discharge to Lake Coleridge through the Oakden Canal; or
    5. extending or reviewing the period of the surveys required under conidtion (5) of this consent.
  • 9

Charges, set in accordance with section 36 of the Resource Management Act 1991, shall be paid to the Regional Council for the carrying out of its functions in relation to the administration, monitoring and supervision of resource consents and for the carrying out of its functions under section 35 of the Act.

  • 5

The consent holder shall, for a period of five years from the date of commencement of this consent:

    1. undertake at six-monthly intervals, surveys of the macrophyte communities of Lake Coleridge, in particular respect of species, abundance, cover and biomass estimates.
    2. undertake three surveys at two-yearly intervals at three selected sites and at two depths of macroinvertebrates in Lake Coleridge in particular respect of species and abundance
    3. continuously monitor the levels of water on Lake Coleridge using the Lake Coleridge datum as a reference
    4. undertake a creel survey every year
    5. measure and record samples of scales and otoliths from fish caught in the lake at the time the creel survey is carried out
    6. the consent holder shall supply such records and the results of surveys undertaken in an annual report to the Canterbury Regional Council
    7. the consent holder shall prepare a final report with a sumary and interpretation of the results of the surveys carried out under this condition and shall provide a copy of the report to the Canterbury Regional Council by 31 March 2002.
  • 6

The consent holder shall measure the secchi depth of the lake water monthly at a mid-lake location.

  • 7

The consent holder may apply for a change or cancellation of condition (6) of this consent at any time after five years from the date of commencement of this consent.

  • 8

The Canterbury Regional Council may annually, on the last working day of June, serve notice of its intention to review the conditions of this consent for the purposes of:

    1. dealing with any adverse effect on the environment which may arise from the exercise of the consent and which is appropriate to deal with at a later stage; or
    2. requiring the adoption of the best practicable option to remove or reduce any adverse effect on the environment; or
    3. complying with the requirements of a relevant rule in an operative regional plan; or
    4. requiring a reduction in the suspended sediment content in the discharge to Lake Coleridge through the Oakden Canal; or
    5. extending or reviewing the period of the surveys required under conidtion (5) of this consent.
  • 9

Charges, set in accordance with section 36 of the Resource Management Act 1991, shall be paid to the Regional Council for the carrying out of its functions in relation to the administration, monitoring and supervision of resource consents and for the carrying out of its functions under section 35 of the Act.

In the paddock, and the buried fish.
Until a few years ago most of our family holiday time was spent at Wanaka, courtesy of my in-laws generosity. Fly fishing was a key element of our quality time there. The old house is in new hands now, but I am fortunate enough to have access to a relative's holiday home in Hawea.


Thus the fishing can continue. At the risk of sounding too old; the region's fishing is not what it used to be, especially in the upper Clutha and Lake Wanaka.
I don’t believe that it is the 3,000 boats that were reported on Wanaka at a recent New Year that are to blame. I am sure that it is the didymo and possibly the newer lake snot.
Some places however were less affected this year. Two of them are Lake Dunstan and Paddock Bay on Lake Wanaka; although the weed matting on the base of Paddock Bay has severely reduced the weed beds – as it was designed to do..
I recall, in the first years of didymo, seeing thousands a scraps of dead didymo tissue floating, at all levels, down Lake Dunstan. They looked like discarded sheets of toilet paper. Today it is not a major issue. This Lake is full of trout; in the Clutha Arm at least. The extensive weed beds no doubt ensure this. The top end of the lake has several access points leading to the weed covered shallows.
It is a hopeless task here with a spinning rod, but it is ideal for a floating fly line, bubble or worm fishing. I have seen most of the worm fishing evidence over on the eastern side below the new cycle trail. Some years ago areas of weed were cleared near road access points there to give the worm fishers “a fair go”.
I visited the top end of the Clutha Arm in early January. The lake was unusually low. The newly exposed weed beds made accessing the fish a little more tricky. When they have at least a foot of water over them then all you have to do is drag a floating line over the top, or along the edge and “wham”.
This time it was necessary to ponderously wade through the inner weed beds (up to thigh deep) to get a cast beyond the edge. The fish were rising tantalizingly all along the drop off; just inside, or outside, the outermost line of weed.
The 'special of the day' was 'freshly hatched damsel flies'. I used my own dragon fly nymph however. When I got close enough it was very effective. One fish hit particularly hard. Playing it became a real challenge. My feet were embedded in six inches of silt, and I was in a thick 'jungle' of weeds.
After trying everything else to escape me the fish had a brain wave. He dived down into the carpet of weeds immediately below the area where I had hooked him.


This had not happened to me since last century!
This weed bed was only about a foot deep but somehow he was firmly buried in it. What should I do? If I broke him off the nylon may wrap around the weed and entomb the fish. Gingerly I waded out, and with sideways actions of my boot attempted to dig up the weed where the fish appeared to be.
By this stage the lake water was lapping the top of my chest waders. I was balancing like a ballerina. One toe fixed in the mud and weeds, the other attempting to excavate the fish, one arm rose with the rod extended like a lightning rod and the other holding up the upper lip of my waders. It was male multi-tasking.
The two bubble fishers nearby offered lots a well-meaning but impracticable advice from their deck chairs. I think that it was the highlight of their day.
After about fifteen attempts to free the fish with my boot I had success. The fight renewed, and he again dived into the weed. This time the attempt at self-burial was, fortunately, short lived and I netted him.
The three pounds of energetic brown deserved his release and swam nonchalantly away. I, on the other hand, was almost ready for the proverbial “lie down and a cup of tea”.
I did keep one of my Dunstan fish, a four and a half pound brown; although it probably had about half a pound of snails in it (enough to make it rattle). This is a common feature of the trout that I have kept from Lake Dunstan in recent years.
The next day was Paddock Bay day. Early January, a fine day, and I had it to myself! There were water skiers on the eastern side but only one other fisherman appeared. He lasted 15 minutes and shot through. This location fishes well in light winds or a nor'wester especially before Christmas. The lower than normal lake level did not provide enough water over the weed beds by the line of willows (normally a “hot spot” on a breezy day), so I fished the northern edge of the lake near the car park. Three browns and two rainbows, plus a few sharp “bites” entertained me for the afternoon.  A good tally when the lake is this low.
Several years ago I fished the area when the water was right up in the paddocks. It was also into the main street of Wanaka. I landed two browns in amongst the tussocks – inside the farm fence by simply dropping a Mrs Simpson 30 cm in front of the fossicking fish. I guess you could call it trout farming. The one I opened up had in excess of 50 earthworms in its stomach. It had clearly spent some time in between the clumps of grass. Its' own personal “worm farm”!
Rex N. Gibson


Opinion by John B Henderson 

The late John B Henderson was national president of the NZ Deerstalkers Association. He wrote many editorials in NZDA’s magazine “NZ Wildlife”. In this editorial of Autumn 1973, he wrote of the relationship between politics and the outdoors. 

When too many say they aren’t interested in politics, John spells out that there’s no other choice - if you care. 

He reflects on the 1972 election when the National government were ousted by the Norm Kirk-led Labour Part with environmental and outdoor issues to the fore. These are extracts.


© John B Henderson - "Politics and environment are nothing more and nothing less than cause and effect."

If there were any doubts in the past that the great public debates involving the environment conservation and outdoor recreation were politics issues, then the hard lessons driven home by the general election should have spelled them for all but the myopic.

An entrenched government paid the price for the many forms of environmental destruction they were either directly responsible for or which they had allowed to happen. and for their neglect, were unceremoniously bundled out of office.

Did the previous National government think it had any friends at all with respect to their blundering with the public’s Lakes Manapouri - Te Anau? (The defeated government wanted to raise the lakes both in a National Park to provide power to a foreign owned aluminium smelter)

Did they catch one single vote in that long, immensely costly and stupid trout farming debacle? - the blatant attempt to commercialise a sporting fish and the most popular recreational pursuit in New Zealand, for pin money? Did they not read the newspaper columns or sense the massive wave of protest that ran through the angling fraternity for more than three years and made enemies of thousands of ordinary placid anglers?

Did that government make one ounce of sense in trying to defend a dozen or so weird land deals they arranged a blessing for, involving secret negotiations with respect to public land, the sale of first class farm land to foreign absentee owners?

We now have a different government and it is hoped the public will be just as diligent in examining its record at the next election in 1975. On the credit side we have already seen action that killed he trout farming bill and moves with respect to lakes Manapouri and Te Anau that look promising.

To those naive souls who continue to bleat that conservation, fishing, shooting and hunting and politics don’t mix I say that is precisely what those who pull the big strings want you to believe - you will continue to do so at your peril.

If the system fails, it is because the government has failed.

Politics and environment are nothing more and nothing less than cause and effect. 

A refreshing week in South Westland

 

Horseshoe hut in the Moeraki River Valley first period of the roar 2022

 

The Coast is experiencing something of a drought these past few weeks so my hunting mate and I had a perfect weather for our annual hunt for a change.

The Moeraki River was low and crystal clear reminding me how healthy an unmodified river can be.

Lots of trout have come up from the lake in anticipation of spawning and were present throughout the length of the river.

Several pairs of blue ducks

Plentiful native fish spooked in the shallow margins. Sadly it was a bit too warm and too early for the stags to be roaring. There was a reasonable amount of sign given the number of decomposing carcases present, probably by-kill from an earlier aerial 1080 application in the “battle for the birds”?

Despite the glass like surface and clear shallow pools the trout fishing was excellent.

 

 

Peter Trolove

Wider Benefits of Going Outdoors

by Tony Orman 

            Outdoor sports have modified with modern pursuits of frenetic activity like mountain marathons, mountain bikes and bush runs and others and a strong sense of competitiveness.

                It doesn’t need to be competitive, in fact passive recreation like fishing, hiking and hunting are probably more beneficial to mental wellness. This is particularly relevant to disturbing trends that as one commentator put it “children are losing their wilderness hours at an alarming rate” plus the related aspect that obesity, mental health and suicide rates among young people are shockingly and therefore totally unacceptably high.

                Going outdoors into the wilderness does not have to be frenetic nor competitive, but can be relatively passive yet giving aerobic physical exercise and mental therapy.

               A recent trend overseas has been to “eco-therapy,” deliberately seeking a close association with nature. Avenues can be several such as by walking, cycling, fishing, hunting, canoeing, four wheel driving and other outdoor recreation mediums.

               For youngsters the outdoors is an indispensable class-room.  The sweet success of catching a trout or perhaps a kahawai, shooting a rabbit, climbing a mountain or canoeing a river builds self-esteem. Tramping, fishing and hunting encourage observation, analytical reasoning and a respect for Nature.

               But sadly today some youths often just in their early teens, are committing heinous crimes or indulging in senseless vandalism and irresponsible behaviour. Because of a mixture of boredom,  bewilderment and a feeling of helplessness, youngsters are lashing out. Their confidence for the future is often uncertain and self-esteem is frequently low.

               Young people have energies to burn which if not channelled down the right path, have the potential to go awry.        

Egalitarian

               In New Zealand’s egalitarian society, anyone can fish or hunt. It’s a legacy the first European settlers instilled into the new colony in order to escape the feudal system of Britain where for example, the best trout fishing, deerstalking or pheasant shooting is the preserve of the wealthy minority.

               In effect, in New Zealand the kid down the street may go trout fishing on equal terms and rights as the city’s top solicitor, doctor, baker and the candlestick maker or even the Prime Minister or Governor General. In fact there have been former Prime Ministers. The late Jack Marshall a National government PM was a very keen trout fisherman. The much respected Labour government PM Norman Kirk was a pig hunter in his younger days and an ardent fisherman. 

               I suspect we could do with a few more practical keen fishing hunting chaps or gals in the House. Yes women can hunt and fish too!

               A Horizon survey of sporting participation rates in 2012  showed fishing has more than five times more people participating than rugby. Twentysix percent go fishing while just 5 percent play rugby.

               When it comes to getting off the couch, 25.5 percent of adult men and 18 percent of women go fishing. And as far as youth go, about 35 percent went fishing.

Encourage youngsters

               We should be encouraging young New Zealanders into the outdoors. But sadly government priorities and policies don’t give incentive but even spawn disincentives. Politics is nothing more than “cause and effect.” Increasing foreign ownership of New Zealand farmland has resulted in locked gates whereas formerly most Kiwi farming families willingly granted access.

               Rivers that youngsters once swam and fished in, have had flows depleted by irrigation for corporate dairying. In turn, nitrates and other pollution foul water quality. Alarmingly some 60 percent of NZ’s lowland rivers are rated unfit for swimming.

               It’s just not youngsters who benefit from outdoor recreation either. Eco-therapy is the “in” thing for an increasingly stressed society but it’s nothing new.

               American conservationist John Muir once wrote in the 1930s  “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of Autumn.” 

                Indeed it is therapeutic. John Muir also wrote   “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity” 

                And the great conservationist 19th century Ralph Waldo Emerson reckoned  “In the woods too, a man casts off his years, as the snake his slough, and at what period so ever of life, is always a child. In the woods, is perpetual youth.” 

                All it needs is government recognition and protection of the value of outdoors and its recreation to society.

 

John Muir -  “Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees" 

Selwyn District Nitrate Test Results 3rd Jan/ Feb/ Mar 2022 mg/L NO3-N

View upstream at Coe’s Ford.

Weeds and algae are only now beginning to get established following major winter flooding with connecting flows and minor floods keeping the Selwyn River in a much healthier state during the first quarter of 2022.

Ecan toxic algae signs at Coe’s Ford and Chamberlain’s Ford are in the green zone for the first time in years.

Canterbury has had a wet summer causing problems for cropping farmers while raising groundwater levels in the lower Selwyn District.

No drains or springs dried up this year!

Nitrate levels are still excessive where groundwater is the primary source of lowland springs and streams

 

Jollies Brook               1.25     1.13     1.22

Coopers Lagoon         1.41     1.56     1.62

Hart’s Creek               7.92     7.89     7.89

Leeston Domain Te Waihora                        710      1070    850 mg/m3 NO3-N (lake)

Tramway Res. Rd       1.61     1.24     2.94    

Drain Rd                     3.33     3.34     2.87

Hanmer Drain            1.41     1.76     1.88

Irwell River                 0.49     0.74     0.51

Selwyn River

Coe’s Ford                  5.64     2.27 [closed 12 m3/sec]         6.23

Chamberlain’s Ford   6.02     2.34     6.26

Powell’s Rd A             5.81     6.03     7.19

Powell’s Rd B             6.80     6.72     6.76

LII River                       2.58     2.87     3.06

Hallswell River           1.92     1.93     2.06

Lincoln Wetland        2.30     4.27     2.80

Liffey Springs             3.27     3.19     3.01

Goulds Rd                   6.95     8.39     8.15

Preen                          7.81     7.69     8.22

Nautilus                      7.65     7.58     7.96

Mid Chamberlains Rd 9.44    9.87     10.3

Swamp Rd                  8.88     7.83     9.54

 

Ellesmere Golf Club well 11.5           10.6     10.0

Ellesmere Speedway       10.9           11.0     10.8

 

NPS FM August 2020 “bottom line” for nitrate is 2.4 mg/L NO3N

New Zealand’s Maximum Allowable Value MAV for drinking water is 11.3 mg/L NO3N

Mature willow trees chipped along the banks of the Hallswell River

View downstream. Note the prolific weed growth due to excess nutrients (nitrate)

 

Removing willow trees from the river margins and planting natives on adjacent farmland.

This will neither restore river flows nor remove nitrate from the Hallswell River.

 

Both Ecan and the Ministry for the Environment only fund tree planting and predator control to save Canterbury’s iconic braided rivers.

As long as Ecan fails to give effect to the Rakaia NWCO and Trustpower and Central Plains Water Ltd continue to plunder the “protected” Rakaia River flows, Canterbury anglers’ cynicism and anger will continue to increase!

 

Peter Trolove

President

NZFFA

Postings From the Website

Some of our more recent posts from the website (see https://nzffa.com)

Politics and the Environment - Cause and Effect
Opinion by John B Henderson The late John B Henderson was national president of the NZ Deerstalkers Association. He wrote many editorials in NZDA’s magazine “NZ Wildlife”. In this editorial…
Read more...
Two Wildlife Books To Delight and Educate Kids
Nature’s Alphabet – A New Zealand Nature Trail by Andrew Crowe, illustrated by Dave Gunson. Published by Bateman Books. Price $21.99. Reviewed by Tony Orman. It’s more important than ever,…
Read more...
Eroding the Rakaia River’s Lawful Protection Branded "Unacceptable"
Special Report The protection status by way of the long-standing Water Conservation Order (WCO) for the Rakaia River is being eroded by efforts by Trustpower and Environment Canterbury says the…
Read more...
Toxic Algae – Freshwater
Canterbury Regional Council (Ecan) signs warning of toxic algae at Coes Ford Introduction There are a number of toxic algae species associated with freshwater, brackish water, and sea water. Fish…
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Outdoor Groups Urge a “New Look’ for DoC
Special Report Some outdoor recreation-conservation groups are calling for a revision of the Department of Conservation priorities and targets following a recent National Radio interview with the department’s newly appointed…
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Access- The Need for "Three Little Words" Languishes Due to Inertia
by Tony Orman If you go trout fishing, a landowner is not permitted by law, to charge you a fee to go fishing. It’s all to do with “The Section…
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Nitrate Contamination of Freshwater is not just about the risk of “blue baby” deaths
by Dr Peter Trolove, President NZFFA New Zealanders deserve to be better informed about the risks to human and environmental health from increasing levels of nitrate pollution from New Zealand’s…
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An Unhappy New Year!
From the Land, Air Water, Aotearoa, LAWA website recreational water quality Canterbury. (Site visited 3rd January 2022) Caution Advised ASHBURTON RIVER off Boundary Road 65.7 km Issued: 08 Dec 2021…
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Canterbury's Conflict and Confusion With ECan
Conflict and confusion continues with Environment Canterbury’s changes to the Canterbury Land and Water Regional Plan CLWRP (Plan change 7 and Plan Change 2).  Dr Peter Trolove, president of the…
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COME HELL OR HIGH water
byDylan Evans Introduction by Dr. Peter Trolove As president of the NZFFA I am thrilled to be given permission to post this article by Dylan Evans, a 2021 year 13…
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The Federation's  Executive:

President: Peter Trolove (Rakaia)

Treasurer: David Haynes (Nelson)

Secretary: David Haynes (Nelson)

Committee:

Steve Gerard (Central South Island), Andi Cockroft (Wellington), Larry Burke (NZ Salmon Anglers), Zane Mirfin (Nelson), Brett Bensemann (Otago), Casey Cravens (Otago), Colin Taylor (Nelson), Grant Henderson (Auckland), Rex Gibson (Canterbury)

Life Members, Tony Orman, (Marlborough), Sandy Bull (Gisborne), Ian Rodger (Auckland) and Ken Sims (Manawatu) are automaticaly on the committee

Co-opted:  Alan Rennie (North Canterbury)

Disclaimer

The opinion pieces and submitted articles are provided for your interest and information. They do not necessarily represent the views of all of the Executive members but are seen as vital to promote active debate around the issues that fit the aims and objectives of the Federation.

If you have not already done so feel free to comment on any of the articles on our website. The discussions always open up many valid points.

Please feel free to circulate this newsletter around club members and friends.

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