Planning for the future the Manawatu Estuary RAMSAR site

Manawatu Estuary RAMSAR site Approximate exposed land area at low tide 386 hectares River takes up 172 hectares

Why is the Manawatu Estuary a Ramsar Site? It is the largest estuary and wading bird feeding grounds in the lower half of the North Island (Ravine 2007)

13 species of birds, 6 species of fish and 4 species of plant listed in the Threatened Species List At least 1% of the worlds Wrybill population over winter in the estuary (c 4200). 93 bird species have been identified by the Ornithological Society as using this site

Pest animal

Pest plants

Wise recreational use

What are the challenges?

Human/natural modification

Downstream effects

Pests Animals and Plants

Pests Animals and Plants

Mudflats lostand to sand! Pests being Animals Plants

Main bird feeding site and sanctuary

Pests Animals and Plants

Pests Animals and Plants

Pests Animals and Plants

Driftwood Accumulation Approx February 2006

March 2010

February 2015

Makes hunting by predators much easier and makes the birds uneasy!

Pests Animals and Plants

Pests Animals and Plants

• Horizons Regional Council – Undertaking limited pest animal control (rats and mustelids). • Department of Conservation – Spartina eradication • Horowhenua District Council – Sand dune stabilisation, native plantings and eventual Marram grass removal.

Perceptions of water quality in the Manawatu River “Manawatu River among worst in the west” “Manawatu feeds on toxic diet” “Slow death of a dirty brown river” “Manawatu tops dirty table” “Manawatu least healthy river in NZ” “Manawatu not worlds dirtiest”

“Gross” pollution such as fat, blood and wool from poorly treated and untreated point source discharges “Half a mile below the freezing works the water (at low flow) was very turbid and yellow coloured. There was a very strong smell and pieces of fat were seen on the water surface…The riverbed stones had a thick covering of sewage fungus.” Ministry of Works, 1957: Pollution in the Manawatu & Oroua Rivers. A report produced for the Pollution Advisory Council by the Ministry of Works in co-operation with Health & Marine Depts & D.S.I.R.

surface. Mud on the bottom had a high smell.”

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Sewage fungus “blanket” Tokomaru River (circa 1976)

Feilding sewage treatment plant outfall (circa 1980)

Concern about fish kills below point source discharges from oxygen depletion, sewage fungus and water clarity issues. • • • •

Most sewage received primary treatment to remove solids that settled or floated. Some industrial discharges received primary treatment. Some irrigation to land of dairy factory waste - but not always. Dairy sheds were often perched beside waterways, which allowed easy access to water and easy discharge.

Water qualityand standards were brought in based on trout fishery needs. Pests Animals Plants

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Major discharges to be upgraded to secondary treatment. • No further fish kills, far less sewage fungus and reduced dissolved oxygen depletion. • Dairy farmers were encouraged to either discharge to land or treat the wastewater before discharging to a waterway. • Resource Management Act 1991 • By the early 1990s, water clarity had improved and sewage fungus was rarely observed below major outfalls after reasonable mixing.

The key water quality concerns were sediment, bacteria, nutrients and algal growth in water bodies affected by non-point source discharges and unresolved issues from some point sources. • • • •

The number of dairy shed discharges to water in the Manawatu Catchment dropped from 334 in 1997 to zero. Standards on point source discharges for E. coli came into force on 1 June 2004 and those for DRP on 1 June 2009 Land use continued to intensify along with the demand for water. Identification of Cyanobacteria and the health risk it poses.

It became apparent that although there was still potential to improve several point source discharges, the largest water quality improvements would come from management of non-point sources in the future. Sustainable Land use Initiative began in 2007, in response to the 2004 floods - protecting erosion prone land - planting trees (more than 7,500,000) - fencing streams

The One Plan is a different way of working

Seven plans combined into One Plan - a one stop shop

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• 34 signatories signed the accord in August 2010 and launched the Action Plan in 2011 with over 130 actions. • Coastal Manawatu zone focused on aquatic and wetland biodiversity, point sources discharges, reducing runoff and sediment and reducing the impact of flood schemes.

E.coli

www.lawa.org.nz

Total nitrogen

Dissolved phosphorus

Pests Animals and Plants • Manawatu Estuary became a listed Ramsar site in 2005. • Had a 5 year lifespan, with a host of delegated actions to organisations. • Many actions were very easy to achieve quickly and others were not addressed within the plans lifespan. • Much of the reason for not achieving the actions was due to the significant funding this would have required, which was not budgeted for. • One significant action that was initiated back in 2007 was the formation of the Manawatu Estuary Management Team comprising all key organisations.

Pests Animals and Plants • Drafting has now been completed for a follow on plan! • Objectives: - The ecology of the site is protected and enhanced;

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Awareness and recognition of the site and its values improves; - Site management respects all site users and values; - Sustainable use and enjoyment of the site increases.

• Requirement to undertake regular review, work planning and reporting on progress • Has targets and Proposes actions. Delivery of these will be based on prioritising and budgeting by all the groups involved during annual action planning.

Pests Animals and Plants

Questions?

Big thanks to Horizons Regional Council, Massey University, Paul Gibson and Manawatu Estuary Trust for photos!