Otago Water Plan - Water Quality Rules PC6A is about protecting good water quality while minimising constraints on land uses and the way rural people manage their land Kakanui River

Covering… ORC and management of the Kakanui River: Water Quantity – minimum flow regime Water quality - The Water Plan & Plan Change 6A River form - Kakanui River Morphology Strategy

Water Quantity – minimum flow regime Minimum flow of 250 l/sec over summer months imposed by Environment Court in If flows drop below 250 l/sec, river must be left to recharge to 400 l/sec. Protects the bottomline ecological health of the river through dry, hot summer months.

Water Quantity – minimum flow regime

Minimum flow is farmer managed Kakanui Water Allocation Subcommittee manages flows on behalf of irrigators Over 78 consent holders - around of these are active irrigation consents. Do a great job – efficient and responsive. Very challenging and stressful for Subcommittee members

Challenges…

Water Quantity – minimum flow regime Enforcement is ultimately ORC responsibility WAC meets with Kakanui Ratepayers, Fish & Game, DoC and Iwi once a year Estuary mouth closure largely due to sea interaction rather than low flows Additional flows into estuary from Waiareka Creek (+100 l/sec)

Water Quality – Regional Plan: Water Plan Change 6A is effective now (since May 2014). Effects-based, permitted activity approach. Tough stance on gross discharges. The Plan is about protecting good water quality while minimising constraints on land uses and the way rural people manage their land.

Discharge from effluent, silage or composting Gross discharges to water Sediment from disturbed land Schedule 16 discharge thresholds Overseer – Nitrogen leaching Culverts and Crossings Sediment to surface water Bed Disturbance Stock access to waterways Water Plan – Overview of the rules

Gross discharges to water Prohibited to discharge Objectionable odour, oil, grease film, scum or foam into water

Discharge from effluent, silage or composting Prohibited to discharge Directly to a waterway To a bore or soakhole To land within 50 metres of a river, lake, wetland or bore To saturated soils Causing ponding

Sediment Rules Two key rules; Prohibited rule, Permitted rule. Applies now and applies 24/7.

Prohibited sediment rule Sediment mitigation from disturbed land required.

Permitted rule Where sediment enters rivers & streams avoid: Conspicuous change in colour or clarity

Sediment - Permitted rule Where sediment enters rivers & streams avoid: Sedimentation on the bed

Permitted rule - Bridges and Crossings

Working in waterways There are a few permitted activity situations (subject to conditions) but most often people will need a consent to work in a waterway – ask! The rules apply to everyone – landowners, managers and contractors.

Stock access to waterways No slumping, pugging or erosion No feeding out on a river bed or wetland No change in visual colour or clarity No damage to fauna or flora

Stock access to waterways

Surface and ground water discharges Sets surface water discharge thresholds - nitrogen, phosphorus, E.coli (Schedule 16) Sets limits for ground water discharges (nitrogen) estimated using OVERSEER 6 Rules apply in 2020 Asking farmers to start measuring now - allow time to make changes on farm

When do surface water discharge thresholds apply? When the local reference river is at or below median flow Find real time and median flow data on the ORC website - Water Info page

Which flow sites? Kakanui at Clifton Falls Waianakarua at Browns Pump Shag at Craig Road Waikouaiti at Confluence

When does it apply? See Water Info

What are the surface discharge thresholds my sample must meet? ThresholdNitrite- nitrate- nitrogen Dissolved reactive phosphorus Ammoniacal nitrogen E.Coli Area 13.6 mg/L0.045 mg/L0.2 mg/L550 cfu/100 ml Area 2 (North Otago) 1.0 mg/L0.035 mg/L0.2 mg/L550 cfu/100ml

Surface water discharges – where to measure

How do I take a sample? – Ask! Identify sites Ring lab order sampling kit Order courier Chill pad into freezer Sample Record site activities Send away by courier Check results against thresholds Identify if any changes required

OVERSEER ® is a computer program that models nutrient movements on a farm scale Used in Otago Water Plan rules to manage nutrient leaching to groundwater Landowners have to supply information for Overseer on request

Nitrogen loading zones - Overseer

Kakanui-Kauru Aquifer Nitrogen Sensitive Zone

What are ORC expectations of landholders? Take responsibility for water on your property Comply with the Prohibited and Permitted rules now Start asking/checking/measuring now Run an Overseer budget and compare to nitrogen zone limit Allow yourself time to make changes (2020)

ORC and Plan Change 6A ORC is enforcing the rules now (including Dairy inspections) ORC is also working with farmers and industry to: - Monitor implementation of the rules - Assist interpretation of the rules - Share good practice information - Provide guidance for consent applications - Give feedback on what is happening in the field Farmers and industry are engaging positively

River form: Kakanui River Morphology Strategy

Kakanui River Morphology Strategy Developed to protect the recreational, cultural and ecological values, and to enable long-term, sustainable use of the land alongside the river. Guides (non-statutory) decision-making in and around the river Includes overview of main drivers/impacts on river and riparian form and function Gathers community values Highlights useful initiatives e.g. targeted gravel extraction, river access, and tree planting Check it out!

Summary - ORC and the Kakanui River We (everyone) have a PLAN to address river issues: Water Quantity = Minimum Flow regime Water Quality = The Water Plan (6A) River Form = Kakanui River Morphology & Riparian Management Strategy Want to know more? Ask!

Otago Regional Council 70 Stafford Street Private Bag 1954 Dunedin Phone: Free: Fax: Thank you