1. Freshwater Attributes
Presented to the Collaborative Stakeholder Group, 15th August 2014, The Link, Hamilton

3. Healthy Rivers Policy Process
Approach – as the TLG see it
Healthy Rivers Policy Process
Desired Values
Setting Attribute Levels
Water quality (N, P, Sed., bacteria) consistent with Desired Values
Scenario Analysis – looking at future options
Integrated assessment across Values to provide CSG with social, economic, cultural & ecological analysis
deliberations
CSG
CSG Focus Statement
e.g., safe to swim, take food, provide well being)
Can be ‘alternative’ detail below that
CSG outcomes
Assess options against Values & risk
Consensus?
Seek further scenarios?
TLG, using:
Guidelines (e.g., NOF)
Existing information
Experts input
TLG, using experts for:
Predictive modelling
Non-market valuation studies

4. Attributes for ‘swimmable’
Human Health
‘Swimmability’
Pathogens:
E. coli
Toxicants:
Cyanobacteria
Heavy metals
Other:
Clarity
Deposited sediment
Flows/water levels
Habitat modification
Temperature
Trophic state:
Phytoplankton
Periphyton
Macrophytes
Nitrogen
Phosphorus

5. ‘Healthy Biodiversity’
Attributes for ‘Healthy Biodiversity’
Ecosystem Health
‘Healthy Biodiversity’
Trophic state :
Phytoplankton
Periphyton
Macrophytes
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Toxicants:
Ammonia
Nitrate
Heavy metals
Other stressors:
Dissolved oxygen
Temperature
Clarity
Deposited sediment
Habitat modification
Introduced species
Flows/water levels
Pathogens:
E. coli
NB. Macroinvertebrate Community Index (MCI) could be used as indicator of ‘Healthy Biodiversity’

6. Attributes for ‘Fishable’
Safe to Take Food
‘Fishable’
Trophic state :
Phytoplankton
Periphyton
Macrophytes
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Toxicants:
Ammonia
Nitrate
Cyanobacteria
Heavy metals
Other stressors:
Dissolved oxygen
Temperature
Clarity
Deposited sediment
Habitat modification
Introduced species
Flows/water levels
Pathogens:
E. coli

7. Swimmable Fishable Healthy Biodiversity Covered in NOF?
Aspects to be managed
Attributes
Swimmable
Fishable
Healthy Biodiversity
Covered
in NOF?
Pathogens
E. Coli Y N
Trophic state
Plants/algae*
Partial TN TP
Toxicants
Ammonia
Nitrate
Cyanobacteria
Heavy metals
Other
Clarity
Deposited sediment
Dissolved oxygen
Temperature
Flows/water levels
Habitat modification
Introduced species
* Includes periphyton in rivers, aquatic plants in lakes and rivers and phytoplankton in lakes and lake-fed rivers

8. E. coli Attribute Attribute state Numeric Attribute State ‘Swimming’
(95th percentile)
‘Wading/boating’
(Median) A
≤ 260 B
>260 ≤540 C
>540 ≤1000 D
>1000
Red cells identify an ‘unacceptable’ state (NB. the national ‘bottom line’ for E. coli levels is an annual median of 1000 cfu/100 ml).
Current WRC criteria:
Acceptable is <550 cfu/100 ml (95th percentile)
Excellent is <55 cfu/100 ml (95th percentile)

9. ‘Swimmability’ – Waikato River
Mainstem
540 cfu/100 ml
*Year round, all flows

10. ‘Swimmability’ – Waikato-Waipa
Catchment
*Year round, all flows

11. ‘Wading/Boating’ – Waikato-Waipa
Catchment
Breach National Bottom Line
*Year round, all flows

12. ‘Swimmability’ – Waikato/Waipa
10 – 260
261 – 540
541 – 1000
1001 – 10000

13. Trophic State Attributes - Lakes
Attribute State
Chlorophyll a (mg/m3)
TP (mg/m3)
TN (mg/m3)
(Stratified)
(Mixed) A ≤2
≤10
≤160
≤300 B
>2 and ≤5
>10 and ≤20
>160 and ≤350
>300 and ≤500 C
>5 and ≤12
>20 and ≤50
>350 and ≤750
>500 and ≤800 D
>12
>50
>750
>800
NOF
Attribute
Upper Waikato
Middle/Lower Waikato
Waipa
Shallow lakes
TN (mg/m3)
≤300 (B)
≤500 (B)
TP (mg/m3)
≤20 (B)
≤35 (C)
WRISS

14. Significant Gaps in NOF Attributes
Primary contaminants
Sediment – water clarity, deposited sediment, sediment loads
TN, TP and components (e.g. Dissolved Inorganic N, Dissolved Reactive P) for rivers
Macrophytes/algae in large rivers and soft-bottomed streams
Other stressors
Dissolved oxygen
Temperature
Heavy metals
Habitat modification

15. Clarity (m, at base flow) Clarity (m, at base flow)
Water Clarity - Waikato
WRISS
WRC
Reach
Clarity (m, at base flow)
Taupo-Karapiro ≥4
Karapiro-Waipa confluence
≥1.6
Waipa above Otorohanga
Waipa below Otorohanga
≥1.0
Lower Waikato River
Shallow lakes
Tributaries draining pasture
Clarity (m, at base flow)
Excellent
>4.0
Satisfactory
Unsatisfactory
<1.6
Where should these numbers sit in terms of A, B, C & D states?
A >4.0
B >1.6 to <4.0
C >1.0 to <1.6
D <1.0

16. Next Steps – Attributes Work Plan
Populate justifiable attribute table for ‘Healthy Rivers’
Expert panel approach (TSG)
Build on existing attributes from NOF
Provide a complete picture of attribute states for priority values
Draft attribute table to TLG for review (early Oct)
Present attribute table to CSG at October meeting (CSG7)