‘Lake Brunner Project’ I mproving freshwater through community collaboration and farm environmental planning

1. ‘Lake Brunner Project’Improving freshwater through community collaboration and farm environmental planning 1 November 2012 Lake Brunner Community Catchment Care Group Katherine Glasgow Land Management Officer West Coast Regional Council katherineg@wcrc.govt.nz

3. Background • Largest lake in the region at 36.1km² • 22 dairy farms • High development pressure (25% pasture) • Settlement of Moana on the Northern shores hosts up to 2500 people in holiday periods • Increasing Phosphorus • Decreasing water clarity • 4825mm/yr in rainfall • High recreational value • High fishery values

4. Background • Farm plans prepared in 2004/05 • Voluntary measure • Funded by SFF and NZ Landcare Trust • 81% participation by farm number • 82% of recommended works completed by 2010 • 90% would like to have a phase two farm plan

5. Water quality monitoring Significant patterns for… Trend 1992-12 (April) Chlorophyll Worse Total Nitrogen Worse Total Phosphorus Worse Clarity Worse Significant patterns for… Trend 2001-12 (April) Trophic level index (TLI) Worse Dissolved organic carbon Worse Chlorophyll Worse • Shorter data record in tributaries – but no sign of decreasing nutrient levels • Lake has good bathing and ecological quality • Monthly sampling in the lake at three sites and bi-monthly tributary sampling at eight sites

6. Proposed Land and Water Plan • Notified September 2010 • Introduced new provisions for Lake Brunner • All stock excluded from waterways (minimum 1m setback) • Humping and hollowing – Discretionary activity (previously permitted up to 5ha in 12 month period) • Fertiliser applied to developed land (e.g. humping and hollowing) must have water solubility of less than 10% (e.g. RPR) • Resource consent required for any stock crossing that has not been bridged or culverted • Low rate application of agricultural effluent to land

7. The challenges • WCRC has a small rating base with 87% of our region in Conservation estate • WCRC has to balance this limited income against many competing demands • No general contingency budget or contestable environmental fund • Numerous waterways flowing through farms in Lake Brunner catchment • Because water quality is good in a national context some people don’t see the need for action • Balancing development with protection

8. Lake Brunner landcare group • First project involves clearing of willow and planting out riparian margins along Lake Poerua Scenic Reserve • Other projects • Canadian Geese monitoring • Trapping of wild cats and stoats • Erosion control • Kiwi monitoring • Riparian planting

9. Fresh Start to Freshwater Fund • Regional Council and Westland Milk Products are funding the preparation of a second round of farm plans in the catchment = $66,000 • Freshwater fund will contribute to 50% of the works recommended in the farm plans (up to $10,000 per farm) with the landowner contributing the remainder • Works funded under the farm plan recommendations will need to go over and above what is already required under the current regional rules e.g. 5m setback from waterways and planting out of riparian margins. • Works funded must also contribute to freshwater remediation • Assistance from Freshwater Fund to ‘kick start’ the Lake Brunner Landcare Group

10. Early stages so watch this space!