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Freshwater Attributes

Freshwater Attributes. Presented to the Collaborative Stakeholder Group, 15 th August 2014, The Link, Hamilton. Healthy Rivers Policy Process. Approach – as the TLG see it. CSG Focus Statement e .g., safe to swim, take food, provide well being) Can be ‘alternative’ detail below that.

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Freshwater Attributes

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

  2. Healthy Rivers Policy Process Approach – as the TLG see it • 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

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

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

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

  6. * Includes periphyton in rivers, aquatic plants in lakes and rivers and phytoplankton in lakes and lake-fed rivers

  7. E. coli Attribute • 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)

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

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

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

  11. ‘Swimmability’ – Waikato/Waipa 10 – 260 261 – 540 541 – 1000 1001 – 10000 10001 - 22000

  12. Trophic State Attributes - Lakes NOF WRISS

  13. 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

  14. Water Clarity - Waikato WRISS WRC 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

  15. 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)

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