Algal Bloom Alert for Waihola

The Otago Regional Council advises that the latest toxic algae samples taken on Thursday 7th of November 2013 show that algal bloom levels are still very high and showing no signs of decline.

Lake Waihola remains in red mode – which means the signs warning the public of potential risk to health must remain in place. The Otago Regional Council are continuing to take weekly samples from the lake.

Cawthron Institute in Nelson have advised the Otago Regional Council that they are in the process of identifying the toxicity levels and hope they will have some definitive results to us early next week

 

Tax Changes for Riparian Planting

A very positive tax reform for farmers undertaking riparian planting has been announced this month by Conservation Minister Nick Smith. The tax reform means that riparian plantings undertaken by farmers can now be deducted as an operational expense rather than as capital expenditure. Such a reform in the Income Tax Act 2007 allows the planting cost deductions that help to prevent or mitigate discharges into water courses or water bodies. The new reform will also be extended  from just trees to shrubs and other plantings.

This is a very positive move by the minister and will assist pro-active farmers who working hard to protect waterways and wetlands.

Algal Bloom – Public Meeting

The management of Algal Bloom has been a hot topic for the Waihola community and visitors to the lake over the summer. A public meeting is to be held between Otago Regional Council staff and members of the community.

There has been strong dissatisfaction within the Waihola community at the way public signage and advertising of the algal bloom issues has been undertaken. The public meeting will be held in the Waihola Hall on Wednesday 13th March at 7:45 pm. The meeting will discuss the known facts about algal bloom, the health implications and the relationship between bloom presence and water quality.

See the Otago Regional Council’s meeting presentation here

Warning on toxic algae – Otago Daily Times

Toxic Algal Bloom Report – Otago Daily Times

Reasons for Algal Bloom not that simple – Otago Daily Times

Potentially lethal new hazard – Otago Daily Times

World Wetlands Day at Titri

The Lake Waihola Waipori Wetlands Society celebrated World Wetlands Day on the 2nd of February at the Titri wetlands. Working with the Department of Conservation the walking track and viewing platform have finally been completed and opened for public use. While the project has taken considerable time with technical and logistical problems, perseverance and hard work have finally triumphed. The Titri wetlands are a fine example of the retirement of agricultural land and the natural restoration of a site into a vibrant wetland area. The track and viewing platform add a new conservation and recreation asset to the Waihola community, and it is hoped that people will enjoy the opportunity to visit this beautiful area. The track opening ribbon was cut by Maureen Wiel who was accompanied by members of her family. Her late husband, Bert, was a foundation member of Lake Waihola Waipori Wetlands Society and Bert was a tireless advocate and worker for the betterment of the wetlands. After the Opening Ceremony the group shifted to Sinclair Wetlands to do some planting followed by afternoon tea.

Lake With a View

Some of the dead willow alongside private property and the Lake Waihola edge have been removed by contractors recently. The Lake Waihola Waipori Wetlands Society have been fortunate to receive invaluable sponsorship from forestry company Wenita Forest Products and Roxburgh Contracting.  The work was undertaken with skilled machinery and  forestry workers on January 31st and February 1st to remove the dead willow killed in the Society’s 2011 spraying programme. The removal work would have cost $2500 and the Society is extremely grateful to these companies for their generous donation in this task. The area will be replanted using native wetland species and fenced off to protect the planting and the lake-land edge from stock. The Society have been aided in this project by the generosity and assistance of landowner Robert Girvan and his family. The Girvan family have a long association with the Waihola region and there is discussion with local community group Waihola Looking Forward to build a walking track in the area. The open views of the lake from state highway one have been greatly enhanced and the work adds to the natural qualities and biodiversity of the area.

…not a drop to drink?

The publication in March 2012 of  the “Water Quality in New Zealand – Understanding the Science” report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment has been an important first step at improving the quality of New Zealand’s waterways. The report does not provide a “fix all” methodology for the challenges that we face in water management in New Zealand, but rather looks at understanding the science behind water quality. This is critical if we are to have rational debate that ultimately leads to sustainable management of water for industry, agriculture, recreation and domestic use. In the context of that debate the protection and enhancement of wetland’s such as Waihola and Waipori are pivotal in  their role to our local catchments. Importantly too, localised wetland and water management contribute to regional and national protection of our indigenous flora and fauna. The recreational opportunities afforded by water in New Zealand are a central part of our lifestyle that we enjoy as “rites of passage”. So gaining an understanding of the science that contributes to that lifestyle is important if we are to pass those rites of passage on to future generations. It would be a sad day in New Zealand if there was “water everywhere, but not a drop to drink.”

Getting Down and Dirty

Students from Otago University‘s second year Ecology programme got out of the classroom and up to their knees in wetland mud on Sunday 29th of April as part of their course. The group of 80 students and University staff Kath Dickinson, Marion Johnson, Haseeb Randhawa and Emeritus Professor Alan Mark spent the morning removing wilding confiers, silver birch and willow at the Waipori wetlands. The field trip was an oportunity for the students to undertake a practical project and to get to grips with the work involved in wetland conservation. With 80 students the large group were divided into work teams of ten and loaned tools from Forest and Bird. Each team recorded which weed species they removed and were motivated by the competitive spirit when told the team which removed the most weeds would receive an award. The “award” was a handsome trophy made from two polished pine cones and brass plaque with “Weed Whackers 2012” inscribed on it and was donated by wetland project manager Paul Pope from Spiralis Ltd. The students worked hard in the wet muddy conditions and removed 257 wilding conifers and 598 willow and silver birch  saplings and small trees from the wetland area. The winning team of Erica, Ali, Bailey, Henry, Fin, Dom and Hayley managed to remove 188 wilding trees, great effort!

After a short walk to look at the results of the aerial weed control undertaken by the Lake Waihola Waipori Wetlands Society the students took a well deserved break at Sinclair Wetlands. They then visited Ram Island and looked the restoration planting undertaken on the Island. It was great to have the students working in the wetlands and having their energy and enthusiasm helps to vitalise the Society’s efforts in the conservation of the area. For the students, there’s nothing like getting out into the field and feeling the mud between your toes and knowing you’ve played a part in a local conservation project.

National Bank staff pay their dues at Titri

 Many of us imagine that the people who work in banks are power dressed men and women in expensive suits with a briefcase that they use for more than just taking their lunch to work. On Friday 23rd September that stereotype was well and truly broken when staff from the National Bank put their spades in the ground and planted the newly developed track at the Titri wetland. There wasn’t a business suit in sight and gumboots were the “shoe du jour.” However, one member from the bank admitted that he didn’t actually own any gumboots and had to borrow his mums!

The group planted 270 mixed native plants along the edge of the upgraded track and took some time out to look at the new bridge that has been installed and the site of the future viewing platform. Project Manager Paul Pope and Society Chairmen David Vollweiler were well supported by Society members Bert Wiel and Mark Beaton who wheel-barrowed the plants in from the car park to the new culverts, good effort guys! It was fantastic to have the bank staff at Titri and their enthusiasm and hard work was a real asset.  We look forward to having them back next year, but one things for certain we’ll be making them work even harder with more plants to put in the ground. Great job National Bank see you again next year!

Annual General Meeting

The Society held its Annual General meeting on the 8th of June at the Waihola Hall. In the Chairman’s report Dave Vollweiler he noted that the Society had achieved a high degree of success with its weed control programme, but he warned that “we have a large hurdle in front of us next year. At present our accounts look strong. However with the follow-up required next year and on going commitments we will require further funding“. The election of officers and the committee remained the same as the previous year with the exception of a new position, that of Deputy Chair being and filled by local farmer Robert Girvan.  Read the Chairman’s report

The meeting concluded with a presentation from Paul Pope on the progress of the weed control project and an overview of plant invasion ecology. Paul also presented the meeting with further challenges in utilising the resources of the Society to control sopecific areas of weed infestation to gain better value for the wider wetland. This included specific plans for Glyceria maxima control in the southern areas of Lake Waihola, Titri and the reach channels. Paul also presented the Society with proposals to look at the replantiong of areas of the catchment. Read Paul Pope’s presentation

Annual Plan Submissions

The Lake Waihola Waipori Wetlands Society recently made a submission to the Clutha District Council’s Annual Plan to control Reed Sweetgrass (Glyceria Maxima) on roadside drains and roadside areas managed as part of the district’s roading network.

The Society has noted its spread in roadside areas around the catchment and in order to protect wetland and waterway values it is essential to control these sites. With vegetation control an existing part of the management of the District road network it would be a relatively simple matter to ensure that Glyceria maxima is part of that normal maintenance. The Society’s submission was that control methodology was simple and cheap and would not add any significant costs to the existing contracts or works that the Council already undertakes.

Read the entire submission here.