Compilation of Summary of intrinsic values chapters from Canterbury Conservancy s intrinsic values catchment reports.

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1 CWMS: Ashburton Zone Compilation of Summary of intrinsic values chapters from Canterbury Conservancy s intrinsic values catchment reports. The status of the intrinsic values reports that these chapters have been extracted from does vary, all three below are still drafts, and the Rangitata report is not yet in draft form. The DOC document reference numbers (docdm) and the cut-off date for reference data are provided for reference purposes. Intrinsic historic and cultural information has not been included in this summary. Full documents can be provided if required. Rakaia River (DOCDM-20906) The Rakaia River catchment has been found to contain and support extensive habitat, biodiversity, recreational, landscape, landform, scientific, educational, and cultural values. This section summarises each of these values identified within the Rakaia River catchment. Areas within the Rakaia River catchment have been identified as waterbodies of national importance for several significant values including the Rakaia River and tributaries being identified as Type 1 waterbodies of national importance for aquatic biodiversity (Chadderton et al. 2004, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries 2006); the Rakaia Gorge and terraces have been identified as water dependant geothermal features of national importance (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries 2006); the Rakaia River and tributaries were identified to be nationally significant for recreation values and nationally significant for tourism. The Rakaia River was identified as the waterbody of the ninth highest economic value for existing domestic use in New Zealand, and the fifth highest for economic value for existing industrial use (Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries 2006). The whole of the Rakaia River catchment above the gorge, as well as associated tributaries, wetlands and lakes, is recognised as an internationally significant river and is protected by a National Water Conservation Order 1985 (Daly 2004). The lower section of the Rakaia River is also considered contains the largest braided river in New Zealand (Daly 2004). Twenty-three significant wetland habitats were identified in the Rakaia River catchment through the Wetlands of Ecological Importance (WERI) assessment. Of these the habitats ranked as outstanding were the Rakaia River including the Wilberforce and Harper-Avoca rivers and lakes Selfe, Coleridge, Heron, Catherine and Evelyn. Seagull Lake and Lake Stream Swamp were ranked to be of high value, and Lake Georgina was ranked as being of moderate-high habitat value. In addition, Lake Heron was ranked as being of national value and lakes Coleridge, Georgina and Tennyson, and Lake Stream Swamp were all ranked as being of regional value. The Lake Heron Nature Reserve is described as being the most important lake/wetland complex remaining in the South Island high country and the upper Rakaia River is a significant nature conservation area because of the breeding habitat provided for threatened bird species (Daly 2004). The Rakaia River, from the gorge to the coastal marine boundary, contains outstanding bird life values. Lake Coleridge is of high habitat value for brown Docdm

2 trout, rainbow trout and chinook salmon. Ryton River is of high habitat value for rainbow trout and spawning chinook salmon. Lake Lyndon has high habitat value for rainbow trout and the Hydrawaters are high value habitat for resident and spawning brown trout (including sea-run trout) and spawning rainbow trout. The upper plains are of high value habitat for sea-run migratory chinook salmon and the lower plains are high value habitat for sea-run migratory brown trout and chinook salmon. Lakes Stream and Heron each provide high value habitat for brown trout, and the Harper-Avoca is of high to medium habitat value for resident and river spawning rainbow trout (Daly 2004). Twenty-five fish species have been identified within the Rakaia River catchment. Nineteen of the fish species identified in the Rakaia River catchment are native, four of which are threatened. These include the longfinned eel and upland longjaw galaxias (gradual decline), lamprey (sparse) and Stokell s smelt (range restricted). There has also been one marine species and five introduced/sportsfish species identified in the Rakaia River catchment. The Rakaia River catchment contains a high number of fish, with an estimated 78, 000 fish, comprising eighteen species, caught inside the lagoon during a one year study (Eldon1981). The Rakaia River system is of outstanding value to wildlife (O Donnell and Moore 1983). Forty native bird species have been identified in the Rakaia River catchment, 15 of which are threatened, including the Nationally Critical black stilt and white heron, and the Nationally Endangered blue duck/whio, black-fronted tern, grey duck, southern-crested grebe and Australasian bittern. There have also been two bird species identified that are Nationally Vulnerable, one which is ranked as serious decline and four which are ranked as Gradual Decline identified in the Rakaia River catchment. As well has containing a rich species diversity, the numbers of birds recorded in the main river is relatively high (O Donnell and Moore 1983). The Rakaia River catchment also provides breeding habitat for black-fronted tern and black-billed gulls (O Donnell and Moore 1983). The Rakaia River mouth is of moderate habitat value being an important roosting site for both coastal and common waterfowl species, and containing at least 28 wetland species. The Rakaia River catchment also contains plant and invertebrate values. There is an extensive list of plants compiled for the Rakaia River catchment, with over 100 native species identified (Appendix 4). Lagoon Saddle in the Rakaia River catchment has been singled out as an important site for rare bog plants, such as Rostkovia magellanica (Molloy 1983). The Rakaia River catchment contains abundant and diverse macro-invertebrate fauna, with 47 taxa being identified in the Lake Coleridge littoral zone alone (James et al. 1998b). Several areas within the Rakaia River catchment have been identified as significant or important for several recreational activities including fishing/angling, jet boating, power boating, diving and picnicking. The lower plains of the Rakaia River contain a brown trout and chinook salmon fishery of national significance (Daly2004). Over three fishing seasons (1978/ /91), the Rakaia River was fished by between 6,000 and 9,000 anglers from the North Canterbury and Ashburton Acclimatisation districts. These anglers represented between a third and half of the total number of whole season fishing licence holders in the two districts. (Unwin and Davis 1983) The mainstem of the Rakaia River was by far the most highly valued waterbody in the Rakaia River catchment and Lake Coleridge was the second most highly valued Docdm

3 (Unwin 1991). In addition to the Rakaia River itself there are numerous other areas of recreational value within the Rakaia River catchment. For example, The Harper River has high recreational use for trout angling; the Rakaia Gorge, and from the gorge to the sea, is of high recreation value for jet-boating and salmon and trout angling; Lake Coleridge contains high recreational value for diving, power-boating and salmon angling; lakes Heron, Catherine, Evelyn, Selfe, Lillian and Ida are of high recreation value for trout angling; and Lake Lyndon contains high values for picnicking and trout angling. The Rakaia River catchment contains a wide diversity of landscapes including alpine barrens, gorges and braided riverbeds, many of which are significant. The Rakaia River catchment contains extensive areas with a high degree of naturalness including the upper Rakaia River, Rakaia Gorge, -? Tributaries?, and lakes Heron and Coleridge (Daly 2004). The Rakaia Gorge is an exceptional landscape with dramatic rock forms and intense rapids. The headwaters and streams off the main stem of the Rakaia River and tributary rivers, and the Rakaia Gorge are all of outstanding natural value, and the main stem and lower reaches of the tributaries are of significant landscape value. The large gravel fans in the upper catchment are significant features of the valley bottom. The visual amenity value of the headwaters and upper Rakaia River and tributary rivers is high to medium (Daly 2004). Several sites of international educational/scientific value have been identified within the Rakaia River catchment, including the north Mathias River geo-preservation site, the braided section of the Rakaia River and the Ryton River debris flow (Daly 2004). The Lake Catherine alluvial fan and the Cameron Valley moraine loop are sites of national educational/scientific value, and the Lake Coleridge spillway channel and the Rockey Gorge coal measures are sites of regional educational/scientific importance (Daly 2004). Ashburton River (DOCDM-58969, 09/2006) The Ashburton catchment has been identified to contain an exceptional range of intrinsic values including 14 native fish, three of which are threatened including the nationally endangered Canterbury mudfish, the threatened koura (or freshwater crayfish); 48 native birds, 17 of which threatened including sightings of the nationally critical black stilt and white heron, and providing nesting area for the nationally endangered southern crested grebe. Eleven threatened plants including the nationally endangered Triglochin palustris and Myosurus minimus subsp. novae-zelandiae have also been identified in the catchment. The character of the Ashburton River, with its mobile gravel riverbed, numerous channels and generally shallow water, provides favourable feeding habitat for wetland specialists such as wrybill, black-fronted tern and black-billed gull (Sagar 1992). The Ashburton River and the Stour River East Branch are areas of significant nature conservation value (Ashburton District Council Plan, 2001). Maori Lakes, Lakes Camp and Clearwater, Lake Emma Basin and Lake Emily Basin are noted as being regionally outstanding (Ashburton District Council Plan (2001). The South Branch has been identified as a potential water body of national importance for aquatic biodiversity values (Ministry of the Environment unpublished). Docdm

4 Ashburton River is of outstanding value to wildlife, containing excellent wildlife habitat and high numbers of breeding black fronted terns, black billed gulls and pied stilts (WERI). All of the Lakes combined are habitats of national importance for wildlife. Lake Emma, Lake Denny, Lake Emily and the Maori Lakes are of outstanding habitat value to wildlife. Lake Roundabout, Lake Clearwater and the outlet to Lake Clearwater are of high habitat value. The Ashburton Rivermouth and Bowyers Stream are ranked as having moderate habitat value and the Spider Lakes, Manuka Lake and Taylor s Stream are classified as being of potential habitat value (WERI). The Ashburton River is of international significance (Daley 2004) and outstanding value for wildlife (O Donnell and Moore 1983). The Ashburton River is one of the most important braided rivers in Canterbury for birdlife (Glennie 2001, O Donnell 1992) with nationally significant populations of black-fronted terns, black-billed gulls, banded dotterels and black-fronted dotterels and regionally significant populations of wrybill, South Island pied oystercatcher, pied stilt and black-backedgulls (O Donnell 1992). As well as a high number of species, high numbers of the birds are recorded (O Donnell 1992). Despite being a small braided river, blackfronted tern and black-billed gulls were found to be more numerous on the Ashburton than on any other Canterbury river (O Donnell and Moore 1983). Bowyers Stream was identified to provide valuable salmon spawning habitat and Lambies Stream is important both as a trout nursery stream and spawning stream (Strange 1992). Freshwater crayfish (koura) are present in the South Branch (Daly 2004) and several endemic invertebrates are present in the catchment including Erodrilus montanus and Maoridrilus alpinus (native earth worms), and the tussock butterfly (Percnodaimon pluto) McLean (1981). Several significant plant species have been recorded in the Ashburton catchment, Triglochin palustris (nationally endangered), Isolepis basilaris (serious decline), Gunnera densiflora (gradual decline), Iphigenia novae-zelandiae (gradual decline) and Crassula ruamahanga (sparse) (Daley 2004). The Lakes are also of importance to wildlife (Stokes and Grant 1992). Surveys of the lakes have identified up to 58 grebes at the lakes at any one time (The Canterbury Regional Council 1992). Lakes Clearwater, Heron and Maori are designated Wildlife Refuges with Lake Heron and Maori Lake also designated flora and fauna reserves under the Land Act (Walsh and Scarf 1980, The Canterbury Regional Council 1992). [nature reserves under Reserves Act 1977] The Ashburton Lakes and the Ashburton River are identified as suitable for inclusion in a schedule of protected waters (Grindell & Guest 1986). The Ashburton Lakes are ranked in the primary list, being of high priority because they are highly valued wildlife habitat especially for breeding of the southern crested grebe and because collectively the lakes are of high scenic-recreational value (Grindell & Guest 1986). The Ashburton River catchment contains numerous areas of landscape value and high visual amenity (Daley 2004, Sutherland-Downing and Elley 2004, Boffa Miskell 2001, Glennie 2001, Grindell &Guest 1986, Egarr and Egarr 1981). The Ashburton River (Glennie 2001), the South branch (Boffa Miskell 2001) and the lakes (Glennie 2001) have been identified to be of outstanding landscape value. The Ashburton gorge Docdm

5 is noted as an area of regionally significant landscape value (Ashburton District Council Plan 2001), and the headwaters of the South Branch were identified as a possible outstanding natural feature and landscape (Glennie 2001). The South Branch is also described as having high quality natural features and high values associated with its beauty and solitude, and one of the gorges at Blowing Point was identified to be of significant landscape value (Boffa Miskell 2001). The Ashburton River catchment contains an extensive range of recreational uses including fishing, hunting, kayaking, power-boating, swimming, walking and offroading (Sutherland-Downing & Elley 2004; Egarr & Egarr 1981; Grindell & Guest 1986) and provides a regionally significant sports fishery (Glennie 2001, The Canterbury Regional Council 1992; Teirney et al. 1987; Grindell 1984). The Ashburton River is noted to be of international significance scientifically (Boffa Miskell 2001) and is a key monitoring site for longfin eels (Daley 2004). The Ashburton River is listed as being of importance from its source to the sea for morainic and outwash landscape values (Grindell 1984). There are six sites of geological importance and important landforms in the Ashburton catchment (Kenny & Hayward 1998). The Pudding Hill Stream, Triassic fauna was ranked as regionally important and unlikely to be damaged. The Hakatere kettle lakes, Lake Heron fault alluvial terrace offset, Lake Heron fault, Ashburton River South Branch and Lake Heron fault, moraine draped scarps were all ranked as locally important and considered unlikely to be damaged by human activities. Hinds River (DOCDM-71413, 10/2006) The Hinds River catchment has been identified to contain several habitat values (WERI, SSWI, Daly 2004). Three WERI sites were identified in the catchment during the WERI assessment. The Clearwell River and the North Branch were both ranked as being wetland areas of national significance and the Hinds River was identified to be of local importance. Limestone Creek was also surveyed and found to contain potential habitat value. The Hinds River catchment was ranked as being containing potentially significant habitat for birds in the Special Sites of Wildlife Interest (SSWI) assessment. The Hinds River catchment provides habitat for eleven native fish species, three of which are threatened; the Canterbury mudfish (nationally endangered), longfin eel (gradual decline) and Stokell s smelt (range restricted). The catchment is also is noted to be high value habitat for brook char and brown trout (Daly 2004). The lower plains of the Hinds River catchment are listed as having high recreational fishery value (Daly 2004). There has been a limited amount of work on bird species carried out within the Hinds River catchment. However, 10 species of native bird have been identified. Of these three are threatened, the black-fronted tern (nationally endangered), the banded dotterel, (gradual decline) and the black shag (sparse). Docdm

6 There has only been one threatened plant record in the catchment, the threatened Carmichaelia torulosa (range restricted) (Daly 2004, BioWeb). Rangitata River Report to be completed. Compiled for: Poma Palmer Canterbury Conservancy dd Docdm