This page contains information and advice (including booklets and infosheets) to help you make choices about managing streams and waterways.
The booklets and infosheets below provide information and advice to help you make choices about managing our natural resources.
All these booklets are available in hardcopy, free of charge, from our customer services team.
We are working to make all booklets available online. Currently the titles in related documents that have links can be downloaded as pdf files to read on-screen or to print.
Use the links below to view those that are also available as web pages:
Managing streams and waterways
Waterway = creek, stream, drain, river
Riparian = land adjacent to a waterway
The two basic steps to good waterway management are:
- Removing stock access
- Riparian planting
The health of a waterway is strongly affected by the vegetation and management of the riparian margin. An effective riparian margin will filter contaminants from surface run-off, reduce instream weed, and enhance the instream and streamside habitats.
There are rules about what activities you can carry out in or near a waterway. Please contact Customer Services or Resource Management Coordination team to check first.
Removing stock access
Fencing to remove stock access should be a priority when improving waterway management. Stock access to waterways, especially heavy stock such as cattle, deer and pigs, can quickly degrade water quality and overall stream health. Heavy stock can damage banks and this can lead to erosion of productive land as well as releasing sediment into the water which can then smother invertebrates and severely diminish stream health. Stock also directly contribute nutrients and bacteria through urine and faeces.
A recently fenced creek. Rank grass will create an excellent filter for overland run-off.
Heavy stock can damage banks resulting in sediment getting into the waterway. Direct stock access also contributes nutrients and bacteria to the water.
Fence is positioned too close to the water. The riparian margin is not wide enough to effectively filter contaminants from run-off. Fence would be much better 2 metres back.
Riparian planting
Surface run-off may occur during rainfall events or irrigation passes, when water flows directly across the land into a waterway. As water flows over the land, it picks up contaminants such as sediment, nutrients and bacteria, which then end up in the waterway. Appropriate riparian vegetation can help filter these contaminants before they enter the waterway. Rank grass is an excellent filter. In addition, the root system that develops helps to bind the soil and prevent bank erosion caused by this surface run-off or by increased flows during heavy rain or flood events. Since water runs off a vegetated slope more slowly than off a bare/gullied slope, this may even help to reduce the severity of flooding downstream.
Planting appropriate vegetation in the riparian margin can greatly enhance the health of the waterway, while also improving the look and value of the property. Establishing plants requires a regular maintenance programme to release them from weeds for at least three years.
Native species enhance biodiversity and habitat, and improve water quality through filtering run-off and shading water.
Overhanging vegetation greatly enhances waterway health by reducing instream weed, providing cover for fish and keeping water temperature down in summer.
Potential issues with fencing:
Stock water
If the waterway is currently being used for stock drinking water, then an alternative is needed, ideally a reticulated supply into troughs. If it is impossible to get another supply of water, then a ‘restricted stock access’ can be created by allowing stock to access only a small section of the waterway to drink from, without allowing them to get their feet into the water.
Crossings
A culvert or bridge may be required at crossing points. Resource Consent is required for this work. See Farm bridges: design and building process for some guidelines.
Instream weed
Stock access to a waterway can cause excessive growth of instream weed due to added sediment and nutrients in the waterway. The best long-term solution is to establish plants on the banks that will shade out the weeds (plant taller species on the northern bank first). In the meantime, it may be necessary to occasionally clean out the waterway if it is causing a significant drainage issue. Drain cleaning can cause huge damage to instream habitat, and should only be done if absolutely necessary. Phone Customer Services – 0800 EC INFO (0800 324 636) - before drain cleaning for guidelines and to check rules.
Weeds on the banks
Weeds such as gorse and broom can become more of an issue in areas where stock are excluded. Establishing suitable plants in the riparian margin will reduce the number of weeds, although they may require spraying or grubbing. Long rank grass is great at shading out weeds, and is a good filter of run-off.
Cost
Fencing can become expensive, especially if there are several waterways flowing through your property. You can apply for funding assistance through the Environment Enhancement Fund (link) for projects to enhance a waterway. For more details contact Environment Canterbury - 0800 EC INFO (0800 324 636).
If there are any other factors preventing you from fencing off your waterways, contact Resource Management Coordination team at Environment Canterbury – we may be able to help you come up with a solution.
Restricted stock access point
An electric wire prevents stock getting into the water but allows them to get their heads in to drink.
Concrete sloping away from the waterway reduces the amount of sediment, nutrients and bacteria getting into the water.
Rules about waterways
There are restrictions on what activities you can carry out in or near a waterway. Generally speaking, any activity that might disturb the waterway bed, or allow soil or contaminants to enter the waterway will probably require Resource Consent. Anything that may restrict flood passage (e.g. bridges, culverts, fencing, planting) or alter the flow of a waterway (e.g. removing vegetation from banks, battering of banks) may need consent. Certain activities are permitted without the need for a consent – please contact Customer Services to check first – 0800 EC INFO (0800 324 636).
Assistance we provide:
General advice
Feel free to contact Resource Management Coordination team to discuss any queries about managing waterways on your property, or any other queries relating to land management.
Funding
The Environment Enhancement Fund can provide up to $5000 to help with 50 % of the cost of fencing materials and native plants. Contact Environment Canterbury for an application form - 0800 EC INFO (0800 324 636) - or access it online.