Stream and drain management

Living Streams handbook: Stream and drain management

The photographs on this page will help you identify whether your waterway is healthy. If your waterway looks mostly like the photos in the left hand column, it is probably in good shape. If your waterway looks more like the photos in the right hand column, stream life may be suffering and water quality is likely to be poor.

Good: Establishing shade trees will restrict weed growth, reducing the need to clean the waterway.

Poor: Excessive cleaning can disturb sediment and destroy stream life and bank habitat. You can minimise impact by taking care when cleaning, and avoiding spawning time.

Good: Fencing stops stock breaking down banks. Fewer nutrients will enter the stream and shade provided by the hedge restricts weed growth.

Poor: Unfenced drains feed sediment, bacteria and nutrients into streams.

Good: Good buffers mean fewer nutrients and less weed.

Poor: Your sediment becomes somebody else's problem.

Next: Stock crossings >>

Living Streams handbook: Stream and drain management

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