Environment Canterbury is responsible for managing the region’s water resource, including the flows and levels in any water body; control of taking, use, damming and diversion of water; the allocation of water and the control of discharges. In carrying out these functions, Environment Canterbury has a duty to gather information and undertake research on fresh water resources, and to monitor, report and make available information about the state of the whole or any part of the fresh water environment (Resource Management Act 1991). Environment Canterbury is the lead agency for this work and works in collaboration with Ngāi Tahu, territorial authorities, landholders, industry groups, statutory bodies, NGOs and other agencies.

Our work in this area is aligned to the targets of the Canterbury Water Management Strategy.