Blended report card for well being of Otago estuaries

Otago’s estuaries have obtained a combined report card from the Otago Regional Council.

The council has studied the well being of eight estuaries within the area with some in good well being whereas others are exhibiting indicators of degradation.

The Tokomairiro close to Milton and Kaikorai in Dunedin had been singled for concern.

Otago Regional Council coastal scientist Dr Sam Thomas stated the outcomes – which had been not too long ago revealed on LAWA’s web site – confirmed Otago’s estuaries had been a combined bag.

“Tautuku Estuary [in the Catlins] is a shocking space that represents an vital reference website in opposition to which long-term modifications in different related estuary varieties throughout the Otago area could be in contrast, largely due to the superb high quality of its freshwater inputs and resulting from 97.9 p.c of indigenous vegetation nonetheless remaining within the catchment,” he stated.

Estuaries had been vital ecosystems and habitats for crops and animals.

“Papanui inlet and Blueskin Bay present examples of estuaries in good well being, in catchments that are extra developed,” Thomas stated.

“They’ve giant in depth seagrass and cockle beds which might be vital for ecosystem well being.

“The state of an estuary is a mirrored image of land use practices all through the river catchment from each present and historic land use. Estuarine well being could be impacted by land use akin to forestry, intensive agricultural practices, urbanisation, and water discharge practices.

“The monitoring outcomes assist the Council perceive developments in estuarine well being to tell catchment administration, however equally the outcomes additionally decide whether or not land use actions impacting on estuaries are being managed successfully.”

The estuary state of the surroundings monitoring programme was at the moment being prolonged and reviewed to make sure the info was as strong as doable.