Accounting for water use by riparian vegetation
Accounting for water use by willows, wetlands and native riparian plantings
There is increasing pressure on freshwater resources in many parts of New Zealand and tension between different water users can make policy development and implementation particularly challenging.
To help guide policy discussions and manage freshwater resources for optimum outcomes, it’s critical for regional councils to have good information on water use. One component that is often overlooked in water “use” accounting and policy development is the effect of different vegetated land cover in riparian areas.
As such, Hawkes Bay Regional Council with the support of Environment Canterbury is investigating the role that different types of riparian vegetation play in catchment water balances. An Envirolink Large Advice Grant was secured by Hawkes Bay Regional Council to fund the work with NIWA providing the technical expertise.
“We are currently undertaking a large program of work on water scarcity throughout our region and this work is a valuable contribution” says Dr Andy Hicks – the Freshwater Ecology Team Leader for Hawkes Bay Regional Council.
“The Envirolink grant has provided an opportunity to specifically investigate the role of willows, wetlands, and native vegetation in water use – work which we wouldn’t have been able to commission without the help of the grant” he says.
The work has flagged several issues for the Council and provided direction by identifying information gaps as well as clarity on future data and modelling requirements.
Andy says they are already pursuing opportunities for further research with NIWA to quantify the hydrological effects of replacing some willows in braided rivers with native species.
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