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Comprehensive Assessment of Freshwater Attributes for Healthy Rivers Policy Process Approach

Presentation of detailed attributes for assessing freshwater health in the Healthy Rivers Policy. Includes key indicators like trophic state, pathogens, habitat modification, and toxicants. Presentation of attribute states and goals for swimmability, biodiversity, and fishability.

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Comprehensive Assessment of Freshwater Attributes for Healthy Rivers Policy Process Approach

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  1. Freshwater Attributes Presented to the Collaborative Stakeholder Group, 15th August 2014, The Link, Hamilton

  2. Healthy Rivers Policy Process Approach – as the TLG see it • CSG Focus Statement • e.g., safe to swim, take food, provide well being) • Can be ‘alternative’ detail below that CSG outcomes • Assess options against Values & risk • Consensus? • Seek further scenarios? • TLG, using: • Guidelines (e.g., NOF) • Existing information • Experts input • TLG, using experts for: • Predictive modelling • Non-market valuation studies

  3. Attributes for ‘swimmable’ Human Health ‘Swimmability’ • Trophic state: • Phytoplankton • Periphyton • Macrophytes • Nitrogen • Phosphorus • Other: • Clarity • Deposited sediment • Flows/water levels • Habitat modification • Temperature • Pathogens: • E. coli • Toxicants: • Cyanobacteria • Heavy metals

  4. Attributes for ‘Healthy Biodiversity’ Ecosystem Health ‘Healthy Biodiversity’ • Other stressors: • Dissolved oxygen • Temperature • Clarity • Deposited sediment • Habitat modification • Introduced species • Flows/water levels • Trophic state : • Phytoplankton • Periphyton • Macrophytes • Nitrogen • Phosphorus • Toxicants: • Ammonia • Nitrate • Heavy metals • Pathogens: • E. coli NB. Macroinvertebrate Community Index (MCI) could be used as indicator of ‘Healthy Biodiversity’

  5. Attributes for ‘Fishable’ Safe to Take Food ‘Fishable’ • Other stressors: • Dissolved oxygen • Temperature • Clarity • Deposited sediment • Habitat modification • Introduced species • Flows/water levels • Trophic state : • Phytoplankton • Periphyton • Macrophytes • Nitrogen • Phosphorus • Toxicants: • Ammonia • Nitrate • Cyanobacteria • Heavy metals • Pathogens: • E. coli

  6. * Includes periphyton in rivers, aquatic plants in lakes and rivers and phytoplankton in lakes and lake-fed rivers

  7. E. coli Attribute • Red cells identify an ‘unacceptable’ state (NB. the national ‘bottom line’ for E. coli levels is an annual median of 1000 cfu/100 ml). • Current WRC criteria: • Acceptable is <550 cfu/100 ml (95th percentile) • Excellent is <55 cfu/100 ml (95th percentile)

  8. ‘Swimmability’ – Waikato River Mainstem 540 cfu/100 ml *Year round, all flows

  9. ‘Swimmability’ – Waikato-Waipa Catchment *Year round, all flows

  10. ‘Wading/Boating’ – Waikato-Waipa Catchment Breach National Bottom Line *Year round, all flows

  11. ‘Swimmability’ – Waikato/Waipa 10 – 260 261 – 540 541 – 1000 1001 – 10000 10001 - 22000

  12. Trophic State Attributes - Lakes NOF WRISS

  13. Significant Gaps in NOF Attributes • Primary contaminants • Sediment – water clarity, deposited sediment, sediment loads • TN, TP and components (e.g. Dissolved Inorganic N, Dissolved Reactive P) for rivers • Macrophytes/algae in large rivers and soft-bottomed streams • Other stressors • Dissolved oxygen • Temperature • Heavy metals • Habitat modification

  14. Water Clarity - Waikato WRISS WRC Where should these numbers sit in terms of A, B, C & D states? A >4.0 B >1.6 to <4.0 C >1.0 to <1.6 D <1.0

  15. Next Steps – Attributes Work Plan • Populate justifiable attribute table for ‘Healthy Rivers’ • Expert panel approach (TSG) • Build on existing attributes from NOF • Provide a complete picture of attribute states for priority values • Draft attribute table to TLG for review (early Oct) • Present attribute table to CSG at October meeting (CSG7)

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