The Kaipara: big research for a big place
Fine sediment runoff from deforested and disturbed catchments is recognised by management agencies as being the principal threat to New Zealand's estuarine ecosystems.
Freshwater Update 55, October 2012
26 October 2012
Welcome to Freshwater Update 55. This issue features some of the latest work from our Freshwater and Estuaries teams, Water Quality maps and information and River flow maps for Winter.
Latest news from the centre includes:
Multiple effects of fine suspended sediment from the Kaipara Harbour catchment
Our research aims to link measurements of fine sediment and water quality to advance our understanding of the multiple environmental effects of fine sediment.
Catchment modelling of sediment loads to estuaries
Estuary sedimentation is a continual natural process. Land slope, land use, soil type and rainfall all have significant impacts, and form a complex spatial pattern of sediment generation.
Nutrient spiralling study in the Tukituki River, Hawkes Bay
Intensive land use increases nutrient runoff to rivers, lakes and estuaries with adverse effects on ecosystems. Determining what combinations of land use and management enable the health and services of these ecosystems to be maintained or restored is a major challenge for councils.
NIWA’s freshwater and estuarine science on display
NIWA scientists are presenting work at three national conferences in the next two months, the New Zealand Coastal Society conference 14th – 16th November, the New Zealand Hydrological Society conference 27th – 30th November and the New Zealand Freshwater Sciences Society conference,3rd – 7th December.
Water Quality maps, July to September 2012
River Temperatures (JAS)
Winter river water temperatures were mostly in the range 0 to 16oC
River flows, July to September 2012
The three month flow map (on the right) shows that much of New Zealand experienced normal or above normal river flow conditions.