Rivers

New Zealand has more than 70 river systems. NIWA capability supports the measurement, knowlege and tools need to manage, protect and restore these vital waterways and their ecosystems.

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    Proud of your plants? 1 June 2017

    News article
    NIWA is doing a nationwide study to discover what makes the best riparian projects. Help us give you the knowledge to make the best riparian management decisions possible by taking our 5 minute survey.
  • Modelling vegetation-impacted morphodynamics in braided rivers

    NIWA is developing numerical models for predicting how the morphology of braided rivers responds to flow regulation and invasive exotic woody vegetation.
  • Modelling vegetation-impacted morphodynamics in braided rivers

    Research Project
    NIWA is developing numerical models for predicting how the morphology of braided rivers responds to flow regulation and invasive exotic woody vegetation.
  • Environmental flow tools

    Tools and software to assist with determining and managing environmental water flows.
  • Ngā Kete o te Wānanga: Mātauranga, Science and Freshwater Management

    Research Project
    New Zealand’s freshwater and estuarine resources provide significant cultural, economic, social, and environmental benefits. Competition for the use of these resources is intensifying, and many rivers, lakes and estuaries are now degraded.
  • Geomorphology influences periphyton abundance

    Research Project
    This research project investigated whether the mechanisms for periphyton removal in rivers relate more directly to hydraulic and geomorphic conditions than flow metrics.
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    Monitoring and maintenance of kōura

    Once you have identified the problem, and applied the necessary tools for restoring kōura to your stream, the next phase of your project is to monitor the site to see whether restoration works.
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    Applying the right tools to restore kōura to lakes and streams

    The tools available for restoring kōura to lakes and streams depend on what is causing kōura to decline.
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    Why are kōura rare or absent in your waterway?

    Habitat and biological factors factors affect why kōura rare or absent in your waterway.
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    Are kōura present in your waterway?

    First, determine if kōura should be present in your stream.
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    Identifying the problem for kōura

    Identifying the factors causing kōura numbers to decline will allow you to determine which restoration tools you need to employ.
  • Guide to restoring kōura (freshwater crayfish) in lakes, rivers and streams

    Habitat degradation and the introduction of exotic plant and fish species have adversely affected kōura populations throughout New Zealand. However, there are a number of measures that we can use to restore kōura populations in lakes, rivers and streams.