U:\2021\BM210482_IBo_Waihi_North_Project\Documents\WNP_Freshwater_Report_May_2022\FINAL_Freshwater_Report_FOR DELIVERY_June 2022\FINAL DELIVERED 17 JUNE 2022\WAI-985-000-REP-LC-0007_Rev0_Freshwater_20220621_FINAL.docx 6.0 Description of Methods 6.1 Wetland Delineation and Ecological Survey As outlined above, the NPS-FM and NESF require specific assessments of wetlands to determine their status and extent. Methods followed the wetland delineation protocols referenced in the NPS-FM. An outline of these delineation methods is provided in Appendix 2. Following the release of the National Policy Statement: Freshwater Management (2020) and associated National Environmental Standards, a subsequent survey was conducted on the features near the downstream extent of each of the unnamed tributaries of the Mataura Stream (tributaries 1 and 2) at Willows Road Farm, the headwater gully at Gladstone Hill, and at TB1 within the Northern Rock Stack (following the wetland delineation protocols outlined in NPSFM.) Surveys were conducted during spring 2020, and summer and autumn 2021. 6.2 Desktop Assessment and Survey of Freshwater Ecology A review was undertaken of all available literature and aerial imagery to assist in identifying ecological values within respective watercourses and wetlands. This included water quality, periphyton, macroinvertebrates, and fish surveys from the Ohinemuri River and Ruahorehore Stream (data used from 2016 to 2021 reports; Golder Associates and Ryder Environmental Ltd) as part of OGNZLs permit to discharge treated water to the Ohinemuri River, as well as more recent and water quality and ecological data collected from the Mataura Stream. Records from the New Zealand Freshwater Fish Database were also accessed to provide data on the fish species present within different catchments. The recording of fish species threat classifications was as per DOC (2018a) and macroinvertebrates as per DOC (2018b). WRC criteria for determining significance of indigenous biodiversity were used to assess the significance of the respective watercourses (Mataura Stream, Ruahorehore Stream and TB1 watercourse). Methods used for the ecological survey of streams is shown in Appendix 3. 6.3 Assessment of Water Quality The gathering and reporting of water quality of the Ohinemuri River and associated tributaries (especially the Ruahorehore Stream) has been carried out since the mid-1980s and continues to the present day. Regular monitoring of water quality (and ecology) has been carried out every year since 1987 by OGNZL (and its antecedent organisations) for the purpose of assessing compliance with limits set out in existing resource consent conditions. We note that these existing water quality limits are established as site-specific water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic life within the Ohinemuri River. Accordingly, our approach has been to utilise and summarise the existing information, and except for samples collected from the Mataura Stream, no new water quality data has been collected from the Ohinemuri River for the purpose of this application. Instead, we have used the existing water quality data to describe the condition of the Ohinemuri River. In our view the existing water quality and ecological monitoring data are adequate to describe the condition of the Ohinemuri River.
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