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 Table 2: Criteria for classification of freshwater stream ecological values (BML interpretation). Value Explanation Characteristics Very High A reference quality watercourse in condition close to its pre-human condition with the expected assemblages of flora and fauna and no contributions of contaminants from human induced activities including agriculture. Negligible degradation e.g., stream within a native forest catchment. • Benthic invertebrate community typically has high diversity, species richness and abundance. • Benthic invertebrate community contains many taxa that are sensitive to organic enrichment and settled sediments. • Benthic community typically with no single dominant species or group of species. • MCI scores typically 120 or greater. • EPT richness and proportion of overall benthic invertebrate community typically high. • SEV scores high, typically >0.8. • Fish communities typically diverse and abundant. • Riparian vegetation typically with a well-established closed canopy. • Stream channel and morphology natural. • Stream banks natural typically with limited erosion. • Habitat natural and unmodified. High A watercourse with high ecological or conservation value but which has been modified through loss of riparian vegetation, fish barriers, and stock access or similar, to the extent it is no longer reference quality. Slight to moderate degradation e.g., exotic forest or mixed forest/agriculture catchment. • Benthic invertebrate community typically has high diversity, species richness and abundance. • Benthic invertebrate community contains many taxa that are sensitive to organic enrichment and settled sediments. • Benthic community typically with no single dominant species or group of species. • MCI scores typically 80-100 or greater. • EPT richness and proportion of overall benthic invertebrate community typically moderate to high. • SEV scores moderate to high, typically 0.6-0.8. • Fish communities typically diverse and abundant. • Riparian vegetation typically with a well-established closed canopy. • No pest or invasive fish (excluding trout and salmon) species present. • Stream channel and morphology natural. • Stream banks natural typically with limited erosion. • Habitat largely unmodified. Mediu m A watercourse which contains fragments of its former values but has a high proportion of tolerant fauna, obvious water quality issues and/or sedimentation issues. Moderate to high degradation e.g., highintensity agriculture catchment. • Benthic invertebrate community typically has low diversity, species richness and abundance. • Benthic invertebrate community dominated by taxa that are not sensitive to organic enrichment and settled sediments. • Benthic community typically with dominant species or group of species. • MCI scores typically 40-80. • EPT richness and proportion of overall benthic invertebrate community typically low. • SEV scores moderate, typically 0.4-0.6. • Fish communities typically moderate diversity of only 3-4 species. • Pest or invasive fish species (excluding trout and salmon) may be present. • Stream channel and morphology typically modified (e.g., channelised) • Stream banks may be modified or managed and may be highly engineered and/or evidence of significant erosion. • Riparian vegetation may have a well-established closed canopy. • Habitat modified. Low A highly modified watercourse with poor diversity and abundance of aquatic fauna and • Benthic invertebrate community typically has low diversity, species richness and abundance. • Benthic invertebrate community dominated by taxa that are not sensitive to organic enrichment and settled sediments.
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