Waipa catchment Waipa catchment

State of the Catchment, Challenges and

Pl h d Plans ahead
Headlands Hill Country Dairy Group
11 J uly 2014
Overview Overview
Current state andtrendof Waipa River/catchment Current state and trend of Waipa River/catchment
What steps can be taken on farm
Current WRC planning
Industryinitiatives Industry initiatives
The future
State and trends of Water Quality in
the Waipa
Water quality trends in the Waipa River between 1993 Water quality trends in the Waipa River between 1993
and 2012 (TR 2013/20)
Changes in Turbidity 2008 - 2012
Water quality in Waipa Water quality in Waipa
Sediment Highlevels andrising Sediment High levels and rising
Bacteria High but stable
Nitrogen Rising trend last 20 years
Phosphorus moderate andvariable Phosphorus moderate and variable
Core challenge Sediment and Ecoli
All i t h ll i h lth All inputs challenge river health
What actions can be taken to
reverse the trends?
On farmmitigation big wins On farm mitigation big wins
Farmplan understandrisks/opportunities Farm plan understand risks/opportunities
Assess land use capability match stocking
practices
Manage steepor wet countrywell Manage steep or wet country well
Good farm infrastructure tracks races/effluent
storage/wintering storage/wintering
Riparian management and addressing hill country
erosion
Current Planning Current Planning
Waipa Catchment Plan Waipa Catchment Plan
Provides goals, strategies and actions to restore and protect the
health and well being of the Waipa River g p
20 year plan in partnership with others
Looks to address water quality, soil conservation and biodiversity
l id id it d i i i ti f th t h t alongside wider community and iwi aspirations for the catchment
Draft out for review in August
H l h Ri Pl f h /W i O Healthy Rivers: Plan for change/Wai Ora
Works in partnership with iwi and stakeholders to review the current
Waikato Regional Plan policy mix in Waikato and Waipa catchments Waikato Regional Plan policy mix in Waikato and Waipa catchments
Waipa Catchment Plan to be used as background technical
information
Waipa Catchment Plan - Approach
Staged approach to working in priority catchments
withgreatest risk/opportunity Themes include: with greatest risk/opportunity. Themes include:
Soil conservation, biodiversity, water quality and nutrients
F l i i i it t h t Farm planning in priority catchments
Partnerships key to increase scope of work y
Draft Plan coming out for review soon
implementationcommences late 2014 implementation commences late 2014
Implementation dependant on available funding
Industry programmes and BMPs Industry programmes and BMP s
Fonterras cleanwater programme Nutrient Fonterras clean water programme, Nutrient,
Riparian and Effluent
Fertiliser company NMPs
Consultancyfarmplans/financial benchmarking Consultancy farm plans/financial benchmarking
DairyNZ Sustainable Milk Plans
What the future may hold?
Preparing for change
More LandUse Capability(LUC) to drive onfarm More Land Use Capability (LUC) to drive on farm
decision making
More funding available likely
More informationandadvice for farmers available More information and advice for farmers available
Other agencies assisting on farm
Resource limits defined in Policy