Earthquake impacts

The earth quake will accelerate damage caused by a lack of riparian plantings- with bank collapses and high rates of siltation in many of our lowland rivers over the next month. Also the earthquake has brought up lots of subterranean silt in the liquefaction process. Silt volcanoes have erupted in may areas. It will be a tough time for our lowland waterways.

eroded banks - Halswell canal

intrusion on LII

Photo shows an intrusive weed clearing machine and platform on edge of delicate LII riparian margin. A wire cable prevented boat passage on river. No doubt an increase in nutrients has accelerated weed growth in the river. Not a very sensitive approach to weed control-

Kaituna river- a severly degraded river system- cattle damage to banks

Halswell River bank exposed

Note - bare banks- no riparian buffer- so fine silt-soil washes into river choking much aquatic life. The Halswell suffers from soil wash off severely degrading the in-stream values of this critical waterway within the Te Waihora catchment.

Sign- lower Waimakariri River- Canterbury

Embarrassing to drive past when taking international visitors down to the river to go fishing. The lower Waimak- a braided river on our doorstep- a drain for treated industrial waste.

Riparian destruction - Jollie's Brook

A small coastal stream near Taumutu, on the South Canterbury Coastline. In 2004 I was shocked to see the destruction along the entire side of the creek of a flax riparian margin over a distance of 1 kilometre. At the time I was informed that it was routine flood control - a laughable explanation for a stable coastal spring creek. Since local authorities were made aware a retrospective resource consent was given along with the implementation of an ecological restoration program- of which I was given no details. This one goes in the to follow up basket.