Regional riparian characteristics - 2002 survey manual

The Waikato region includes more than 20 rivers and 1420 streams.

The demands on the region’s rivers and streams continue to increase as the result of land use intensification. The long-term management of these resources is a high priority to ensure fresh water quality and aquatic biodiversity within the Waikato region are preserved for future generations. Riparian management techniques such as fencing and planting of riparian zones are an effective way of improving water quality and increasing aquatic and terrestrial biodiversity.

An absence of detailed riparian information for the region was identified, specifically, quantitative estimates of the amount of fencing, vegetation and erosion along rivers, streams and drains through pastoral land. 

The riparian characteristics survey was designed to quantify the amount of fencing, vegetation and erosion present in streams, rivers and drains through pastoral land in the region and provide a benchmark on which to gauge the effectiveness of Waikato Regional Council riparian policies.

This report describes the method developed and used for the 2002 survey.

Report: TR 2007/07

Authors: R Hill and J Kelly