OUR ACHIEVEMENTS
with Stormwater Ponds & Systems
Stormwater refers to the runoff of water generated by rainfall or melting snow. It is a major concern for New Zealanders because of its potential effects on the ecological health of our streams and coastal waters, as these systems are predominantly all connected. With the current trend of increasing urbanisation, inflows into our stormwater systems are highly built-up with sediments and nutrients which are turbo-charging the growth of pest weeds and collapsing waterways.
NZWR too often sees gross wastes of tax-payer dollars having to be spent on the damage caused directly by pest weeds. Grass carp should be the preferred option, and are generally contained by way of outlet screens. Other aquatic weed control methods such as the use of herbicides and mechanical removal of nuisance weeds result in considerable loss of aquatic life and result in degradation of the habitat through rotting vegetation and sediments that end up in the ocean!
Royal Palm Beach
Papamoa, North Island NZ
11 YEARS (restoration & maintaining)
Located adjacent to the beach road in Papamoa is a 1.5km waterway that surrounds a number of beautiful houses. It acts as both a feature and stormwater waterway that is home to many native fish and bird wildlife. In 2006, grass carp were released due to the rapid invasion of pest weeds (notably parrots feather), which was both threatening to the wildlife and the residents health.
Tauranga City Council and NZWR agreed that grass carp would be the most appropriate, and effective method. Other aquatic weed control methods are more costly, and the likes of herbicides and the mechanical removal of weeds results in considerable loss of aquatic life and can result in degradation of the habitat through rotting vegetation and disturbance of sediments; making it unsafe for humans or any other organism to consume safely. Once introduced the grass carp reduced the weed levels, allowed for the improvement of water quality and indirectly responsible for increased native fish presence.
Please note that this waterway is not open for fishing to the public, and course fishing is prohibited.
Maygrove
Rodney, North Island NZ
2 YEARS (restoration & maintaining)
Located in the township of Orewa is a large stormwater pond approximately 1.2 hectares in size that surrounds a number of residences. It acts as both a feature and stormwater waterway that is home to many native and exotic fish and bird wildlife. In 2016, grass carp were released due to the domination of the pest weed Egeria densa, and like many other sites was threatening to both the wildlife as a health risk, and interfering with the purpose of the site (being flooding control).
Auckland Council and NZWR, alongside Hon. Mark Mitchell (MP for Rodney) agreed that grass carp would be the most appropriate, and effective method. Other aquatic weed control methods are more costly, and the likes of herbicides and the mechanical removal of weeds results in considerable loss of aquatic life and can result in degradation of the habitat through rotting vegetation and disturbance of sediments; making it unsafe for humans or wildlife to consume safely…
Please note that this waterway is not open for fishing to the public, and course fishing is not permitted to anyone.
The Lakes
Tauranga, North Island NZ
2 YEARS (restoration & maintaining)
The Lakes Development comprises 254 hectares which includes 2081 residential sections which will house over 7000 people. It is located in the heart of Tauriko and features a number of stormwater waterways and a lake. In 2015 the Tauranga City Council and NZWR agreed that grass carp would be the most appropriate, and effective method for the development, considering also the long term success Tauranga has had with these fish.
Other aquatic weed control methods were far more costly, and the likes of herbicides and the mechanical removal of weeds results in considerable loss of aquatic life; being a feature of this development. Not to mention that it results in the degradation of the habitat through rotting vegetation and disturbance of sediments; making it unsafe for humans or any animal to consume safely. Once introduced the grass carp reduced the weed levels, and have begun the improvement process of water quality.
Please note that this waterway is not open for fishing to the public, and course fishing is strictly prohibited.
Wiri Stream
Manukau, North Island NZ
4 YEARS (restoration & maintaining)
Located just south of Manukau City are two large ponds approximately 1.5 hectares in size that surrounds a number of residences and reserve. It acts as both a feature and stormwater waterway that is home to many native fish and bird wildlife. In 2007, grass carp were released due to the rapid invasion of pest weeds (notably Egeria densa), which was both threatening to the wildlife as a health risk, and causing flooding to the site during high rainfall events.
The then Manuaku City Council and NZWR agreed that grass carp would be the most approriate, and effective method. Other aquatic weed control methods are more costly, and the likes of herbicides and the mechanical removal of weeds results in considerable loss of aquatic life and can result in degradation of the habitat through rotting vegetation and disturbance of sediments; making it unsafe for humans or any other organism to consume safely. In a stormwater system this is important to avoid as the effects of such operations gets flushed downstream, eventually making it to the ocean.
Once introduced the grass carp reduced the weed levels, allowed for the improvement of water quality and through on-going surveys it is evident that the fish are indirectly responsible for increased native fish presence.
Please note that this waterway is not open for fishing to the public, and course fishing is not permitted to anyone.
Gulf Harbour
Rodney, North Island NZ
18 YEARS (restoration & maintaining)
For close to two decades grass carp have managed and controlled pest aquatic weeds in this stormwater site. Not only a stormwater site but this 450m long pond is also a recreational waterway for the model yacht racing community. The original infestation with submerged and floating vegetation was affecting the ponds water storage ability and interfering with community interests. Grass carp have proved to be the most appropriate method, and were even more recently released to consume a noxious pest plant that was in conjunction with an MPI Biosecurity team. Other aquatic weed control methods such as the use of herbicides and mechanical removal of weeds results in considerable loss of aquatic life and can result in degradation of the habitat through rotting vegetation and disturbance of sediments; making its way straight into the ocean! Once introduced the fish were able to reduce the weed levels to a safe and aesthetically pleasing level to the community.
Please note that this waterway is not open for fishing to the public, and course fishing is not permitted to anyone other than the contracted owners.
Rosedale Ponds
Auckland, North Island NZ
7 YEARS (restoration & maintaining)
Located in the business zoning of Rosedale are two large stormwater sites approximately 1.3 hectares or 2x250m long waterways, that is surrounded by Reserve. They act as both a feature and stormwater waterway that is home to bird wildlife. In 2008, grass carp were released due to the domination of a range of submerged aquatic weeds and was interfering with the sites function.
The then North Shore City Council and NZWR, determined that grass carp would be the most appropriate, and effective method. Other aquatic weed control methods are more costly, and the likes of herbicides and the mechanical removal of weeds results in considerable loss of aquatic life and can result in degradation of the habitat through rotting vegetation and disturbance of sediments; making it unsafe for humans or any other organism to consume safely. In a stormwater system this is important to avoid as the effects of such an operations would get flushed directly downstream. Once introduced the grass carp reduced the weed levels and similarly continue to provide effective control in all the North Shore stormwater sites.
Please note that this waterway is not open for fishing to the public, and course fishing is not permitted to anyone.
Lochview
Pukekohe, North Island NZ
18 YEARS (restoration & maintaining)
This site was one of the original stormwater trial sites in the greater Auckland Region. For close to two decades grass carp have managed and controlled pest aquatic weeds in this stormwater site that is co-owned by Council and the surrounding community.
The original infestation consisted entirely of egeria densa, a.k.a oxygen weed, and threatened to collapse the waterway. The then Franklin District council sought NZWR to release grass carp as other aquatic weed control methods such as the use of herbicides result in considerable loss of aquatic life and is not an appropriate solution around residences. Once introduced the fish were able to reduce the weed levels, with those same fish still alive today as seen in this pond.
Please note that this pond is not open for fishing to the public.
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