NZ Summer focus on making dams environmentally sound
A project aiming to ensure Auckland’s rural dams are safe and environmentally sound has kicked off its third stage this summer.
Auckland Regional Council (ARC) began visiting dams last month in south-west Rodney, Waitakere and Mahurangi to bring on-stream dams not requiring resource consent in line with safety and environmental standards.
“We focus on on-stream dams because they have the potential for greater adverse environmental effects,” says ARC Water Allocation Scientist Katrina Browne, who is supervising the rural dams project.
On-stream dams differ from off-stream ones in that they are located on the bed of a permanent stream or river.
“They can pose barriers to fish passage, water quality and there is always a risk that the dam could fail and create downstream damage,” she says.
Last year 110 dams were inspected in the central Rodney district; of these, 73 required some work, while 37 needed none.
If a dam needs repairs, then ARC staff will work in collaboration with the landowners to find practical and cost-effective solutions, says Katrina Browne.
According to ARC survey results, there are about 4500 dams across the Auckland region, of which 1000 are on-stream dams. Most are located on farms and lifestyle blocks and are used mainly for stock water supply. Others are purely ornamental.
“Off-stream dams are not a priority for the project because they don’t have the same potential for negative impact on the environment,” says Katrina Browne.
The project’s first stage involved summer visits to dams in south-east Rodney in 2006, followed by the Kaukapakapa catchment in central Rodney in 2007/08. This third stage of visits is expected to run until February.
The ARC hopes to have all the on-stream rural dams in the region inspected by 2012.
Read more about on-stream dams.
For more information about the rural dams project, contact Katrina Browne, ARC Water Allocation Scientist, on 09 366 2000 ext 7133 or email katrina.browne@arc.govt.nz.
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