Operative Waikato Regional Policy Statement (October 2000)

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3  Significant Resource Management Issues, Objectives, Policies and Methods

3.3  Land and Soil

3.3.11 River and Lake Beds Management

Principal Reasons for Adopting: This section addresses activities within or adjacent to river and lake beds or on the surface of lakes and rivers which may result in any of the adverse effects set out in section 3.3.6. Destabilisation of the beds of rivers and lakes can occur as a result of inappropriate in-stream constructions, fluctuating water levels, sand and shingle management, inappropriate removal of bank vegetation, surface water activities such as jet boating, plant and animal pests, inappropriate land uses, and catchment modification that causes adverse effects on the beds and banks of rivers and lakes and other in-stream activities such as dredging. These factors may also impact on water quality (and/or aquatic ecosystems). They may also change the course of a stream or river resulting in the loss of adjacent land, disrupted access and/or loss of assets such as roading.

Adopt a catchment based approach integrating the management of land and water resources to achieve a net reduction in the adverse effects of river and lake bed instability.

1. Foster community involvement in environmental management (e.g. landcare groups).
   
2. As part of regional plans, prepare regional rules for the management of lakes and river beds.
   
3. Encourage research to be undertaken into the development of sustainable management practices for activities that destabilise the beds and banks of lakes and rivers, and facilitate the dissemination of this information to land users.
   
4. Through an environmental education programme developed in consultation with affected parties, advocate land and water management practices that avoid, remedy or mitigate the destabilisation of the beds and banks of lakes and rivers.
   
5. Advocate the control of pest populations which threaten or damage river bed and bank stability.
   
6. Monitor and review the effects of river and lake bed use practices to ensure that these activities are consistent with the objectives and policies outlined in this document and any subsequent regional plans.

Sand, metal and gravel extraction, placement of structures, water level fluctuations and surface water activities managed so as to avoid, remedy, or mitigate the adverse effects of the destabilisation of the beds and banks of lakes and rivers.

1. Prepare where necessary, as part of regional plans and district plans, rules for the management of sand, metal and gravel extraction and the placement of structures.
   
2. Advocate to territorial local authorities that surface water activities are managed in a manner that avoids the destabilisation of the beds and banks of lakes and rivers.

Where there are significant benefits, the integrity of existing works, services and projects will be maintained and new programmes will be promoted.

1. Through regional plans, district plans, asset management plans, flood control plans and guidelines protect existing works and maintain services that protect the beds and banks of rivers and lakes.
   
2. Where necessary, as part of regional plans, prepare regional rules for the management of lakes and river beds.
   
3. Advocate, where there are significant benefits, new programmes to maintain and enhance the stability of lakes and river beds.

An integrated approach to minimise lake and river bed and bank instability can be achieved through a catchment based approach. A catchment based approach involves focusing on a catchment area and dealing with issues in an integrated manner, recognising that effects in one part of the catchment may impact on other parts of the catchment. Issues or problems are dealt with on a total catchment basis. A catchment based approach allows for a number of methods to be used and for closer interagency co-operation to occur. Fostering community involvement by way of rivercare and landcare groups is considered an effective way of resolving destabilisation problems with community help. Site specific rules in a regional plan can be prepared where necessary to deal with particular problems. Environmental education is another method that can be used to raise community awareness about the instability of river and lake beds. Research can assist in identifying and resolving problems. Pests may damage protective vegetation instream and on the banks which may lead to erosion. Control of these pests, including possums and koi carp, is considered necessary. Monitoring will provide information on the effectiveness of the policies and methods adopted and also help in identifying problem areas.

River beds and banks can become unstable from excess removal of sand, metal, and shingle, inappropriate placement of structures, water level fluctuations and surface water activities. It is recognised that extraction of bed material can assist river management in some instances. Over extraction may result in degradation of the river or lake bed and banks. Regulation is necessary to control the removal of sand, metal or shingle and the placement of structures in instances where there is potential for the degradation of the bed and/or bank of the river or lake. Sand, metal and shingle are a finite resource in the Region’s rivers and lakes. Care is needed to ensure that they are extracted at a rate that avoids adverse effects. Structures or impoundments in the beds of lakes and rivers may cause water level fluctuations to occur thereby causing erosion. Fluctuations will be managed to minimise erosion and bed destabilisation. Territorial local authorities are responsible for the control of any actual or potential effects of activities in relation to surface of waters in river and lakes. Surface water activities should be managed in a manner that avoids the destabilisation of the beds and banks of rivers and lakes.

Existing works and services play an important role in maintaining stable river banks and beds. It is necessary through regional plans, asset management plans and flood control plans to protect the integrity of structures and maintain services. Where there are significant regional benefits new programmes will be advocated to further maintain and enhance the stability of river and lake beds and banks.

1. Reduction in instability of river and lake beds and banks.

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