Wakapuaka Mouri Restoration Project

Kidson/Ussher properties

Over the last two years FuturEcology Ltd has been working with the Kidson and Ussher familys on their Wakapuaka propertys. These two adjoining propertys have approximately two kms of the Wakapuaka River flowing through them. The owners were successful in 2020 in gaining funding for a large scale planting and restoration project along the banks and tributaries of the river.

FuturEcology Ltd staff have been assisting with this project, planting 13,000 native plants in 2021 along the riparian margins. Further work is to be carried out over the next 4 to 5 years to plant the balance of the river banks and tributary’s.

This section of stream has long suffered from a lack of shading and vegetation on the margins, and this has been a great opportunity to turn this around. One of the common misconceptions of riparian planting is that flooding will wash away plants or plantings will choke up the river flow. Great care has been taken to ensure that the right plants are planted in the right place. Species such as Carex secta are utilised right on the waters edge where possible so as to provide shade and habitat on the edge but these hardy plants will fold down in a flood and not impede water flows. The idea of a restoration planting is to get the vegetation as close to the water as possible, this is the most valuable environment providing shading and cooling as well as filtering sediment and runoff.

Establishment of plantings is always a challenge, sheep, goats, rabbits and hares all need to be taken into account, however, well planted plants that are fertilised and protected with a biodegradable plant guard will make a successful project.

FuturEcology Ltd staff look forward to seeing this project develop over the next few years and really believe that this project can really benefit the community through not just the improvement in water quality and biodiversity but also with the provision of a cycling / walking trail along the true left of the river.

Read the full article here.

See the Tasman Environmental Trust story here.