Understanding the risks to estuarine habitats is fundamental to establishing a defensible and cost-effective long-term estuary monitoring programme for the Nelson region.
In 2017, Nelson City Council contracted Salt Ecology to consolidate existing information on the four largest estuaries in the Nelson region; Waimea Inlet, Paruparuroa/Nelson Haven, Wakapuaka/Delaware Inlet and Kokorua Inlet. A formal risk-based approach was used to determine estuary vulnerability and identify key stressors—such as excessive sediment, nutrients, and toxins—and to describe habitat changes. Established assessment criteria have been applied to determine the likely influence of stressors on estuary condition.
Regional estuarine monitoring and vulnerability assessment 2017
Based on this review, a long-term monitoring and reporting programme commenced in 2018, with 5-yearly “broad scale” and “fine scale” monitoring surveys for aa estuaries. 'Broad scale monitoring' maps habitat and sediment types, and 'fine scale monitoring' focuses on sedimentation and sediment contaminants.
Additional monitoring is also done to assess the impacts of extreme weather events on seagrass, and to support research and restoration projects in the estuaries.
The results of all estuary monitoring are available at the web report platforms linked below. Individual monitoring reports are available upon request
Wakapuaka (Delaware) Inlet monitoring
This interactive web report described long term changes in Wakapuaka Inlet since monitoring first began and include an assessment of the effects of the August 2022 flood. Please click the below image to read more about this monitoring:
