WETLAND WATER STORAGE PILOT

Wetland Water Storage Project 

Aqua Intel Aotearoa (AIA) is working with Environment Southland (ES) and Te Ao Marama Incorporated (TAMI) to explore the potential for wetland enhancement to contribute to the hauora, or wellbeing, of water and the economic resilience of the Southland region.

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A study will utilise the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) to model the impact of wetland development on low flows in downstream river catchments.  The SWAT modelling approach enables assessment of wetland benefits at both small watershed and larger river catchment scale, so that we can consider not only the potential benefit of single wetlands, but the collective benefit of many wetlands throughout the catchment.  The Upper Mataura Catchment will be the focus for this study due to the co-benefits of aligning with the Murihiku Slow the Flow work programme, and also the AIA aquifer mapping work across the same catchment. 

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Who is supporting the project?

The project is funded through Aqua Intel Aotearoa, who are working with Environment Southland, Te Ao Marama, and Thriving Southland on this project. 

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What are the next steps? 

Data acquisition and input to SWAT model involves collating soil, precipitation, climate and topography data, and processing the data for input to the model. Once all the best available data is available a number of scenarios and model runs will be completed to test the efficacy of wetland development for increasing low flows in downstream waterways.  This will be carried out at both small (e.g., small ephemeral stream) and large (e.g., river catchment) scales to consider how multiple wetlands might impact low flows.

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How to find out more

• Email us: info@aquaintel.co.nz

• Use the form at the bottom of the page to send an enquiry.

• Visit our Facebook page.