Waikato River Clean-up Trust: Funding Strategy 2015

www.

waikatoriver

.org.nz

Priorities for funding

3.1 Background

The Trust consulted widely and through its networks has drawn on a wide range of sources to

develop its priority areas.

In setting the following priorities the Trust has also given adequate regard to the Waikato River

Independent Scoping Study (WRISS).

The key purpose of the WRISS was to provide the Crown and Waikato River iwi with a sound and

objective basis on which to make decisions about the priority actions required to restore and

protect the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River for future generations.

3.2 Priorities

Priorities for funding fall into nine areas. The first three of these areas are geographically based.

Karapiro Dam to Te Puuaha o Waikato (the mouth of the Waikato River) referred to in map

Area A (page 7).

Priorities for Trust funding for this area include projects that address:

• Improving connectivity between different parts of the ecosystem (both the Waipa and

Waikato rivers, feeder streams and lowland lakes). Physical / chemical conditions are

reliant on connectivity, and many native species require access to areas they cannot

currently reach

• Management of drainage canals and other linkages between water bodies (for example at

Lake Whangape and other similar lakes to improve habitat), including projects that involve

planting native ora, and creating sinuosity in canals

• Habitat enhancement at high priority lakes

• Restoration of iinanga spawning sites, including artificial habitat in the short term until

native vegetation re-establishes. Projects may also consider changing hydrology through

removal of some tide gates to allow migration of iinanga

• Develop management action plans to restore key ecological values in significant riverine

lakes, and wetlands

• Stream headwater re-vegetation projects including fencing, planting and improving

connectivity with a view to improving the diversity of habitat

• Restoring and protecting the health and wellbeing of the Waikato River.

Waikato River Clean-up Trust

Funding Strategy

2015