MUDDY FEET - Auckland Regional Council

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Figure 1-2 Aerial view of the eastern end of the Ramsar Site, showing the Waihou and Piako river mouths, the stopbanks, farmland and the band of coastal mangroves.
Wind and tidal currents cause a net retention of a great volume of sediments brought into the southern half of the Firth by rivers and streams. By one estimate, the basin is infilling at the average rate of 0.8-1.0 mm per year at the centre and 1.8-2.0 mm near shore, mainly from sediments brought in by the Waihou and Piako Rivers (Naish et al.1990) (see Figure 1-2). Distribution of the entrained sediments entering the Firth of Thames varies with the changing circulation systems that dominate the movement of its waters. The three major influences that control the circulation systems present in the Firth are the East <strong>Auckland</strong> Current, the M2 tide, and prevailing winds. Residual water movement from the tide is found to be almost zero, with weak ebb and flow currents in the upper Firth of less than 1cm/s. Wind induced currents have been modelled by Proctor and Greig (1989), and show clockwise and anticlockwise circular gyres throughout the water column within the Firth of Thames. The East <strong>Auckland</strong> Current (flowing south-easterly from North Cape past Great Barrier Island), and the north-westerly winds of El Nin�o both act as partial barriers to the movement of sediments out of the Firth of Thames, resulting in deposition and accretion in the Firth itself and particularly along its southern and western margins (van Leeuwe 1991) (map, Figure 8-1). The mean annual air temperature is about 13ºC, and the average annual rainfall approx. 1,200mm (Young and Harvey, 1996). Surface temperatures in the open waters of the Firth range from 14 o C. to 24 o C. in a “warm” year, 11 o C. to 22 o C. in a “cold” year (depending on the phase of the El Nin�o cycle) and there is usually less than one degree difference between top and bottom temperatures in depths of 10-12 m off Waimangu Point (M. Aislabie, pers. comm.). The Hauraki Catchment is a significant source of nutrients for the fertile waters and mudflats of the entire Hauraki Gulf, though the up welling of deep ocean waters at the north-eastern margin of the Gulf is by far the greatest source of nutrient supply, particularly when the northwesterly winds of El Niño blow consistently along the coast (Zeldis et al., 2000). The high plankton productivity resulting from these elevated levels of deep-water nutrients (along with those coming in as runoff from the catchment, and the decomposition of detritus mainly in the mangroves) supports abundant fish and littoral invertebrate populations (especially shellfish) in the Firth of Thames. The Firth of Thames has been recognised since the early settlement of Hauraki Maori for its immense life-supporting capacities, and in more recent times for its unique conservation and wildlife habitat values. It is still an important shared resource for various iwi, as well as non- Maori local residents and visitors. Two species of flounder are the foundation of a small local commercial fishery. Recreational fishing – based mainly on snapper (Pagrus auratus), kahawai (Arripis trutta), flounder (Rhombosolea leporina and R. plebeia) and trevally (Pseudocaranx dentex) – yields consistently good results. Shellfish farming, particularly greenshell mussels (Perna canaliculus), has expanded on both sides of the Firth and to the north at Waiheke and Great Barrier Islands. The Firth of Thames shoreline is scenically attractive. The road follows the coastline, giving excellent views of the Firth and the Coromandel Ranges. South of Kaiaua the shell banks present a spectacular sight, particularly in fine weather when their brilliant white reflects the sunlight. This natural beauty makes the Firth an important recreational resource for swimming, boating, fishing, shellfish gathering, camping, tramping, and horse riding (Bacon, 1973). The number of casual visitors to the coast, especially during the summer months, is increasing rapidly. The Shorebird Centre of the Miranda Naturalists’ Trust provides for local bird-watching and environmental education activities. The Miranda Hot Springs and attached holiday park have become a major attraction for visitors to the area, as well as the locals. EcoQuest Education Foundation EQRS/1 12/04 5
Page 1 and 2: MUDDY FEET FIRTH OF THAMES RAMSAR S
Page 3 and 4: MUDDY FEET FIRTH OF THAMES RAMSAR S
Page 5 and 6: Contents List of Figures List of Ta
Page 7 and 8: 11.7 Current Research in the Firth
Page 9 and 10: List of Tables Table 5-1 Comparativ
Page 11 and 12: Acknowledgements This report was ma
Page 13 and 14: Preface Muddy feet. All resident an
Page 15 and 16: 1 Introduction by Ria Brejaart and
Page 17: Figure 1-1 Southern Hauraki Gulf an
Page 21 and 22: Figure 1-4 continued. EcoQuest Educ
Page 23 and 24: studies, some of which use the Chen
Page 25 and 26: providing for the drainage and sett
Page 27 and 28: 2 Hydrology by Ria Brejaart, Bill B
Page 29 and 30: 2.2 Summary of Cheatley (2000) Grou
Page 31 and 32: 3 Vegetation by Peter Maddison and
Page 33 and 34: mangroves positioned between the ma
Page 35 and 36: and available habitat types for wad
Page 37 and 38: Family Asteraceae *Aster subulatus
Page 39 and 40: Though creeping musk is of widespre
Page 41 and 42: Future Work: Spartina is a recognis
Page 43 and 44: *Trifolium glomeratum - clustered c
Page 45 and 46: 4 Terrestrial Invertebrates & Mamma
Page 47 and 48: Heteronychus arator (Fabricius) - B
Page 49 and 50: The extensive mangrove community th
Page 51 and 52: establishing in areas where tempera
Page 53 and 54: It appears from our observations an
Page 55 and 56: 41 Figure -5-1 June, 1963 aerial ph
Page 57 and 58: 43 Figure -5-3: Waitakaruru River t
Page 59 and 60: 45 1 Upstream view about 100m from
Page 61 and 62: 47 Looking west: 1 Dredge spoils af
Page 63 and 64: 49 5.6 Revegetation of the Spoils A
Page 65 and 66: 51 The five field investigations of
Page 67 and 68: 53 issue of proper disposal, whethe
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55 Figure 6-1 Important Sites for w
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57 Figure 6-3 Changing habitats at
Page 73 and 74:
59 • Over 1983-1994, rarer waders
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61 Thames, knots have been recorded
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63 stop-peck’. On pasture they fe
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65 6.5 Other Wader Species As in ot
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67 graze on grass and other low-gro
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69 Little black shag - Phalacrocora
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71 6.8 Terrestrial Species A few of
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73 Figure 6-4 Wader watchers: a com
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75 S. I. pied oystercatcher Torea H
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77 7 Estuarine Fish, Fisheries and
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79 firmer patches of bottom near th
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81 (between Kaiaua and Orere Point)
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83 large quantities of unwanted har
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85 Only four or five of the small b
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87 stage in the sea. These species
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89 Appendix 7.1 Fishes of the South
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91 8 Benthic Ecology Part 1 - A pre
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93 at a size that would have allowe
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95 8.3.2 Across-shore trends Simila
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97 Relative abundances m 2 30 25 20
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99 from fine silts to sandy mud in
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101 cumulative downstream effects f
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103 8.7 Study site Sampling took pl
Page 119 and 120:
105 Table 8-8 Total for organisms c
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107 should be mapped :physical and
Page 123 and 124:
109 including scenery, ecological s
Page 125 and 126:
111 Important resource management a
Page 127 and 128:
113 • Relevant provisions of the
Page 129 and 130:
115 Figure 9-1 Zoning map of Thames
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117 Figure 9-2 Zoning map of Kaiaua
Page 133 and 134:
119 The decision to impose a tapu i
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121 9.9 Discussion The coast road t
Page 137 and 138:
123 10 Raising Conservation Awarene
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125 10.2.4 Waikato Conservancy In 2
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127 • Is there a need for more ef
Page 143 and 144:
129 The Kaiaua Citizens’ and Rate
Page 145 and 146:
131 • What are the causes of the
Page 147 and 148:
133 • Formation of a better pictu
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135 11.4.2 Marine farming Mussels a
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137 Five permanent sites in the upp
Page 153 and 154:
139 • Uptake of nutrients by muss
Page 155 and 156:
141 12 Firth of Thames Ramsar Site
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143 regard to substrates that norma
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145 The construction of the stop ba
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147 Physical (toxic chemicals, nutr
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149 The jurisdictional boundary (be
Page 165 and 166:
151 What are the preferred food spe
Page 167 and 168:
153 How to attract a “manageable
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155 Local involvement It was noted
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157 Sedimentation: particle size di
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159 Melville David Ornithological S
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161 Firth toward a few species that
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163 A clear, consistent definition
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165 14 Bibliography By Marie Buchle
Page 181 and 182:
167 Keywords: Waihou and tributarie
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169 Copy held and available from th
Page 185 and 186:
171 Subject: Vegetation Keywords: L
Page 187 and 188:
173 Subject: Birds, mangroves Cox,
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175 de Lange, P.J., & Lowe, D.J. (1
Page 191 and 192:
177 Estcourt, I.N. (1976). Bibliogr
Page 193 and 194:
179 Subject: Fish Keywords: new gob
Page 195 and 196:
181 Harris, R.W. (1975). Summary of
Page 197 and 198:
183 Jillett, J.B. (1966). Plankton
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185 landform which holds valuable i
Page 201 and 202:
187 Copy held: EQ McKenzie, H.R. (1
Page 203 and 204:
189 mixed terrigenous-carbonate gra
Page 205 and 206:
191 accounts for water movement at
Page 207 and 208:
193 Pierce, R. J. (1999). Regional
Page 209 and 210:
195 Subject: Benthic ecology Keywor
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197 Subject: Birds. Record of occas
Page 213 and 214:
199 Keywords: dredge disturbance, b
Page 215 and 216:
201 Keywords: environmental managem
Page 217:
203 Zharikov, Y. & Skilleter, G.A.
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MUDDY FEET - Auckland Regional Council

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