Most improved river takes award

North Canterbury’s Pahau River, situated in one of the most intensively irrigated catchments in the country, has been awarded the supreme prize for most improved river at the annual River Awards.

The top prize was based on the Hurunui river showing the most declining levels of the bacteria E coli over the last 10 years, achieving reductions of 15.6 per cent a year. Pahau Enhancement Group chairman and dairy farmer David Croft said the result came as no surprise.

‘‘The farming community has been aware of problems with the Pahau for more than 10 years and that’s why the enhancement group was originally set up – because of poor water quality. We had a choice to deal with it or ECan (Environment Canterbury) would take the initiative,’’ Croft said.

Cawthron Foundation chairman Dr Morgan Williams said a shift to more precise irrigation and better management practices had brought about the improvement.

‘‘What’s happened in this catchment highlights the importance of taking a systems approach: setting nutrient rules, adopting more efficient irrigation

This year the rivers were judged solely on levels of E coli.

methods, and pursuing innovative farm management practices,’’ he said.

Other awards included the River Story Award which went to University of Otago staff and students for their ExStream project experiments on freshwater.

Marnie Prickett received the Reo mo te Awa (River Voice) Award for her campaigning work on freshwater issues.

Second prize nationally for most improved river was awarded to the Waingawa River in Wairarapa, and third went to the Wairoa River south of Auckland.

Besides the three national winners, the judges awarded the most improved in each region: Hakaru River (Northland), Waitekauri River (Waikato), Omanawa River (Bay of Plenty), Punehu Stream (Taranaki), Whangaehu River (Horizons), Orphanage Stream (Nelson), Aparima River (Southland).

This year the rivers were judged solely on levels of E coli.

But while the Pahau’s E coli levels are low, the same cannot be said for nitrogen, for which it is rated among the worst 25 per cent in the country, or clarity, for which it is in the worst 50 per cent. Nevertheless Croft said there had been a ‘‘definite downward trend’’ for nitrogen and phosphorus over the last five years.