Technical reports 2009

TR2009/052 Auckland Sustainable Homes Assessment, Part 1 Insulation and Clean Heat Appliances
(1.5 MB PDF)

This report assesses the sustainability of the Auckland housing stock in terms of minimum levels of insulation and clean and efficient home heating appliances. As part of the Auckland Sustainable Framework (ASF), the ARC is investigating the role that a 'Sustainable Homes' programme could play to address the challenges of climate change, unsustainable natural resource use, population growth, social disadvantage and degraded air quality.

TR2009/053 - Pollution Gradient Classification
(271.9 KB PDF)

This report provides guidance on how to rank tidal and harbour sites based on data collected by a number of agencies in the Auckland Region. The site evaluations presented in the report were used to develop the Benthic Health Model.

This report is part of a series that were commissioned to characterised urban stormwater discharges.  The reports were used to support the establishment and ongoing operation of the Regional Discharges Project.

TR2009/055 - Kaipara Harbour Sediments Information Review
(2.5 MB PDF)

A review of existing literature relating to sedimentation and sediment composition in the Kaipara Harbour is presented. This report was commissioned jointly between the Auckland Regional Council and Northland Regional Council.

TR2009/056 - Pesticide use in the Mahurangi catchments - assessment of impact on the aquatic environment
(980.4 KB PDF)

Pesticide use in the Mahurangi catchment was assessed through a representative survey with results presented in this report.

This report is part of a series of reports that were commissioned during the period 1993-1999 that were used to support the establishment of the Mahurangi Action Plan. They are being made available following a review of technical information.

TR2009/057 - Optical water quality of the Mahurangi Estuarine System
(3.6 MB PDF)

A study of the water colour and clarity of the Mahurangi Harbour and Estuary is reported. The goal of the study was to determine the sensitivity of the estuary to catchment landuse.

This report is part of a series of reports that were commissioned during the period 1993-1999 that were used to support the establishment of the Mahurangi Action Plan. They are being made available following a review of technical information.

TR2009/058 - Numerical modelling of Warkworth sewage discharge to Mahurangi Estuary
(7.0 MB PDF)

The impacts of two discharge options for the Warkworth treated sewage discharge on the concentrations of in the Mahurangi estuary are presented.

This report is part of a series of reports that were commissioned during the period 1993-1999 that were used to support the establishment of the Mahurangi Action Plan. They are being made available following a review of technical information.

TR2009/059 - Mahurangi Estuary Numerical Modelling - Stormwater Overflow Events
(7.3 MB PDF)

This report gives details of modelling the dispersion of storm overflow discharges within the Mahurangi River. Results are presented for varying events and durations.

This report is part of a series of reports that were commissioned during the period 1993-1999 that were used to support the establishment of the Mahurangi Action Plan. They are being made available following a review of technical information.

TR2009/060 - Modelling sediment loads to the Mahurangi Estuary
(1.5 MB PDF)

The report presents computer simulations that predict sediment and nutrient loadings to the Mahurangi harbour, using detailed information on its catchment and long term climate record.

This report is part of a series of reports that were commissioned during the period 1993-1999 that were used to support the establishment of the Mahurangi Action Plan. They are being made available following a review of technical information.

TR2009/061 - Mahurangi Estuary - Sedimentation history and recent human impacts
(7.7 MB PDF)

The sedimentation history and present day sedimentation processes in the Mahurangi Harbour are reported to determine how the harbour has responded to changes in sediment load following changing landcover in the catchment.

This report is part of a series of reports that were commissioned during the period 1993-1999 that were used to support the establishment of the Mahurangi Action Plan. They are being made available following a review of technical information.

TR2009/062 - Redwoods Stream sediment yield
(581.9 KB PDF)

Sediment yields from Redwoods Stream, Mahurangi are compared before and during timber harvesting

This report is part of a series of reports that were commissioned during the period 1993-1999 that were used to support the establishment of the Mahurangi Action Plan. They are being made available following a review of technical information.

TR2009/064 - Analysis of sediment yields within Auckland Region
(3.4 MB PDF)

Sustainable management of the Auckland region’s land and aquatic environment requires ongoing monitoring of various environmental parameters. Measurements of suspended sediment yields during storms at nine basins in Waitemata Formation terrane under various land uses in the Auckland region were analysed to determine event sediment yields and mean annual sediment yields. The site data and results are reported in this publication.

TR2009/072 Review of hydrologic properties of soils in the Auckland region
(298.8 KB PDF)

This report provides technical information on soils within the Auckland region to support the revision of Technical publication 108, Guidelines for Stormwater Runoff Modelling in the Auckland Region.

TR2009/073 - Hydrological effect of compaction associated with Earthworks
(1.5 MB PDF)

This report assesses the implication of soil compaction associated with earth work for large urbanised greenfield sites in Auckland. It includes a review of literature on physical characteristics of urban soils, particularly those affecting their capacity to mitigate stormwater run-off issues.Reviews the basis of the Soil Conservation Service (SCS) method as amended for Auckland.Strategies are also recommended that would increase the accuracy of the SCS approach to modelling run-off, and methods of managing soils and pervious open space in urban areas that would increase their ability to mitigate urban stormwater run-off issues.

TR2009/074 Identification of permeable soils within the Waitemata Formation
(1.9 MB PDF)

This report identifies Hydrological Class A (high to moderate permeability) soils within the dominant Class C (low permeability) soils on Waitemata Formation sedimentary rocks in the Auckland region.

TR2009/077 - Measurable bottom line objectives for integrated catchment management plans (short version)
(298.7 KB PDF)

The report provides guidance on how to use a multi-criteria analysis to evaluate options and how to set measurable objectives for Integrated Catchment Management Plans (ICMP). It shows a practical way to link ICMP outcomes with the four wellbeings under the RMA and LGA.

TR2009/078 - Measurable bottom line objectives for integrated catchment management plans (extended version)
(414.7 KB PDF)

The report provides guidance on how to use a multi-criteria analysis to evaluate options and how to set measurable objectives for Integrated Catchment Management Plans (ICMP). It shows a practical way to link ICMP utcomes with the four wellbeings under the RMA and LGA. This document provides a greater level of detail and background research about the methodology than TR2009/077

TR2009/083 Landscape and ecology values within stormwater management
(2.7 MB PDF)

This award winning report is a review of ARC's TP10, with specific regard to promoting values for landscape and ecology in design of stormwater management devices. The documents' structure is based on three levels of specificity, provided as principles, specifications and recommendations.

TR2009/084 Fish passage in the Auckland region - a synthesis of current research
(4.4 MB PDF)

This technical report was commissioned as an updated version of Technical Publication 131 – Fish Passage Guidelines for the Auckland Region, which was published in June 2000. It incorporates the most current research on fish passage issues and offers a range of options for the construction of fish-friendly instream structures.

TR2009/085 - Intergenerational responses of aquatic biota to low level contamination in urban streams
(551.9 KB PDF)

This report provides a tool for detecting the effects of chronic, low-level contamination in streams on multiple generations of aquatic biota, using changes in genetic structure as a marker. It combines both field and laboratory experiments ranging from acute (4 days) to chronic (38 days) exposure periods. Effects on both adult and juvenile populations produced during the experiments and have assessed both physiological and reproductive measures of fitness. Collectively these results provide strong evidence for selection effects of stormwater resulting in heritable shifts in genetic composition.

TR2009/086 Use of Microbial Biofilms to Monitor the Efficacy of a Stormwater Treatment Train
(2.2 MB PDF)

This report provides an assessment of the efficacy of stormwater treatments devices in operation at the Albany Park and Ride complex using a novel ecological indicator. The bacterial community within the biofilm layer was used as an ecological indicator, taking advantage of recent advantages in DNA analysis techniques. This approach allows the quality of water in a system to be measured where traditional ecological indicators (invertebrates and fish) are not present. The approach provided valuable results, indicating the biofilm technique has value in monitoring programmes and that the stormwater devices at the Park and Ride complex are having a beneficial effect of the quality of water.

TR2009/091 - An evaluation framework for the ICMP programme
(1.6 MB PDF)

A key deliverable of the project is a process for assessing ICMPs. This is the first step in a major exercise in building the capacity of the region’s wider catchment management industry in line with New Zealand best planning practice. Logic models are a graphical representation of the main elements of a programme. They describe in concise terms how a programme operates, and illustrate the outcomes and impacts it aims to deliver or support. This framework has four logic models, one describing the workstream as a whole, with the other three describing the main groups of activities that contribute to the workstream’s overall success. These three groups of activities relate to: promoting good ICMPs; funding the preparation of ICMPs; and building awareness, relationships and alignment amongst ICMP stakeholders.

TR2009/092 Integrating catchment and coastal management – A survey of local and international best practice
(2.2 MB PDF)

This literature review evaluated how catchment planning and coastal planning can be linked with each other, when it may be appropriate and at what level to do so. The review is based on national and international best practice.

TR2009/095 Hydrology of Wetlands
(4.1 MB PDF)

The main objective was to determine whether wetlands are more effective at controlling stormwater peak flows and reducing flow volumes than ponds. This report accompanies a coupled energy and water balance spread-sheet model that has been applied to two wetlands. It describes the model including its organisation into sub-models, parameters and calculations. As the model has not been calibrated, the findings listed are tentative.

TR2009_097 - Organic contaminants in sentinel shellfish - 2007 data
(138.6 KB PDF)

Data from ARC’s monitoring of sentinel shellfish in the Manukau and Waitemata harbours is presented for 2007. Samples were analysed for organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

TP2009/098 - Marine Sediment Monitoring Programme: 2007 Results
(1.5 MB PDF)

This report describes the concentrations of contaminants found in marine sediments at a selection of Auckland’s estuaries, harbours and some beaches. Data from 1998 to 2007 is presented and is part of an ongoing long term monitoring programme.

TR2009/099 - Marine water quality data report 2007
(465.6 KB PDF)

This report summarizes water quality monitoring of marine waters in our estuaries, harbours and open coastal areas. The data are presented in tabular form as well as graphically to illustrate differences in the water quality parameters that are monitored at each of the 27 sites. Information obtained from the saline water quality programme was reported in the 2009 State of the Auckland Region report.

TR2009/100 - Marine water quality data report 2008
(464.8 KB PDF)

This is a continuation of the annual data report series. For the 2008 year, differences among sites were apparent with variations in individual water quality parameters reflecting the degree of mixing and dilution at site along with terrestrial inputs. Sheltered sites found in estuaries and harbours close to the city had higher concentrations of nutrients compared to the more exposed east coast sites.