State of the Environment freshwater monitoring programme

About the State of the Environment freshwater monitoring programme

Under the Resource Management Act, the ARC is responsible for reporting on the state of the freshwater environment.

The ARC is also responsible for safeguarding the water supply and protecting the waterways from waste discharges such as dairy effluent discharge, wastes from rural production, nutrient runoff, and excessive sediment.

The Auckland region covers a huge area so it's impossible to monitor every lake and stream; however, we:

• meet our requirements under the RMA (Resource Management Act),
• use monitoring methods that are practical, affordable, and scientifically credible,
• operate monitoring programmes that can be expanded in the future,
• monitor the water quality and ecological status of selected lakes, rives, and streams that are representative of many others in the Auckland region
• monitor the amount of our freshwater resource (both surface water and groundwater) and identify any long-term trends.

The SoE freshwater monitoring programme consists of 4 different monitoring programmes

• Water Quantity - this monitors the amount of freshwater and the climate in the Auckland region.
• Rivers & Streams Water Quality - this monitors the water quality of 27 rivers and streams.
• Lakes Water Quality - this monitors the water quality of seven lakes.
• Freshwater Ecology - this checks the aquatic life and plants in 41 soft-bottomed streams.