Environmental status of the near shore coastal environment.

Includes bibliographical citations.

This report presents a comprehensive review of the environmental status of Otagogass near shore coastal environment. There is no current Otago Regional Council (ORC) coastal monitoring programme and therefore the ORC relies on resource consent monitoring to fulfil itgass responsibilities under the Resource Management Act (1991), the Regional Policy Statement and the Regional Plan: Coast. The only intensive coastal monitoring undertaken is in the vicinity of Dunedin and is due to the discharge of Green Island and Tahuna WWTP effluent, otherwise coastal monitoring of Otagogass coastal marine area (CMA) is limited both temporally and spatially. A review of coastal monitoring undertaken since the late 1990gass is presented with particular regard to water quality, the effects of discharges and possible effects on recreational and food gathering areas. Four main areas are covered: b0s Water quality monitoring undertaken as a requirement of resource consents. b0s Other monitoring as required by resource consents such as sediment monitoring programmes, ecological programmes, algal monitoring programmes or monitoring for the extent of mussel contamination. b0s ORC State of Environment monitoring of the major rivers that discharge into the Otago CMA. b0s A review of published research conducted in Otagogass CMA over the past 10 years. There is a need for a coordinated long term water quality and environmental monitoring programme for the whole of the Otago coastline, and the following monitoring and information gathering requirements are recommended: b0s That sufficient baseline information is collected to be able to establish water quality classes for the Otago CMA. b0s That microbiological categories are established for coastal waters in areas where resource consent holders undertake extensive monitoring. b0s That additional bacteriological monitoring is undertaken at Kaka Point, Moeraki and McAndrews Bay. b0s That bacteriological shellfish flesh sampling is undertaken at Moeraki and Kaka Point. b0s That the broad scale mapping element of the protocol developed for assessing and monitoring the condition of New Zealand estuaries is adopted. Initially focusing on estuaries already under some impact, notably the Waikouaiti and Shag estuaries. b0s That water quality surveys of the Taieri, Waikouaiti, Kaikorai, Catlins, Shag and Kakanui estuaries are undertaken. Three six hour water quality surveys (over low tide) should be undertaken for each estuary to provide a baseline for the future.

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