The Taranaki Regional Council strongly encourages protection of the edges of streams and rivers from grazing and removal of vegetation.
The benefits of keeping stock away from streams and maintaining trees and shrubs on the riverbank include: better water quality, greater stability of the banks, less likelihood of flooding, and improved ecological habitat for both native aquatic organisms and trout.
Management of stream margins is known as riparian management.
There are no rules in any of the regional plans that specifically address riparian management. Instead, the Taranaki Regional Council takes an advocacy role, and promotes good practice through education and implementation of its Riparian Management Strategy.
Best practice |
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Leave a strip of vegetation along the stream edge. Don't clear, plough or graze right to the water's edge. |
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Fence off streams where possible to protect them from stock. |
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Plant streambank vegetation. |
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Ask the Regional Council to prepare a riparian plan for your farm.. |
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Provide your stock with alternative water supplies wherever possible. | |
Construct proper stream crossings such as culverts and use them instead of herding stock or driving through stream beds. | |
Realign paddock boundaries with streams to give better feed utilisation and make stock management easier. | ||
Staff are available to give advice on riparian management. They will prepare for you, free of charge, a riparian plan for your farm. It will address fencing, planting and maintenance.
The Taranaki Regional Council has produced several leaflets and a Riparian Management Guide. You may also be able to obtain riparian plants at a reduced cost. Contact the Council for information on riparian plans or obtaining plants, or to get more information on riparian management generally.