Project to plant stream banks

UEM's Tahawai Stream restoration project will see the stream banks fenced and planted.

The Tahawai Stream Restoration project will see 630m of stream banks planted and is the start of stream restoration works involving the Uretara Estuary Managers Inc on the Tahawai stream.

The project is one of three on farms this year in the four catchments near Katikati. In the past UEM Inc has concentrated on the protection and enhancement of the Uretara Stream catchment only. The Tahawai stream waters discharge to the Tauranga Harbour within the same embayment as the Uretara Stream, adjacent to Stokes Rd.

This year the Tahawai project is to fence and plant 1250m of Tahawai stream (625m x 2 sides). The stream was fenced this last summer to exclude stock in preparation for the restoration work. To exclude stock from the waterway required 1000m of protection fence (made up of new and old fences). The group used seven wire fence with two insulated 'hot' wires at a cost of $16 per metre. This will keep stock out of the stream and stop them from browsing on the young plants. Funding for the fencing was provided by the landowners and Bay of Plenty Regional Council.

This winter UEM will plant 630 metres of the stream banks. A community restoration planting day is set for July 15.

UEM has been working on land and stream restoration for some 12 years.

"Working with landowners, local and regional government, schools and other community groups, we have fenced and planted approximately 8000 metres of stream banks in indigenous shrubs and trees," says chairman Laurie Donald.

"Our project will see the protection of the entire stream through this property."

Why plant along the Tahawai Stream?

The Tahawai Stream is a small stream flowing from the Kaimai Ranges to the Tauranga Harbour. The stream passes through farmland and orchards on the way to the coast. On this journey the cool clear stream that leaves the Kaimai Forest becomes warmer, receiving the impacts of stock crossing, sediment wash from roads, tracks, culverts, nutrient runoff and general soil disturbance. These impacts all have a knock-on, adverse effect to the lower stream and estuary especially the whitebait, eels and harbour fishery.

The proposed works, while simple, will reduce impacts to the stream and estuary. Shade provided by the plantings will keep the stream cool, strong vegetation adjacent the stream can filter and reduce sediment supply to the stream. These improvements are essential for stream life to thrive, says Laurie.

"Waterways protection for the Tauranga Harbour catchments is essential for our future."

The project is a community effort -- plants for the 2.5 hectare project will be supplied by UEM and Katikati College with the remainder to be bought from a native plant nursery. All plants are eco-sourced to the Bay of Plenty coastal area, which means they will grow well here.

The Katikati College 'Trees for Survival' programme funded through Summerset by the Sea will participate in this project by raising plants and assisting with planting days. Volunteers from UEM will assist with the planting programme.

The objective is to plant half of the total area this year with 5200 plants. The remainder will be planted next winter.

The project is on private land where the landowner and community share an interest for the works and the environmental gains from such works.

The community is invited to come along and help on planting day, July 15. The plantings will be carried out by a mix of UEM supporters and other volunteers, school students, and some contract workers to prepare and bore plant holes.

Refreshments, morning/afternoon tea and lunch are supplied to the volunteers by UEM members unable to assist out on the farm, but still very capable of producing wonderful food.

• To find out more contact Lawrie Donald 021 859 929 or email lahjdonald@gmail.com or Sue Morris 0275 494 627 if you would like to volunteer on the planting day. Anyone wishing to contribute to this project who doesn't have the time or capability but would like to provide a donation, go to https://millionmetres.org.nz/open-project/uretara-estuary-managers-tahawai-stream-project, watch the short video of the project and donate a metre of restoration today.