Estuarine vegetation survey : Whangapoua Harbour

Report: TR 2013/38

Author: Meg Graeme, Natural Solutions - Marine and Terrestrial Ecologists Ltd

Abstract

A 1997 pilot study of Whangamata, Wharekawa, and Otahu estuaries determined that it is feasible to map vascular estuarine vegetation from aerial photography together with field surveys. The success of this work encouraged Waikato Regional Council to continue with this method. The estuarine vegetation of Tairua, Coromandel, Te Kouma, Manaia, Whitianga Port Waikato, Raglan, Aotea, Kawhia harbours and the inner Firth of Thames have since been surveyed and mapped. Of these surveyed harbours, Whangamata, Wharekawa, Otahu, Tairua, Coromandel, Te Kouma, Manaia and Whitianga have been now been re-surveyed to determine changes in vegetation communities over time.

The mapped vegetation is within the Coastal Marine Area (CMA) and includes the spatial cover of mangrove, seagrass, sea meadow, saltmarsh and estuarine weed communities. The results of the estuarine vegetation surveys are included in Waikato Regional Council's Geographic Information System (GIS) database, and are used for State of the Environment investigations and assessing consent applications that may affect estuarine vegetation.

This report details the results from the first survey of estuarine vegetation of Whangapoua Harbour. Comments are included on the threats to estuarine vegetation, and other field notes of interest. This report is accompanied by digitised aerial maps of the survey site with vegetation community overlays.

Estuarine vegetation survey : Whangapoua Harbour [PDF, 9.5 MB]