The freshwater springs of the Wairau Plain constitute an important aesthetic and cultural resource for the local community. However, the habitat value and ecology of these springs is not well known.
Due to their connection with the underlying Wairau Aquifer, spring flows are remarkably constant although droughts and floods do have a short-term influence.
This report is the first step in deriving an ecological assessment of the Wairau Plain springs.
Twenty four sites were sampled as part of this study. Existing information from 10 sites in the
Spring Creek catchment was also included.
