Restoration Approaches

A wide range of actions can help to enhance the health of large rivers, including reducing point source contaminant inputs, maintaining ecologically-suitable flow regimes, and reducing catchment sediment and nutrient sources. Recent overseas work on large river restoration has focussed on reconnecting hydrological linkages with habitats that have been disconnected as part of flood protection works or to facilitate navigation. These habitats include floodplains, backwaters and side-arms, sometimes referred to as hydraulic retention zones where reduced water retention times alter ecological processes such as sedimentation, plant growth and nutrient retention.

Figure 1

Figure 1. Reconstructed side-arm of Waikato River, near Huntly

Current projects

  • Role of lower river floodplain connectivity on the functioning of the Waikato River – Dr Konrad Górski

  • Can Chilean rivers provide a reference template for New Zealand large river restoration? – Dr Konrad Górski

    • Completed project

  • Ginders, M.A. 2011. The influence of connectivity on the functional role of a natural and re-constructed side-arm in the lower Waikato River. Unpubl. MSc thesis, The University of Waikato, 135 p.

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