Detention Bunds
About the project
An ecosystem services report commissioned by Living Water identified widespread use of detention bunds as a potential solution for slowing water flows, removing sediment and improving overall catchment resilience. Engineers have been engaged to design and build detention (earth) bunds in flow paths to collect and slow the release of stormwater on two farms. The ability of these structures to reduce peak flow and capture sediment in the Northland farming landscape will be assessed.
Once the performance of the bunds and their designs have been assessed, we will evaluate the cost effectiveness and water quality outcomes of using them throughout the entire catchment. In turn, this will determine whether detention bunds (or similar solutions) can effectively manage peak run off in Northland.
Benefits
- Reduced sediment to waterways
Progress
- Concept and detailed design completed early 2017
- Construction delayed due to adverse weather – now taking place early 2018
Matt Highway
All a detention bund is really doing is slowing down water. But the reason why this is really important is when water slows down it gives the environment a lot more time to treat that water.
Concept and detailed design
Completed early 2017
Project Implementation and Construction
Due to be completed by March 2018
Monitoring
Due to start in early 2018 and end in mid 2019
What’s Next
- 12–18 months of monitoring before efficiency results determined