Tools & Solutions

Living Water wants better outcomes for the environment, the economy and New Zealanders – this means finding solutions for healthy freshwater ecosystems and sustainable dairying to thrive side by side.

We’re focused on trialling solutions that can be taken to scale and that will create real change - it’s why DOC and Fonterra are working together and is the purpose of our work. This includes physical tools that are designed to fulfil a particular action for freshwater improvement in the landscape, as well as approaches, processes, ways of working or system changes that move us towards more sustainable dairying and healthier freshwater ecosystems.

As we gather results, we’ll see which solutions can be scaled across catchments or regions, how that might be done (what support and capacity does the farming sector and communities need to get there), and how much it might cost.

Farm scale tools

Nitrogen and Phosphorous Filter Trials

Are nutrient filters a practical solution for farmers to reduce their impact on water quality?

Fine Particle Fertiliser Application Demonstration Project

Can nitrogen fertiliser use be reduced without compromising pasture growth?

Sediment Traps

Sediment traps are simple, low-cost excavations in a watercourse or near a waterbody that capture and reduce the downstream movement of gravel, sand, and silt.

Floating Wetlands

Trialling growing aquatic plants growing on a buoyant mat to capture incoming contaminants

Powell’s Road Waterway Enhancement

Demonstrating new ways of sustainably managing a District Council “classified drain”

Lower Waituna Creek Transformation Project

A multi-phase restoration, wetland reconnection and water management project

Biodiversity Assessments on Farm

Engaging farmers with biodiversity on their farms.

Tradescantia Trial

Can we control an invasive weed with Brazilian beetles?

Farm Environment Plan App

Digitised up-to-date environmental action plans for farmers.

Farm Impact Reduction

Trialling a range of on-farm mitigation tools to reduce the impact of nutrients and sediments on waterways

Hydro-seeding Trial

Trialling planting hydro-seeding native sedge seeds in riparian zones to determine success and cost vs conventional planting.

Water Primrose (Ludwigia) Control

Reducing the biomass of invasive macrophyte Ludwigia by aerial spraying with drones, rather than hand weeding or excavation.

Low Cost Wetland Construction

Wetlands can improve water quality, create habitat for wildlife as well as enhance the attractiveness and value of rural properties and can be easy to construct.