Nitrogen and Phosphorous Filter Trials
Are nutrient filters a practical solution for farmers to reduce their impact on water quality?
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
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.
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.
Catchment scale tools
Detention Bund Trial
Determining whether detention bunds can effectively manage peak run off and reduce sediment in Northland.
Physiographics Project
Helping landowners to better understand where to put contaminant management interventions to improve water quality leaving farms.
Reducing Contaminants Using Peak Run Off Control Structures
Using simple structures to manage peak flows
Ecosystem Services
Testing the usefulness of taking an ecosystems services approach for project planning.
Social tools
SPRINT Planning
Taking a new approach to strategic planning.
Increasing wildlife habitat areas in a farming landscape
Wairoa Freshwater Improvement Project
Collaborative project incorporating sustainable land management practices and the principles of mātauranga Māori to reduce sediment into the Wairoa River.