Amenity values of spring fed streams and rivers in Canterbury, New Zealand: A methodological exploration (AERU Research Report No. 298)

Kerr, G. N. & Swaffield, S. R.

Lincoln University

2007

Lincoln University

Prof Kerr: Profile and Contact information at Lincoln University

Groundwater allocation decisions have effects beyond the enterprises and land uses for which water is used. They may influence the quantity, quality and flow of spring fed streams within the catchment, and the in-stream values such as biodiversity, fishing, and recreation. Changes to the streams themselves in turn shape the character and values of the wider stream corridor and the surrounding landscape. Human use and occupation of the land has always changed the character of streams and rivers- that is not new- but the scale of current demands for groundwater, and the speed of land use change based upon groundwater use, set challenges and questions for the way in which spring fed streams and rivers will change in the future.

The Sustainable Groundwater Allocation Research (SUGAR) funded by the Foundation for Research, Science and Technology is aimed at improving knowledge of the relationships between the flow regime of spring fed streams and rivers and its effects, and the development and testing of an improved process of decision making about groundwater allocation. The overall project was developed by Lincoln Ventures Ltd in partnership with Environment Canterbury, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries and Ministry for Environment, and is being undertaken by staff from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Lincoln University and Harris Consulting. Federated Farmers of New Zealand Inc. is collaborating in the design and implementation of the research.

This report presents results from Objective 4 of the SUGAR project, which was aimed at developing a method to help stakeholders in groundwater management to visualize and then weigh the landscape consequences of different water allocation regimes. It focused specifically upon improving understanding of the way people trade off different amenity outcomes of allocation decisions. The study was undertaken in two stages. Salient attributes of amenity were identified using Q Sort method with a selection of key informants from stakeholder groups. A choice experiment was then undertaken, using images and diagrams of different attributes of streams and stream corridors, which are presented to stakeholders as a set of choices. Analysis of the choices people make identifies the relative significance of the different attributes most affected by different management regimes. This information can then inform the next round of decision making in the wider groundwater allocation process.

The combination of methods successfully identified salient attributes of amenity, and identified the relative weights placed upon these attributes by two key stakeholder groups (farmers and anglers), when faced with a range of possible consequences of changing groundwater allocation regimes. It also identified similarities and differences between stakeholder values, both across and within the two groups involved in the study. The most notable finding was that differences in values between farmers and anglers, taken in aggregate, were less marked than differences between different farmers and between different anglers. This enhances prospects for consensus across user groups.

Keywords:

Waterways, Rivers, Natural resources, Fishing, Recreation, Outdoors

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Evaluation

Canterbury

Outdoor Recreation

Outdoors

Rivers and lakes

Impacts - environmental

1163

July 11, 2012