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Pongakawa Wetland 2021 Fish-Passage Restoration Project by ATS Environmental - Scroll through the 'Glide-show'

The Pongakawa Wetland is a man-made wetland located in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

Three small PVC pipes connected the ponds to the stream and were barriers to fish.

It was great to have the opportunity to work with the Western Bay of Plenty District Council to remove existing barriers rather than remediate them - a more natural watercourse is always ideal.

The existing plants at the wetland are well established.

The plan was to completely remove the pipes and replace them with rock-lined open channels and suitable wetland plants.

Rocks were delivered.

Kelly lifts the rocks onto his 4x4 ute - to transport to the new channels.

Now it was time to dig the channels being careful to avoid sediment getting into the Pongakawa Stream.

The outlet was temporarily blocked to keep the site dry.

Next we removed the existing PVC pipes.
And dug the trenches deeper.

Then we carefully placed the rocks in the channels with the machine and by hand.

Care was taken to ensure water remained at the surface and the gradient was not too steep.

Planting was the final step...

Mature plants (Carex secta) were placed within the rocks and close to the water to provide shade, refuge and help with fish passage.

All native fish now have the opportunity to make their way from the stream up into the ponds.

Thanks for scrolling :)

Fish-Passage Action Team -

Kelly Hughes, Tim Olley, Shane Scott, Barry Wenger, Jordie Macdonald, Alexandra Johnson-Hughes.

Photo Credits: Tim Olley & Charl Naude

Created By
Alexandra Johnson - Hughes
Appreciate

Credits:

ATS Environmental.