Monitored sites in the Whangamoa River catchment
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Whangamoa River
The Whangamoa River is one of the largest rivers in the Nelson region with a catchment of 8,400 ha and mean flow of 2 cumecs at the confluence of Collins River. It is located to the north-east of the Wakapuaka catchment and is fed from the Bryant and Whangamoa Ranges by the Collins River, Graham Stream, Dencker Creek and smaller tributaries. It flows into the Kokorua Estuary, and a significant remnant alluvial forest is present at the extent of the river- saline wedge where inanga spawn.
Land use in the upper catchment is dominated by protection and production forest. In the mid catchment, the valley floor has been developed for farming but the valley sides and ridges are still mainly in native forest or in plantation forest. The land use in the lower catchment is also dominated by production forest, with only the valley bottom and lower slopes developed for farming and lifestyle blocks.
The Whangamoa River catchment is regionally significant because of the relative diversity and intactness of remaining indigenous ecosystems from the upland zone through to the coastal zone. While the typical historic pattern of rural development has meant that much of the alluvial flats and lowland hill country have been converted into farmland and forestry, excellent examples of mineral belt communities, riparian forest, lowland and upland beech forest, and estuarine communities remain. The best remaining natural dune system in Tasman Bay is at the river mouth. The main body of the estuary is largely unmodified. A large sand spit encloses the estuary, which constricts the outlet to a narrow channel.
Nelson City Council
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