Southland region

The upper Oreti flows through a mixture of tussock flats and beech forest, before reaching areas where the catchment has been developed. Above Mossburn, agricultural practices are generally extensive, with land usage becoming more intensive further down the zone. Exotic forest plantations are located on the foothills of the West Dome. The upper Oreti River is internationally renowned for its trophy brown trout fishing. The aesthetics of the upper catchment, the clarity of the river, plus the size of the resident brown trout combine to produce a surreal fishing experience. Many visiting New Zealand and foreign anglers are drawn to the upper Oreti River and contribute significantly to the local economy. Within the Upper Oreti surface water zone. Environment Southland has several permanent water level and automatic rainfall recording sites that provide important floodwarning and hydrological information. This data is essential for understanding the flow regime and water balance of the upper catchment. There are several surface water takes from within the Upper Oreti surface water zone. The majority of these are for community supply schemes. Recently, changes in land-use, mainly from sheep to intensive dairy farming have occurred, particularly in the drier Five Rivers Basin. Information to date suggests that several aquifers may be fully allocated.