Freshwater quality

A team of NIWA freshwater ecologists are researching the use of biodegradable plant mats to help reintroduce native aquatic plants to degraded freshwater lakes in Aotearoa-New Zealand.

This project aims to increase our knowledge of aquatic ecosystems and their restoration, and apply this to degraded streams, rivers, lakes and estuaries.

Effective systems to manage contaminant losses

A NIWA-led project to support anyone wishing to deploy a water quality sensor in rivers, lakes and estuaries.

NIWA's Urban Runoff Quality Information System (URQIS) provides planners, engineers and researchers with information about the quality of stormwater from different locations and landuses and under different flow conditions.

Can native freshwater algae help restore the mauri of local waterways? Lawrence Gullery investigates.

What does science tell us about New Zealand cockles?

For the first time, satellites have been used to track coastal water health around Aotearoa New Zealand.

NIWA has updated and restarted a course using a riparian planning tool developed by one of its former chief scientists more than 20 years ago.

Protection of the Awa Models enable us to predict how different uses of the land and water will impact river and stream health.

Bottom lining is the installation of a flexible covering over the top of beds of aquatic weeds, similar to using weed matting in home gardens. The lining is held in place by weights (e.g., rocks or sandbags) or by pinning. This control method is also called ‘benthic barriers’.

A combination of artificial intelligence and scientific ingenuity looks set to be the next step forward in protecting Aotearoa New Zealand’s lakes and rivers from invasive aquatic weeds.