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Catlins River Wetland
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Catlins River Wetland
Description: A large area of shrub wetland, with kahikatea (Dacrycarpus dacrydioides) and silver beech (Nothofagus menziesii) remnants, on either side of the lower Catlins River. 1
Type/Class: Bog. 2
Size: 44.2 ha.
Altitude: 0 - 20 m above sea level.
Approximate location: 5 km Southwest of Owaka | NZTM (centre point): E1338850 N4846370.
Regional Plan: Water for Otago | Schedule 9 Regionally Significant Wetland, no.22, Map F33.
Territorial Authority: Clutha District Council.
Interactive map of Catlins River Wetland
| Value | Description |
|---|---|
| A1 | Habitat for nationally or internationally rare or threatened species or communities. Contains giant kokopu (Galaxias argenteus). 2 |
| A4 | High degree of wetland naturalness. |
| A5 | Scarce in Otago in terms of its ecological or physical character. Less than 15% of swamps remain in Otago. 2 |
| A6 | Highly valued by Kai Tahu for cultural and spiritual beliefs, values and uses, including mahika kai and waahi taoka. 1 |
| A7 | High diversity of indigenous wetland flora and fauna. High diversity of flora. 1 |
| A2, A3, A8, A9 | No relevant information is currently held by the ORC. |
- Included in the Statutory Acknowledgement for Kuramea (Lake Catlins). 19
- The Catlins River Wetland supports recreational fisheries for brown trout (Salmo trutta), whitebait (Galaxias spp.) and flounder. It is also important as a whitebait (Galaxias spp.) spawning area. 53
- The Catlins River Wetland forms part of the Catlins Lake and Estuary. The Catlins Lake and Estuary is listed in the Clutha District Plan as a Significant Wetland with a diverse range of avifauna and botany. It is described as a large area of mudflats with associated wetland and saltmarsh, a habitat type much restricted in the region. 37
- The Clutha District Plan also identifies a 1.5 km long stretch of the Lower Catlins River immediately upstream from Catlins Lake as a Significant Wetland. The Catlins River is described in the Clutha District Plan as a slow single-channel river. 37
- The Catlins River Wetland is adjacent to the coastal marine area, which is covered by the Regional Plan: Coast for Otago.
1 Otago Regional Council (2004) Regional Plan: Water for Otago. Published by the Otago Regional Council, Dunedin.
2 Ausseil, A.G., Newsome, P., Johnson, P. (2008) Wetland Mapping in the Otago Region. Landcare Research Contract Report prepared for the Otago Regional Council.
19 Otago Regional Council (2009) Regional Plan: Coast for Otago. Published by the Otago Regional Council, Dunedin.
37 Clutha District Council (1998) Clutha District Plan. Published by the Clutha District Council, Balclutha.
51 Otago Regional Council – Photo Archive.
53 Davis, S.F. (1987) Wetlands of national importance to fisheries. New Zealand freshwater fisheries report no. 90. Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, Christchurch.
