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Managing our Environment

Diamond Lake Wetland

Description:

Wetland located in the Rees River Catchment. 1 Extends from the shores of Diamond Lake towards the east. 102

Type/Class:

Swamp. 102

Size:

48.64 ha.

Altitude:

340 - 380 m above sea level.

Approximate location:

Glenorchy-Paradise Road, 11 km North of Glenorchy.
NZTM (centre point): E1234830 N5033880.

Regional Plan:

Water for Otago.
Schedule 9 Regionally Significant Wetland, no.35, Map F3.

Territorial Authority:

Queenstown Lakes District Council.

 

Diamond Lake Wetland

Recorded Values:

Value

Description

A1

 Habitat for nationally or internationally rare or threatened species or communities. Habitat for threatened Banded Dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus bicinctus) and Black-fronted Tern (Sterna albostriata). 1
Presence of Olearia lineata (At Risk - Declining in de Lange et al. 2009). 102

A5

 Scarce in Otago in terms of its ecological or physical character. A Likely to meet criterion A5 as it is located in Dart Ecological District where less than 2% of land cover comprises lakes and ponds and herbaceous freshwater vegetation. 102

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 fauna. The complex of wetlands that comprises Diamond Lake Wetland and the nearby Lake Reid Wetland provide nesting and feeding habitat for Paradise Shelduck (Tadorna variegata), Black Swan (Cygnus atratus), Pied Stilt (Himantopus himantopus), Southern Black-backed Gull (Larus dominicanus), South Island Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus finschi) and Shags (Phalacrocoracidae). 1

A9

 Significant hydrological function, including maintaining water quality, or low flows, or reducing flood flows. Likely to meet Criterion A9, as it filters water entering Diamond Lake. 102

A2 - A4, A8

 No relevant information is currently held by the ORC.

 

Other Information:

Aerial view of Diamond Lake Wetland (February 2006)

Aerial view of Diamond Lake Wetland (February 2006)

 

Diamond Lake Wetland ( June 2007)

Diamond Lake Wetland ( June 2007) 51

 

  • Part of a wider wetland complex that comprises the wetland areas around Diamond Lake, Lake Reid and the Earnslaw Burn.

  • Important plant species that can be found in this wetland complex include pūkio (Carex secta), C. sinclairii, and Juncus spp, while the wet hollows within this area also contain sharp spike sedge (Eleocharis acuta) and red pondweed (Potamogeton cheesemanii). 54

  • Large parts of the wetland are covered in rautahi sedgeland. with giant buttercup (Ranunculus acris), sweet vernal (Anthoxanthum odoratum), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus). Other Carex species are also present but are less abundant. 102

  • Closer to the lake in the northern part of the wetland, Carex sedges are predominant, including rautahi, with moss, including Sphagnum, being common. 102

  • Contains small patch of Coprosma propinqua shrubland and toetoe (Cortaderia richardii). 102

  • Exotic plants that can be found in the Diamond Lake wetland complex include crack willow (Salix fragilis) and grey willow (S. Cinerea). 102 Other exotics include sweet brier (Rosa rubiginosa), bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara), musk (Mimulus moschatus), Myosotis laxa subsp. caespitosa and timothy (Phleum pratense). 54

  • In the southern part of the site, near the Otago Fish and Game New Zealand access track, the sedgeland contains abundant Potentilla anserinoides. 102

  • Shallow stream channels dissect the wetland and are dominated by rautahi. 102 Water milfoil (Myriophyllum triphyllum) is abundant in nearby watercourses. 54 Wetter areas have a few Carex secta. 102

  • Other plant species observed in the wetland include Coprosma rugosa, Coriaria plumosa, C. arborea, Cerastium fontanum, Stelleria graminea, S. alsine, and Viola cunninghamii. 102

  • Olearia lineata (At Risk - Declining in de Lange et al. 2009) has been recorded on a stream margin in the wetland. 102

  • In general, pasture species become more common further from the lake. 102

  • Red damselfly (Xanthocnemis zealandica) and blue damselfly (Austrolestes colensonis) have both been recorded in the wider area around the Diamond Lake Wetland. 54

  • Exotic bird species recorded in or near the wetland include Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). 102

  • Native bird species observed in or near the wetland include: New Zealand Pied Oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi) and New Zealand Scaup (Aythya novaeseelandiae). 54, 102

  • New Zealand Pied Oystercatcher is classified At Risk - Declining. 102

 

References:

1 Otago Regional Council (2004) Regional Plan: Water for Otago. Published by the Otago Regional Council, Dunedin.

51 Otago Regional Council – Photo Archive.

54 Land Information New Zealand (2002) Crown Pastoral Land Tenure Review: Earnslaw Station. Conservation Resources Report for the Commissioner of Crown Lands. Published by Land Information New Zealand, Wellington.

102 Wildland Consultants (2011) Ecological evaluation of seven wetlands in relation to proposed Plan Change 2, Regional Plan water for Otago. Report prepared for Otago Regional Council.

Diamond Lake Wetland (December 2012)

Diamond Lake Wetland (December 2012) 102

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