Our team have been involved in the assessment of lakes, rivers,
streams, wetlands, harbours throughout New Zealand and Australia.
In recent years we have spent a considerable amount of time
surveying and assessing freshwater ecosystems in the Waikato,
Hawke's Bay and Bay of Plenty regions.
Monitoring and assessment of water abstractions and discharges
from wastewater treatment plants, for example is a large component
of our summer field work. In the 2010/2011 season, the K&A team
undertook over 12 major in-stream assessments. These surveys
involved electro-fishing, netting for fish, spotlighting, aquatic
macroinvertebrate sampling, water quality sampling, stream
vegetation sampling, and habitat characterisation. Working
closely with design engineers, planners and hydrologists, we have
prepared detailed impact assessments, providing technically sound
solutions to complex water management issues.
We use the latest survey techniques and protocols. We are
constantly updating and keeping abreast of emerging methods being
advanced nationally and regionally, often being directly involved
in the development process.
The team have lake, stream and wetland restoration capabilities,
giving practical advice to Department of Conservation, councils,
developers and landowners. For example, we developed a
restoration plan for a stream diversion associated with a
subdivision in Raglan. Fish were captured and translocated
before the diversion took place. The physical structure of
the new channels was enhanced by careful placement of material,
invertebrates were moved to the new reach, and fish passage design
implemented. Monitoring of the stream has shown a successful
recovery of all freshwater species involved.