1. Fish Options Report Explaining the consent compliance journey

2. Fish Options Report Certification
The Consent Journey
Replacement consent application lodged May 2009
operated under s.124 RMA
BOPRC issued decision February 2012 – appealed
Environment Court issued decision – September 2013
Consent expires 31 August 2048
Consent contained 70 separate conditions
The report focusses on two main areas:
Penstock Intake Screens: Conditions 9 to 13
Fish Passage: Conditions 46 to 57

3. Fish Options Report Certification
The Compliance Journey
Both Intake Screen and Fish Passage conditions required reporting
Draft report circulated March 2014
Consultation undertaken at various stages over 3 years
see report appendix for detail
Technical review undertaken
both inhouse and NIWA scientist
Multiple report iterations over 3 year period

4. Fish Options Report Certification
Final report received and certified September 2017
Copies provided at last RRF meeting
– additional copies available today

5. Fish Options Report Certification
Fish Passage Options
Objective:
To ensure that the Matahina Dam does not prevent the establishment and maintenance of diadromous native fish populations in the Rangitāiki River catchment upstream of the Matahina Dam
Done by facilitating:
u/s transfer of native fish species that arrive at the Dam face
d/s passage of adult eels past the Matahina Dam
Report needed to detail the:
Practicable u/s and d/s fish passage systems for use at the site, programme used to record fish transfer/passage u/s and d/s; and targets used to measure the effectiveness of the systems adopted

6. Fish Options Report Certification
Upstream transfer:
periods when trap and transfer to be undertaken,
monitoring used to refine peak migration periods,
design and location of fish trap,
locations (and reasons) for where fish to be transferred to, and
methods adopted to enhance fish survival rates
Downstream transfer:
proposed eel passage system,
alternatives considered,
cost/benefit of alternatives, and
reasons for recommending proposed passage system.

7. Fish Options Report Certification
Penstock Intake Screens
Detail contained in Appendix 2 of Certified Report
Main points:
Describes the feasibility of installing deterrent measures at Dam to avoid or minimise the entrapment of adult eels;
Describes the alternate deterrent measures considered;
Recommends a deterrent measure for deflecting adult eels away from intake structure towards spillway gates and alternative migration pathway.

8. Fish Options Report Certification
Outcome
Trap and Transfer currently best option for both u/s and d/s transfer
Refinements made to existing methods and recording of transferred eels/fish
Agreed target of 2.3T/year of migrant eels transferred d/s, with an aim to transfer 4.6T/year (~1155 migrant eels)
Aim to have at least 95% survival of elver/fish transferred u/s
Confirm trash rack screen velocity is low enough to enable eels to bypass screen and head down spillway – tbc November
Live eel test down spillway to be undertaken to check viability of spillway bypass flow during migration
Target

9. Fish Options Report Certification
TPL are required to report annually on:
Estimate of number of species transferred u/s and location of release
Estimate of number of adult eels passed d/s of Matahina
Monitoring results assessing numbers and survivability of u/s and d/s transfer (against targets)
Any new knowledge/technology available which may assist with achieving Objective
By end of 2020, full report on effectiveness of trap and transfer system against targets and meeting Objective, and recommending any changes to monitoring programme, methods required
Ongoing consultation requirements

10. Thank you
Questions?