Research in the form of reports and summaries, centring on land use and its environmental impacts in Otago
Otago Regional council research provides valuable insights into the environmental factors shaping Otago's landscapes and waterways. Covering topics like water quality, nutrient management, forestry practices, and their effects on ecosystems, these resources offer in-depth findings, mitigation strategies, and assessments.
February 2024
PDF | 688 KB
The New Zealand Soil Classification (NZSC) system recognises 15 soil orders that all differ in their characteristics, behaviour and appearance. Source: Otago Regional Council
February 2024
PDF | 957 KB
Brown soils make up 50% of soils in Otago. They occur mainly on hilly to steep landscapes and generally have good drainage and structure but low fertility.
February 2024
PDF | 849 KB
Gley soils make up around 2% of soils in Otago and are formed in areas when there is prolonged wetness from high groundwater, perched water tables or slow drainage. Author: Dr. Erik S. Button Source: Otago Regional Council
February 2024
PDF | 989 KB
Melanic soils in Otago form on limestone and volcanic rocks and have deep dark coloured topsoils and good structure. Author: Dr. Erik S. Button Source: Otago Regional Council
February 2024
PDF | 1 MB
Pallic soils, as their name suggests, are pale due to low contents of iron oxides. They make up 27% of soils in Otago. Author: Dr. Erik S. Button Source: Otago Regional Council
February 2024
PDF | 957 KB
Podzol soils make up 5% of soils in Otago and are formed in areas with both very high rainfall and acid-forming vegetation. Source: Otago Regional Council
February 2024
PDF | 991 KB
Raw soils are the youngest of all soils and are associated with some of Otago’s most beautiful landscapes.
February 2024
PDF | 1 MB
Recent soils make up 4% of soils in Otago, and are formed from deposited or eroded parent materials on which a new soil is formed. Author: Dr. Erik S. Button Source: Otago Regional Council
February 2024
PDF | 836 KB
Semiarid soils make up 7% of soils in Otago and are formed in the driest areas of the country where most months experience a water deficit,
October 2023
PDF | 935 KB
This science summary gives an easy-to-understand snapshot of the Dunstan rohe, looking at things like land use, waterways, soil, climate, and biodiversity to help guide local environmental planning.
August 2023
PDF | 1 MB
April 2022
PDF | 521 KB
Regarding: Science approach to assigning Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorus (P) baseload loss values to farm typologies and other categories of land use. This memo documents the estimated N and P loss for different typologies (different combinations of land use, climate, and topography).
June 2022
PDF | 657 KB
Development of the Land and Water Regional Plan (LWRP) requires the science team to develop a range of management scenarios to improve water quality across the Otago region. The purpose of these scenarios is to estimate the possible improvements in water quality that are achievable for a given set of interventions. The scenario modelling will be used by the ORC Policy Team to highlight the scale of intervention required to give effect to the National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management and as a tool to guide proposed LWRP management options and rules.
November 2023
PDF | 406 KB
October 2021
PDF | 2 MB
August 2023
PDF | 3 MB
October 2023
PDF | 8 MB
November 2022
PDF | 366 KB
August 2023
PDF | 159 KB
March 2025
PDF | 4 MB
A current classification of land use and land cover is necessary for Otago Regional Council (ORC) to adhere to national regulations, including the National Policy Statements and National Environmental Standards concerning Indigenous Biodiversity, Freshwater Management, and Highly Productive Land. The land use map serves as a reference point for measuring future changes and aids in managing the region's natural resources.
November 2023
PDF | 450 KB
November 2023
PDF | 222 KB
November 2023
PDF | 179 KB
November 2023
PDF | 248 KB
The regional council policy for the proposed Land and Water plan addresses two key questions: whether to adjust stocking rates based on different risks across FMUs rather than applying a uniform limit, and the preference between stock units and liveweight as measurement criteria, seeking specific recommendations on quantities.
October 2022
PDF | 550 KB
November 2023
PDF | 747 KB
October 2021
PDF | 450 KB
November 2022
PDF | 656 KB
November 2022
PDF | 2 MB
November 2021
PDF | 1 MB
April 2022
PDF | 543 KB
November 2021
PDF | 1 MB
January 2023
PDF | 856 KB
January 2023
PDF | 212 KB
November 2022
PDF | 708 KB
August 2022
PDF | 3 MB
August 2022
PDF | 4 MB
October 2022
PDF | 985 KB
October 2022
PDF | 3 MB
May 2024
PDF | 288 KB
Technical advice elucidating circumstances in which stock grazing can be allowed to manage natural wetland values, including whether this differs based on the type of wetland and/or the type of stock.- Implications of Porps Decisions Wetland Grazing
November 2023
PDF | 482 KB
This memo addresses whether to retain a nitrogen limit for pastoral farming systems and the suitability of implementing such limits for vegetable growing and arable production.
November 2023
PDF | 364 KB
February 2024
PDF | 3 MB
March 2024
PDF | 560 KB
February 2024
PDF | 359 KB
February 2024
PDF | 3 MB
Report writer: Jason Augspurger
February 2024
PDF | 276 KB
Author: Jason Augspurger
February 2024
PDF | 186 KB
Authors: Jason Augspurger and Tom Dyer
March 2024
PDF | 14 MB
Many of New Zealand’s freshwater environments are under pressure from land use intensification resulting in deteriorating water quality and ecosystem health. As a result, limits must be set on resource use to achieve receiving environment water quality objectives such as the health of rivers, lakes, and estuaries. To aid communities in determination of desired level of ecosystem health, a model is needed which can fill the knowledge gap on required emission reductions to achieve target attribute states and whether different mitigation suites (GMP and GMP+) may achieve the desired reductions. Report writer: Jason Augspurger
February 2024
PDF | 249 KB
This memo presents known information about the sediment issues from plantation forestry in Otago.
October 2023
PDF | 644 KB
November 2023
PDF | 747 KB
May 2014
PDF | 3 MB
June 2023
PDF | 2 MB
Earthworks are a necessary part of preparing land for residential development, but if the right practices aren’t used, soil can be lost to water bodies.
August 2023
PDF | 19 MB
Erosion and Sediment Control Guide for Land Disturbing Activities in the Auckland Region, known as GD05, provides technical guidance for the selection, design and use of erosion and sediment control (ESC) practices and measures for land disturbing activities in an Auckland context.
July 2024
PDF | 1 MB
This guide is designed to provide hill country farmers with ideas and information on ways to manage erosion-prone land. This guide details three trials of different options carried out in the Orauea catchment in 2023-2024, and outlines the costs and effort involved with each.
September 2005
PDF | 1 MB
