Blackcleugh Burn Swamp

Description: Red tussock swamp in the upper valley floor of the Blackcleugh Burn, on the east side of the Blue Mountains. 85

Type/Class: Swamp. 2

Size: 3.5 ha.

Altitude: 300-600 m above sea level.

Approximate location: 6.3 km Northwest of the intersection of Blackcleugh Road and Rongahere Road, Lawrence. NZTM (centre point): E1322560 N4910650.

Regional Plan: Water for Otago | Schedule 9 Regionally Significant Wetland, no.11, Map F28.

Territorial Authority: Clutha District Council.

 

Recorded Values

Value Description
A5 Scarce in Otago in terms of its ecological or physical character. Less than 15% of swamps remain in Otago. 2
A7 High diversity of indigenous wetland flora and fauna. High species diversity: Chionochloa rubra subsp. cuprea and a wide range of shrubs, herbs and invertebrate species. 1
A1 - A4, A6, A8, A9 No relevant information is currently held by the ORC.

Other Information

  • Large wetland area on the terrace surrounded by drier tussockland and well drained alluvial flats. In addition to this larger wetland other localised wetland areas can be found on the alluvial flats. 101
  • Native plant species recorded during a survey of the wetland in December 2009 include
    •  Acaena anserinifolia, Acaena inermis, Aciphylla glaucescens, Aristotelia serrata, Asplenium flaccidum, Blechnum fluviatile, Blechnum montanum, Blechnum penna-marina, Carex breviculmis, Carex comans, Carex coriacea, Carex dissita, Carex flagellifera, Carex secta, Carex solandri, Carmichaelia virgata, Carpodetus serratus, Celmisia gracilenta, Chiloglottis cornuta, Chionochloa conspicua, Chionochloa rigida, Chionochloa rubra, Clematis marata, Coprosma propinqua, Coprosma rigida, Coprosma rotundifolia, Coprosma taylorii, Cordyline australis, Corokia cotoneaster, Cortaderia richardii, Dacrycarpus dacrydioides, Eleocharis acuta, Epilobium alsinoides, Festuca novae-zelandiae, Fuchsia excorticate, Gastrodium cunninghamii, Geranium microphyllum, Gentiana grisebachii, Griselinia littoralis, Hebe salicifolia, Hierochloe redolens, Histeopteris incise, Hoheria glabrata, Hydrocotyle moschata, Hydrocotyle novae-zelandiae var. Montana, Hydrocotyle novae-zelandiae var., Hypolepis millefolium, Kunzea ericoides, Melicytus alpines, Microsorus pustulatus, Montia fontana, Muehlenbeckia australis, Myosotis arvensis, Nothofagus menziesii, Olearia avicennia folia, Olearia fimbriata, Olearia lineata, Oreomyrrhis ramose, Oxalis exilis, Ozothamnus vauvilliersii, Phormium cookianum, Pittosporum tenuifolium, Poa breviglumis, Poa cita, Podocarpus hallii, Polystichum vestitum, Pseudopanax crassifolius, Pseudowintera colorata, Pteridium esculentum, Ranunculus glabrifolius, Ranunculus membranifolius, Rubus cissoides, Rumex flexuosus, Schizeilema trifoliolatum, Stellaria parviflora, Uncinia rubra, Uncinia uncinata, Urtica incise, Viola filicaulis. 85
  • Introduced plant species recorded during a survey of the wetland in December 2009 include
    • Agrostis capillaries, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Cerastium fontanum, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium vulgare, Conium macilenta, Crepis capillaris, Cytisus scoparius, Dactylis glomerata, Digitalis purpurea, Epilobium ciliatum, Galium aparine, Hieracium lepidulum, Holcus lanatus, Hypochaeris radicata, Juncus articulates, Juncus effuses, Pinus contorta, Poa pratense, Ranunculus repens, Rosa rubiginosa, Rumex acetosella, Rumex crispus, Rubus fruticosus, Senecio jacobaea, Stellaria alsine, Trifolium dubium, Trifolium repens, Ulex europaeus, Verbascum thapsis. 85

 

Aerial View of Blackcleugh Burn Swamp (March 2006)

 

 

Blackcleugh Burn Swamp (December 2009)

 

References

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.

85 Correspondence with Department of Conservation – Southland Conservancy (2011) Document ID A389679.

94 Department of Conservation – Photo Archive.

101 Correspondence with Department of Conservation – Southland Conservancy (2010) Document ID A194008.