Lake Reid Wetland

Description: Swampland adjacent to Lake Reid in the Rees River catchment. 1

Type/Class: Swamp. 1

Size: 39.69 ha.

Altitude: 340 - 380 m above sea level.

Approximate location: Glenorchy-Paradise Road, 9 km North of Glenorchy. NZTM (centre point): E1235100 N5033320.

Regional Plan: Water for Otago. Schedule 9 Regionally Significant Wetland, no.76, Map F3.

Territorial Authority: Queenstown Lakes District Council.

 

Interactive map of Lake Reid 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 Deschampsia cespitosa (At Risk – Declining). 102
A5 Scarce in Otago in terms of its ecological or physical character. Likely to meet criterion A5 as it is located in Dart Ecological District and partly in the Richardson Ecological District where lakes and ponds and herbaceous freshwater vegetation comprise less than 2% and c. 10.4% of land cover respectively. 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 wetland complex 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 the wetland filters water entering Lake Reid and are part of the larger Lake Reid-Diamond Lake wetland complex. 102
A2 - A4, A8 No relevant information is currently held by the ORC.

 

Other Information

  • Presence of pūkio (Carex secta), C. sinclairii, and Juncus spp. Wet hollows contain sharp spike sedge (Eleocharis acuta) and red pondweed (Potamogeton cheesemanii). 54

  • About 50 plants of the threatened tufted hair-grass (Deschampsia cespitosa, threat status: gradual decline) have been recorded within the Lake Reid Wetland. 54

  • The easternmost margins of the wetland contain shelter belts and a shrubland of Coprosma propinqua, matagouri (Discaria toumatou), hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna), and pohuehue (Muehlenbeckia australis). 102

  • The waterway (a subsidiary channel of Earnslaw Burn) immediately to the west of the shrubland contains abundant Myriophyllum triphyllum and water forget-me-not (Myosotis laxa subsp. caespitosa) with Callitriche stagnalis, Glyceria fluitans, and Juncus articulatus. 102

  • Wetland habitats in the north-eastern part of the wetland are dominated by rautahi and other Carex spp. but also Yorkshire fog and sweet vernal, with scattered Juncus effusus and Luzula multiflora. 102

  • There are a few areas where Sphagnum moss, Gonocarpus micranthus, Celmisia gracilenta, and patchy Oreobolus pectinatus are present, possibly outside the boundary of the mapped site. 102

  • The southernmost part of the wetland is more modified and contains scattered Juncus effuses over sweet vernal and Yorkshire fog, with sharp spike-sedge (Eleocharis acuta), Juncus articulatus, moss, and Gonocarpus micranthus. 102

  • Common exotic plants include small willow (Salix sp.), sweet brier (Rosa rubiginosa), bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara), musk (Mimulus moschatus), Myosotis laxa subsp. caespitosa and timothy (Phleum pratense). 54

  • Red damselfly (Xanthocnemis zealandica) and blue damselfly (Austrolestes colensoi) have both been recorded. 54

 

 

Aerial view of Lake Reid Wetland (February 2006)

 

 

Lake Reid Wetland (February 2006) 91

 

 

Lake Reid Wetland (January 2005) 91

 

References

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

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.

91 Otago Fish and Game Council – Photo Archive.

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