Menu

Managing our Environment

Chapman Road Inland Saline Wetland

Description:

A small saline area near Alexandra. 1

Type/Class:

Inland Saline 2

Size:

7.0 ha

Altitude:

180 - 240 m above sea level.

Approximate location:

East of intersection of Conroys Road and Chapman Road, Alexandra.
NZTM (centre point): E1313010 N4981040

Regional Plan: Water for Otago

Schedule 9 Regionally Significant Wetland, no.23, Map F16.

Territorial Authority:

Central Otago District Council

 

Chapman Road Inland Saline Wetland

Recorded Values:

Value

Description

 A1

 Habitat for nationally or internationally rare or threatened species or communities. Presence of threatened plants Lepidium kirkii, Isolepis basilaris and Puccinellia ‘Central Otago’ . 1, 2

 A5

 Scarce in Otago in terms of its ecological or physical character. Scarce type of wetland. Salt tolerant plants including Apium filiforme, sea primrose (Samolus repens) (one of only two inland sites) in shallow small grassy gully along with Juncus gerardii, Atriplex buchananii and Puccinellia spp. (best area of inland salt grasses, four species, one of which is endemic). Lepidium kirkii grows on a salty hillslope at the southeast corner. Distinctive saline soil moth fauna. 1, 4 Less than 18% of inland saline areas remain in Otago. 2

 A2 - A4, A6 - A9

 No relevant information is currently held by the ORC.

 

Other Information:

  • Presence of Selliera microphylla and Chenopodium ambiguum. 4

  • Also present are Puccinellia raroflorens with a threat status of nationally critical, salt grass (Puccinellia fasciculata) and salt grass (Puccinellia stricta). Chenopodium glaucum, New Zealand mousetail (Myosurus minimus subsp. novae-zelandiae) with a threat status of nationally critical, and New Zealand celery (Apium prostratum). 8

  • Soil is classified as Saline Immature Semiarid Soil. 8

  • Invertebrate species recorded at the Chapman Road Inland Saline Wetland include Capua semiferana, Eudonia sabulosella, Eudonia leptalea, Eurythecta zelaea, Kiwaia thyraula, Orocrambus corruptus, Paranotoreas brephosata, Paranotoreas fulva, and Scoparia exilis. 8

  • The Department of Conservation considers the Chapman Road Inland Saline Wetland to be a very important site for biological conservation. On a scale from 1 (highest value) to 11 (lowest value) the site was given a rank of 3, on the basis of its geographical extent, relative representativeness (the extent to which the site represents the assumed 1840 condition), diversity and rarity of biota and soils. 8

  • Potential threats to the Chapman Road Inland Saline Wetland include erosion, irrigation, cultivation, fertiliser application, oversowing, and grazing by stock. Erosion is recommended to be formally monitored. 8

  • Listed as an Area of Significant Indigenous Vegetation, Habitats of Indigenous Fauna and Wetlands in the Central Otago District Plan. 55

 

Aerial view of Chapman Road Inland Saline Wetland (March 2005)

Aerial view of Chapman Road Inland Saline Wetland (March 2005)

Chapman Road Inland Saline Wetland (December 2010)

Chapman Road Inland Saline Wetland (December 2010) 51

Chapman Road Inland Saline Wetland (December 2010)

Chapman Road Inland Saline Wetland (December 2010) 51

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.

4 Peat, N. and Patrick, B. H. (1999) Wild Central. Discovering the natural history of Central Otago. Published by the University of Otago Press, Dunedin.

8 Allen, R.B. and McIntosh, P.D. (1997) Guidelines for conservation of salt pans in Central Otago. Science for Conservation: 49. Published by the Department of Conservation, Wellington.

51 Otago Regional Council – Photo Archive.

55 Central Otago District Council (2008) Central Otago District Plan, Published by Central Otago District Council, Alexandra.

Back to top
Online Maps & Data: