MAF Funded Water Resource Projects

Over the last three years, considerable investment has been made in water resource and feasibility investigations and research related to better use of water in agriculture. The investment has been made under four funding policies. In addition, a new inter-departmental fund has been approved to investigate pathogen transmission pathways.

Sustainable Farming Fund

The Sustainable Farming Fund currently funds a significant amount of work related to water quality and allocation. Details of projects funded by the Sustainable Farming Fund can be accessed at www.maf.govt/sff. Examples of water related funded projects include:

Strath Taieri Area Irrigation Research
Optimisation of Ngaruroro River Valley Aquifer Groundwater Consents
Improving Irrigation Water Efficiency
Guidelines for the Design of Piped Irrigation Distribution Systems
Waiareka – Kakanui Gravity Irrigation Scheme Scoping Study
Economic and Sustainable Irrigation in the Awatere
A Regional Approach to Irrigation Development in Wairarapa
Mackenzie Irrigation Project
A Predictive Water Use Model for Quality Wine Production
Water it Better, Water it Right
Demonstration of Sustainable Irrigation Practices
Sustaining Environmental Integrity of South Island Irrigated Dairy Farms
Nitrogen Interception and Uptake from Dairy Shed Wastes
Riparian Zone Coppicing Hardwoods for Reduction of Nitrate Leaching from Dairy Farm Effluent Discharge

Contestable Water Fund

The Contestable Water Fund was initiated by the Agricultural Marketing and Research Development Trust (AGMARDT) in 1999 and funded 50/50 with Government to a value of $2.25m. The funds were allocated by June 2000 and Government continued it for another year with an additional $1.35m making a total of $3.6m. The objectives of the fund are to address barriers to water resource developments and facilitate community involvement in:

investigations aimed at improving knowledge and providing information on water resources;
development of strategies for water supply projects that improve the allocation and reallocation of water resources;
feasibility studies into water resources that lead to better use and allocation.

The grant was usually 67 percent of the cost of the studies. Part of the local share could comprise non-cash contributions in kind.

Water Fund Projects over $40,000 grant include:

South Canterbury Farmers Irrigation Management Advice and Practice Manual.
Irrigation Efficiency Benchmarks Based on Field Trials of Different Application Systems.
Sustainable Irrigation Manual - research, writing and consultation for 150 pages of fact sheets.
Field Trials and Network Development for On-line Management of Water Use for Irrigation.
Irrigation Feasibility Study for Waihao North (South Canterbury).
Irrigation feasibility study for Waipara-Hurunui, North Canterbury.
Irrigation Feasibility Study for the Awatere Valley, Marlborough.
Irrigation Feasibility Study for Pumped Supply to North Otago Downlands.
Irrigation Feasibility Study for Omaka, Fairhall and Omaka Areas in Marlborough.
Irrigation Feasibility Study for Central Plains, Canterbury.
Investigations for Development of Rural Water Supplies in the Shag Catchment, North Otago.
Wairarapa Irrigation Regional Study of Water Resources and Irrigation Opportunity.
Regional Study of Water Supply Needs and Options for the Whole Clutha District.
Feasibility of Large Earth Dams in the Moutere area, Nelson.
Regional Water Resource Study of the Nelson-Tasman Districts.
Regional Water Resource Study of Ruataniwha Plains, Southern Hawkes Bay.
Ground Water Resource Study of the Omihi Valley, North Canterbury.
Regional Water Resource Study for the Ashburton District.
Ground Water Resource Study for the Ashburton District.

Operational Research

Operation research projects have tended to concentrate on water quality issues; land management impacts; food and health risks for humans & animals; and implications for other water users and for trade perceptions & impacts etc. Operational Research projects are often linked to other investigations and to other funding sources.

In the current financial year, and in the two preceding years, the research and investigations specific to water resources, funded by Operational Research funds are:

(a) 2001/02 year

“Riparian attenuation of faecal microbes” - being carried out jointly by NIWA & Agresearch.

(b) 2000/01 funding year

“Pathways of faecal microbial transfer from farms into rural streams” - carried out by Agresearch.
“Potential transmission routes of Campylobacter from the environment to humans” - carried out by ESR.

”Review water policies and legislation, and water management issues which are important to MAF” - carried out by Simon Harris.

Sustainable Resource Use Studies on Water

Over the last two years, MAF has carried out a range of sustainable resource use policy studies on water and other issues. These studies are carried out to provide input to policy development within MAF and between Government departments.

The studies on water have included:

The impacts of climate change and water use and availability.
Reducing carbon dioxide emissions through reducing irrigation electricity use.
Economic Efficiency of Water Allocation.
A strategic Water Study for Canterbury.
Irrigation Reliability: Economic Impacts on Farms (scoping study).
Future Water Allocation Issue. The impacts of land use change.
Water and Agriculture in New Zealand (Current).

Pathogen Transmission Pathway Project

In July of this year MAF will embark on a 3 year programme to investigate how pathogens, namely; campylobacter, cryptosporidium, and giardia move from livestock into water systems, and what management systems farms can use to mitigate this. This work is being funded by both the Ministry for Research Science and Technology and MAF, as part of an inter-departmental programme, also involving the Ministry for the Environment and the Ministry of Health. Initially the work will concentrate on dairy and sheep and beef farms, investigating direct deposition and surface run-off.

Contact for Enquiries

Amber Duncalfe
Editor - RM Update
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
PO Box 2526
Wellington
NEW ZEALAND

Tel: +64 4 894 0710
Fax: +64 4 894 0745
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