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National environmental standard on ecological flows and water levels

The government is developing a proposed National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels. The Ministry for the Environment is seeking public submissions, which must be received by 5pm on 29 August 2008. See:

Ecological flows and water levels are defined as the flows and water levels required in a water body to provide for the ecological function of the flora and fauna present within that water body and its margins. If the levels of rivers, groundwater systems, lakes and wetlands run too low it can risk animal and plant life and impact on water users.

The proposed National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels is intended to complement and enhance the existing Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA) process for establishing ecological flows and water levels through regional plans.

The proposed standard aims to promote consistency in the way we decide whether the variability and quantity of water flowing in rivers, ground water systems, lakes and wetlands is sufficient. The proposed standard would do this by:

Setting interim limits on the alteration to flows and/or water levels for rivers, wetlands, and groundwater systems that do not have limits imposed through regional plans.
Providing a process for selecting the appropriate technical methods for evaluating ecological flows and water levels in rivers, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater systems.

The proposed standard is one of several tools being developed to meet the outcomes of the Sustainable Water Programme of Action

For more information, see national environmental standards under the RMA.

Further information

See the links below if you would like to read more about the proposed National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels and how it is being developed:

Process- where we are at

The diagram below outlines the process for developing a national environmental standard. The arrow indicates what stage the Ministry for the Environment is at in developing the standard.

Text description of the diagram

This flow diagram of the NES development process starts with Cabinet approving the scope. This is followed by a public process phase comprising of a scoping proposal with stakeholders. This leads to a discussion document. The scoping proposal and discussion document are the informal process.

The public process continues by public notification and a submissions period. This is an 16-week formal process for this NES.

Close of submissions is followed by a phase of analysis which leads to a report on submissions. The report and recommendations (including a section 32 RMA cost-benefit analysis, and a Regulatory Impact Assessment are completed and a final proposal to the Minister is made.

The Minister consults his colleagues, the report and recommendations are released, and legal drafting of the standard takes place. Eventually, the Draft becomes regulation.

This NES is at the public notification and submissions period.