Proposed National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels
The proposed National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels (proposed NES) 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 NES 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 or Water Conservation Orders.
- Providing a process for selecting the appropriate technical methods for evaluating the ecological component of environmental flows and water levels in rivers, lakes, wetlands, and groundwater systems.
Public submissions were received on this proposed NES in 2008.
See the links below if you would like to read more about the proposed NES:
- Proposed National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels: Discussion Document
- Draft Guidelines for the Selection of Methods to Determine Ecological Flows and Water Levels
- Proposed National Environmental Standard on Ecological Flows and Water Levels: Summary of Submissions
Stage of development
The diagram below outlines the process for developing a national environmental standard. The proposed NES is now up to stage 4 of the process. It is currently on-hold pending consideration of further advice from the Land and Water Forum in 2012.
Figure 1: Process for developing a national environmental standard
Read a description of this figure
Figure 1 depicts a flow chart showing the process of developing a national environmental standard.
1. Define
- Define the problem
- Indentify the policy context
- Identify opportunities
- Decide whether a NES is the most appropriate tool (key decision point)
2. Design
- Convene stakeholder advisory groups
- Design the policy
- Prepare preliminary cost-benefit analysis
- Prepare discussion document
- Cabinet approval to consult (key decision point)
3. Consult
- Public notification
- Public workshops / hui
4. Redesign
- Analyse submissions
- Revisit and redesign policy
- Prepare final cost benefit analysis
- Cabinet approval to draft regulations (key decision point)
5. Deliver
- Prepare drafting instructions
- Finalise draft regulations
- Cabinet approval of final regulation (key decision point)
- Governor-General approval of NES (key decision point)
6. Implement
- User's guides
- Information
- Workshops
Further information
- See the fresh water page for other policies, reports, projects, partnerships, guidelines and tools related to fresh water.
- For more information on standards, see the national environmental standards under the RMA page.
- See the Resource Management Act page which is a gateway to information about the Resource Management Act 1991 (RMA).
- For a full list of publications relating to water refer to the water publications page.
Last updated: 6 December 2011
