ATTACHMENTS SANDERS EVIDENCE

Transcription

1 ATTACHMENTS SANDERS EVIDENCE APPENDIX 1. CURRICULM VITAE MARK SANDERS MARK SANDERS Director/Ecologist, Sanders Consulting Ltd EDUCATION Doctor of Philosophy (Zoology) University of Canterbury Bachelor of Science (Hons) (Zoology); University of Canterbury PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Member and past president, New Zealand Ecological Society Member, Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand Certified Environmental Practitioner (CEnvP) Member, Ornithological Society of New Zealand Member, Freshwater Sciences Society of New Zealand PROFILE Mark has broad experience in a range of terrestrial and freshwater ecological systems, with specialist skills in research and management relating to birds of rivers, lakes, and wetlands. He has 16 years of professional experience in New Zealand and Australia. Mark has worked as scientist and project manager of river management projects, working with multiple stakeholders to achieve integrated ecosystem management. As well as extensive experience assessing and mitigating potential effects of hydroelectric power generation in New Zealand, Mark has worked on wind farms and plan changes relating to property development. In preparation of resource consent applications, he has provided scientific input, managed expert sub-consultants, contributed to assessments of environmental effects, and presented expert evidence at consent hearings. EXPERTISE Assessment of Environmental Effects Integrated Ecosystem Management Evaluating the ecological effects of projects and advising on avoidance and mitigation for resource consents under the Resource Management Act. Designing and implementing field studies for consent applications and ongoing monitoring. Working with multiple stakeholders, including the public, indigenous people, landholders, business, scientists, NGOs, and government to develop and implement research-based ecosystem management. Establishing and maintaining communications and relationships among stakeholders.

2 Contract Management Research Working with engineers and contractors to manage wetland construction, control weeds and animal pests, and implementing re-vegetation and rehabilitation works. Identifying critical, applied research questions, and initiating and supervising research to address these questions. Coordinating multi-disciplinary research teams and facilitating communication and integration among team members, leading to clear management applications. Mark has particular expertise in assessing and managing the impacts of habitat modifications and predators on birds of rivers and wetlands. RELEVANT EXPERIENCE RESOURCE CONSENT/ WATER CONSERVATION ORDER HEARINGS Rakaia Water Conservation Order hearing, Christchurch, Client: TrustPower Ltd. Presented evidence on birds and terrestrial vegetation of the Rakaia River, and evaluated potential effects of TrustPower s proposed Lake Coleridge hydroelectric project. North Bank Tunnel Environment Court hearings, Oamaru, 2009 and Client: Meridian Energy Ltd. Presented evidence relating to terrestrial ecology and birds, and ongoing monitoring and management on the Waitaki River. Nevis River Water Conservation Order Tribunal hearing, Dunedin Client: Pioneer Generation. Presented evidence on the status of birds of the Nevis River in relation to the Water Conservation Order (Kawarau River). Wairau Hydro Electric Power Scheme Environment Court hearing, Blenheim, Client: TrustPower Ltd. Presented evidence on a range of issues related to potential impacts on birds. Developed and presented draft adaptive management plans. Manapouri Tailrace Amended Discharge consent hearing, Invercargill, Client: Meridian Energy Ltd. Presented evidence on potential effects on river birds and on mitigation and monitoring requirements. Gravel extraction consent hearing, Queenstown, Client: Ladies Mile Partnership. Presented evidence assessing impacts on terrestrial ecology and birds of a proposed gravel extraction operation on the Shotover River delta. North Bank Tunnel consent hearing, Timaru, Client: Meridian Energy Ltd. Presented evidence explaining a draft adaptive management plan for braided river birds on the Waitaki River, which formed part of the consent application. Wairau Hydro Electric Power Scheme consent and conditions hearings, Blenheim 2006 and Client: TrustPower Ltd. Presented evidence on a range of issues associated with potential impacts of the proposed scheme on braided river birds. Facilitated and participated in discussions with submitters and experts to resolve some concerns. Shotover River gravel extraction consent hearing, Queenstown, Client: Faulks Enterprises Ltd. Presented evidence assessing effects on terrestrial ecology and birds of a proposed gravel extraction operation on the Shotover River. Waitaki Catchment Water Allocation Board Hearing, Oamaru Client: Meridian Energy Ltd. Hearing in relation to Meridian Energy s proposed Project Aqua hydroelectric power scheme. Presented evidence on costs and benefits of whole-catchment adaptive management of terrestrial ecosystems of braided rivers and associated wetlands.

3 ASSESSMENTS OF ENVIRONMENT EFFECTS Amuri Hydro Project Client: Meridian Energy. Assessed potential effects on terrestrial ecology and birds of proposed hydroelectric scheme on Waiau River, North Canterbury. Water Conservation Order Amendment, Rakaia River (Lake Coleridge Project) Client: TrustPower Ltd., Assessed potential effects of increased water abstraction on terrestrial ecology and birds of the Rakaia River and Lake Coleridge. Develop habitat enhancement proposals. Presentations to, and consultation with, stakeholders and Canterbury Water Management Strategy Committees. Wairau Hydro Electric Power Scheme, Client: TrustPower Ltd. Assess potential effects of increased water abstraction on birds of the Wairau River, Marlborough. Develop adaptive management and monitoring programmes to be implemented before and after scheme construction. North Bank Tunnel Power Scheme, Client: Meridian Energy Ltd. Assessed potential effects on terrestrial ecology and birds of proposed scheme on Waitaki River. Develop adaptive management, monitoring and research programmes to be implemented before and after scheme construction. Conduct field trials on island rehabilitation. Manapouri Tailrace Amended Discharge, Southland, Client: Meridian Energy Ltd. Assessed potential environment impacts of increased water abstraction on birds of braided rivers and wetlands of the Waiau River. Matahina Hydroelectric Power Scheme, Bay of Plenty, Client: TrustPower Ltd. Assessed potential environment impacts of the existing operating regime and an alternative regime on birds and terrestrial vegetation of Lake Matahina and the Rangitaiki River and mouth. Patea Hydroelectric Power Scheme, Taranaki, Client: TrustPower Ltd. Assessed potential environment impacts of the existing operating regime and an alternative regime on birds of Lake Rotorangi and the Patea River and mouth. Wahapo and Kaniere Hydroelectric Power Schemes, Client: TrustPower Ltd. Assessed potential environment impacts of continuing operation of the existing operating regime on birds of Lakes Wahapo and Kaniere. Field surveys, consultation, liaison with other consultants, data review and analysis. INTEGRATED ECOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT Project River Recovery, Twizel. Scientist then manager of Project River Recovery, an ongoing, largescale ( ha), research-led project aiming to preserve and rehabilitate braided rivers and associated wetlands using a combination of weed and animal pest control; wetland construction and protection; maintaining or restoring natural flow regimes; liaison with multiple user groups; public relations, and education. Upper Hunter River Rehabilitation Initiative (UHRRI), Macquarie University, Sydney. Managed a multidisciplinary, multi-agency research and management project that aimed to promote a research-based approach to river and catchment management. Provided overall leadership for the project, to ensure the successful development and implementation of rehabilitation works (e.g. install engineered log jams, riparian plantings), and to contribute to, and oversee, associated research activities. OTHER Stevensons Sanctuary feasibility study, Central Otago, Client: Central Lakes Trust. Worked with client and stakeholders to evaluate the feasibility of, and options for, a large-scale ecological restoration/sanctuary in Central Otago.

4 ISAAC Conservation Park Bird Hazard Management Plan, Client: The Isaac Conservation and Wildlife Trust. Worked with The Trust and Christchurch International Airport Limited to write and implement a plan to manage land use and bird management practices within the park to promote reduce bird hazard risks to aircraft. BACKGROUND Date February 2012 to present Employer Director / Ecologist of Sanders Consulting Ltd, Lincoln to February 2012 Associate Principal / Ecologist, Boffa Miskell Limited, Christchurch 2006 to 2010 Senior Ecologist, Boffa Miskell Limited, Christchurch 2004 to 2006 Manager, Upper Hunter River Rehabilitation Initiative, Macquarie University, Sydney 2001 to 2004 Manager, Project River Recovery, Department of Conservation, Twizel 1996 to 2001 Scientist, Project River Recovery, Department of Conservation, Twizel 1992 to 1996 PhD research on food supplies and foraging ecology of wading birds of rivers and lakes of the Waitaki Catchment. SELECTED PUBLICATIONS Steffens K.E., Sanders M.D., Gleeson D.M., Pullen K.M., & Stowe C.J. (2012). Identification of predators at black-fronted tern Chlidonias albostriatus nests using DNA analysis and digital video recorders. New Zealand Journal of Ecology 2012 (36)1: Mika, S., J. Hoyle, G. Kyle, T. Howell, B. Wolfenden, D. Ryder, D. Keating, A. Boulton, G. Brierley, A. P. Brooks, K. Fryirs, M. Leishman, M. Sanders, A. Arthington, R. Creese, M. Dahm, C. Miller, B. Pusey and A. Spink. (2010). Inside the Black Box of River Restoration: Using Catchment History to Identify Disturbance and Response Mechanisms to Set Targets for Process-Based Restoration. Ecology and Society 15 (4): 8. [online] URL: Boulton, A., Piégay, H. & Sanders, M.D. (2008) Turbulence and Train Wrecks: Using Knowledge Strategies to Enhance the Application of Integrative River Science to Effective River Management. In G.J. Brierly & K.A. Fryirs (Eds): River Futures: An Integrative Approach to River Repair, pp Society for Ecological Restoration International and Island Press, Washington DC. Keating, D., Spink, A., Brooks, A., Sanders, M.D., Miller, C., Schmidt, T., Kyle, G., Fryirs, K., Leishman, M. (2008). The UHRRI Rehabilitation and Research Project Macquarie Lighthouse Press, Macquarie University, Sydney. 102 pp. Sanders, M.D., Brown, K.P., & Keedwell, R.K. (2007) Testing the effects of a predator-exclusion fence on predator abundance and wetland bird breeding success at Ruataniwha wetland, Twizel. Department of Conservation, Christchurch. Woolmore, C., & Sanders, M.D. (2005) Project River Recovery Strategic Plan Project River Recovery Report, 04/05. Department of Conservation, Twizel. Jones, C. & Sanders, M. D. (2005) European Hedgehog. In C.M. King (Ed.): The Handbook of New Zealand Mammals, Second Edition, pp Oxford University Press, Melbourne.

5 Jones, C., Sanders, M. D. & Moss, K. (2005) Diet of hedgehogs (Erinaceus europaeus) in the upper Waitaki Basin, New Zealand: implications for conservation. New Zealand Journal of Ecology, 29(1), Friend, A. P., G. D. Hill, and M. D. Sanders Seed recruitment and loss of Russell lupin seed in a Canterbury riverbed. Pages in Proceedings of the 10th International Lupin Conference, June 2002, Laugarvatn, Iceland. Lincoln, Canterbury, New Zealand: International Lupin Association. Maloney, R.F., Sanders, M.D. (2004) Proposal for Long-term Control of Predators in the Tasman River Valley, Upper Waitaki Basin. Unpublished Internal Report. Department of Conservation, Twizel. Keedwell, R.J. & Sanders M. D. (2002) Nest monitoring and predator visitation at nests of banded dotterels. Condor, 104, Keedwell, R.J., Sanders M. D., Alley, M., & Twentyman C. (2002) Causes of mortality of black-fronted terns (Sterna albostriata) in the Ohau River, South Island, New Zealand. Pacific Conservation Biology, 8, Sanders, M. D. & Maloney R.F. (2002). Causes of mortality at nests of ground-nesting birds in the Upper Waitaki Basin, New Zealand: a five-year video study. Biological Conservation, 106(2), Moss, K. & Sanders, M. D. (2001) Advances in New Zealand mammalogy : Hedgehog. Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 31, Sanders, M. D. (2000) Enhancing food supplies for waders: inconsistent effects of substratum manipulations on aquatic invertebrate biomass. Journal of Applied Ecology, 37, Sanders, M. D. & Maloney, R. F. (2000) Effect of weed control on nesting success and nest density of braided river birds on the Ahuriri River. Project River Recovery Report, 99/08. Department of Conservation, Twizel. Sanders, M. D. (2000) An assessment of the variability of repeat counts of river birds in braided rivers. Project River Recovery Report, 99/15. Department of Conservation, Twizel. Sanders, M. D. (1999) Common aquatic invertebrate taxa vary in their susceptibility to capture by black stilt chicks. Notornis, 46, Sanders, M. D. (1999) Effect of changes in water level on numbers of black stilts (Himantopus novaezelandiae) using deltas of Lake Benmore. New Zealand Journal of Zoology, 26, Sanders, M. D. & Winterbourn, M. J. (1993) Effect of sphagnum harvesting on invertebrate species diversity and community size. New Zealand Department of Conservation Science and Research Series, 57, PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES 2009 present Member, National Braided River Technical Advisory Group 2003 to 2004 President, New Zealand Ecological Society 2001 to 2003 Vice-president, New Zealand Ecological Society 1999 to 2001 Councillor, New Zealand Ecological Society

6 APPENDIX 2. BIRD SURVEY RESULTS, RAKAIA RIVER Numbers of birds counted on the Rakaia River between the mouth and Barrhill during surveys in the 1970s, 2006, 2007, and 2009 (Data source: DOC). The 2011 survey is not shown here because it covered the river above Barrhill (see Appendix 3). Species 1970s* 2006** 2007*** 2009 Black-fronted tern Caspian Tern White-fronted tern Common tern White-winged black tern Black-billed gull Red-billed gull Banded dotterel Black-fronted dotterel Wrybill Turnstones Southern black-backed gull Pied oystercatcher Pied stilt Spur-winged plover Black shag Little shag Pied shag Paradise shelduck Duck species Canada goose Kingfisher Welcome swallow White-faced heron NZ pipit Harrier Spotted shag * Two partial surveys (1975 and 1979) combined. ** 2006 survey does not include McGuiness to Worsley section (3 km). *** 2007 survey does not include a 2 km section above SH1 bridge.

7 APPENDIX 3. SUMMARY OF NUMBERS OF KEY BIRD SPECIES, RAKAIA RIVER Summary of numbers of key bird species counted in surveys of the Rakaia River in the 1970s and 2000s. Note that the surveys were not all made in the same year within each decade, and the composite totals therefore provide only an approximate indication of total numbers. Reach 1970s Lower (below SH1) Mid (SH1-Barhill) Upper (above gorge) Species Composite 'Total' Black-fronted tern Black-billed gull Banded dotterel Wrybill Pied Oystercatcher s Barhill to gorge* Species Composite 'Total' 2011 Black-fronted tern Black-billed gull Banded dotterel Wrybill Pied Oystercatcher * Not surveyed in the 1970s. This reach is excluded from totals to facilitate comparison of counts from the 1970s and 2000s.

8 APPENDIX 4. THREATENED AND AT RISK BIRD SPECIES Threatened and at risk species regularly present on the Rakaia River and riverbed. Species are listed in descending order of seriousness of threatened status as listed by Miskelly et al. (2008). Species Status Notes Black-fronted tern (Chlidonias albostriatus) Black-billed gull (Larus bulleri) Wrybill plover (Anarhynchus frontalis) Endangered (Data Poor) Endangered (Designated) Vulnerable (Range Restricted) Throughout river. Throughout river. Numbers at any particular site can vary greatly from year to year. Throughout river but mostly between gorge and Wilberforce River. Caspian tern (Hydroprogne caspia) Red-billed gull (Larus novaehollandiae scopulinus) Pied shag (Phalacrocorax varius varius) Banded dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus bicinctus) Vulnerable (Secure Overseas) Vulnerable Vulnerable Vulnerable (Range Restricted) Isolated pairs throughout river. Mainly coastal. Mainly coastal. Throughout river, esp. above gorge and including Wilberforce, Harper, and Avoca Rivers. White-fronted tern (Sterna striata striata) At Risk: Declining (Data Poor) Mainly coastal. Mouth and lower reaches. Numbers at any particular site can vary greatly from year to year. Pied oystercatcher (Haematopus finschi) Pied stilt (Himantopus himantopus leucocephalus) Black shag (Phalacrocorax carbo) NZ Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae novaeseelandiae) At Risk: Declining At Risk: Declining (Secure overseas) At Risk: Naturally Uncommon (Secure overseas, Sparse) At Risk: Declining Throughout river. Throughout river. Throughout river. Throughout river.

9 APPENDIX 5. HABITAT COMPOSITION OF RAKAIA RIVER BED AND MARGINS Percentage of each habitat type in each reach, and total area of each habitat type for the Rakaia River and riparian margins from the mouth to river kilometre 110. River Reach (% of habitat) Habitat Class B2 B3 C4 C5 C6 D6 D7 D- Nth. Total Area (ha) Bare Ground Bare Gravel Sparse/Low Vegetation Scattered Shrubland Shrubland Grassland/ Herbaceous Pasture/ Cropland Pine Forest Willow/Poplar Forest Other Forest Artificial Channel Connected Channel Connected Downstream Connected Upstream Disconnected Water Sidestream or Tributary Pond Total ,439.9

10 APPENDIX 6. KEY HYDROLOGICAL CHANGES RELEVANT TO BIRDS Table A6.1. Monthly variation in the predicted reduction of daily mean flow at Fighting Hill with the Project, compared to Source: Evidence of Ian Jowett. Season Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Mean Table A6.2. Average river wetted width, depth, and velocity at MALF, summer MALF and median flows for historic and project flows at Fighting Hill ( ). Source: Evidence of Ian Jowett.. Scenario Flow (m 3 /s) Width (m) Depth (m) Velocity (m s) Historic MALF Project MALF Reduction in MALF Historic summer MALF Project summer MALF Reduction in summer MALF Historic median Project median Reduction in median Table A6.3. Average river wetted width, depth, and velocity at MALF and average median monthly flows for modelled existing consent scenarios and Project flows below Highbank. Source: Evidence of Ian Jowett. Flow (m 3 /s) Width (m) Depth (m) Velocity (m s) Existing consents without storage median Existing consents with storage median Project median Existing consents MALF Project MALF Existing consents summer MALF Project summer MALF

11 Table A6.4. Predicted change in median mean monthly lake level (m) (Source: Tonkin and Taylor Tables CL1.0 and CL1.1). Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Annual Median (historic) Median (modelled) Change