Category: Pests - LAKE DUNSTAN CHARITABLE TRUST

ORC ECO Fund Application for Trapping Update

6/25/2023

As part of our ambitions to improve local biodiversity around Lake Dunstan and provide educational and community-led projects, we are looking to install a pest trapline along 5km of the lake’s shoreline for the trust and volunteers to monitor. In March, we applied to the ORC ECO Fund for funds to purchase traps to target rodents, mustelids and possums plus bait, equipment and maintenance.

2023 Annual Lake Dunstan Aquatic Weed Management Meeting

5/9/2023

On 9th May 2023, we attended the annual Lake Dunstan Aquatic Weed Management meeting to review the 2022/23 works and assist in the planning for 2023/24. Toitū Te Whenua LINZ, Boffa Miskell, NIWA, ORC, Otago Fish & Game, Clutha Fisheries Trust, and ourselves were in attendance.

Background

Since 1988, Lagarosipon (or lakeweed) has been 'unmanageable in the Clutha'
By 1996, Lake Dunstan was 'saturated'
Lake Dunstan management is 'sustained control' as it is not possible to effectively eradicate due to reinvasion from upstream (Clutha/Wanaka & Kawarau/Queenstown)
Efforts in Wanaka are focusing on eradication techniques
Queenstown is on prevention and monitoring as currently little is found in Whakatipu
Lake Dunstan - 12 High Amenity areas (boat ramps) and 14 High Recreational areas where monitoring and works occurs.

NOTICE ON UPCOMING LOCAL AQUATIC WEED SPRAYING

4/27/2023

To learn more about Diquat, click the link below

CRUX: Contact Energy commits to Cromwell lake clean up

3/1/2023

Lake Dunstan's volunteer watchdogs are welcoming a new plan that will ensure the owners of the Clyde Dam work to better clean up a section of the lake.

ORC: Media release: Approval for Contact Energy amenities plan at Kawarau Arm

3/1/2023

Contact Energy has delivered a plan for managing landscape and visual amenity values along the Kawarau Arm of Lake Dunstan - within its consents held around its Clyde Hydro scheme in Central Otago.

Read media release

Mahi Aroha Day with Cromwell Youth Trust

1/24/2023

A big thank you to the rangatahi at Cromwell Youth Trust for all their hard work helping remove weeds from the McNulty planting site.... Its looking great!
It was great to help coordinate a Mahi Aroha day with CYT and Te Tapu o Tāne where they could learn about the mahi needed to restore the native wildlife in the region and allow them to take ownership of their local environment.
We look forward to the next school break when we will have more fun and educational days planned.
Ka mau te wehi!

Stuff - 'Silent invasion': Weeds are escaping gardens and wreaking havoc on native ecosystems

11/11/2021

Thousands of exotic pest plants, many of which have escaped from gardens, are spreading through the country and threaten to transform native ecosystems “beyond recognition” without greater intervention, New Zealand's environmental watchdog says.

Crack willow: The Beauty is a Beast of a weed!

11/11/2021

We all agree that Crack willow is a beautiful tree, especially this time of the year. Unfortunately, this beauty is a beast to control and eradicate.
The name comes from the branches & stem fragments easily 'cracking' off from the trees. These fragments move downstream and can easily resprout; as you can see from the pictures.
Crack willow threatens riparian habitats (and the flora and fauna found within), increases the risk of flooding and can cause blockages to the dam and around bridges.

Learn more: Crack Willow

Could we be on the brink of finally winning the war against introduced mammal pests?

9/9/2021

A team of researchers are working on a one-dose oral paste that could permanently sterilise introduced predators, regardless of sex or species. This discovery could mean we finally start winning our war against introduced mammals.
Efforts to poison, catch and shoot pests are effective locally but they are not enough to eradicate all mammal pest from NZ due to their incredible breeding rates.
Lets hope this research give us the answer we are desperately waiting for!

George Russell: Creator or destroyer?

7/27/2021

George Russell is the horticulturist responsible for creating the Russell lupin that now plague our waterways and threaten our native wildlife. He received an MBE for is efforts in horticulture but could he of imagined the devastation his creation would cause?

N. American variety

Russell Lupin, New Zealand