Summary of report findings
Oteha Valley Stream is one of the largest streams on the North Shore. The catchment contains the Rosedale Sewage Treatment Plant, a mixture of residential, commercial and light industrial land uses, and a significant portion remains in rural use. Development of this rural land is anticipated to provide for additional residential and light industrial areas. Much of the upper stream channel has been modified, however the lower stream course retains more of its natural character.
| Length |
11.5km |
| Size of Catchment |
980ha |
| Vegetation Cover |
15% (147ha, mainly within the lower catchment and associated with Tributaries 5, 6 and 7). |
| Imperviousness |
36% |
| District Plan Land Use |
Business |
33% |
| Recreation |
14% |
| Residential |
27% |
| Road |
14% |
| Special Purpose |
13% (Education 7%, Wastewater Treatment Plant 4%) |
| Rural |
>1% |
| Structure Plan Area |
>1% |
| Recreational Use |
High, known high public use of stream locality. |
| Receiving Environment |
Upper Lucas Creek (estuary) and the Upper Waitemata Harbour. |
| Substrate |
Bedrock in the lower main channel and silt/mud in the tributaries except Tributary 4 which is concrete lined. |
| Natural Wetlands |
4 |
| Artificial Wetlands |
4 |
| Periphyton |
Below nuisance levels. |
| Macrophytes |
Possible management issues in the main channel and Tributaries 1 to 4. |
| Macroinvertebrates |
Indicative of moderate stream health. |
| Fish |
9 native species+ koura. |
| Potential Man-Made Barriers to Fish Passage to Upstream Habitat |
9 |
| Channel Modification |
Extensive modification mainly in the upper half of the stream. |
| Erosion around Structures |
3 structures with slight erosion, 1 structure with severe erosion. |
| Bank Erosion |
Slight erosion throughout. |
| Temperature |
Potentially of concern to some species. |
| Suspended Solids, Turbidity And Visual Clarity |
Poor clarity and elevated suspended solids concentrations. |
| Oxygen and Oxygen Demand |
Oxygen low to moderate. Some organic pollution yet overall low oxygen demand. |
| Nutrients |
Typical concentrations compared to other North Shore streams. |
| Contaminants |
Limited information, but generally similar to other North Shore Streams. |
| Bacteria and Pathogens |
Levels of indicator bacteria indicate the stream is not suitable for contact recreation. |
| Sediment Quality |
No data. |
| Debris |
Insignificant. Some material present alongside the lower main channel. |
| Stream Grouping |
Group 2, High value low disturbance |
16% |
| Group 3a, Urban semi-modified |
44% |
| Group 3b, Urban modified |
18% |
| Group 4, Concrete lined channel |
4% |
| Group 5, Piped section |
17% |
