Lucas Creek Stream assessment
Summary of report findings
Lucas Creek has only recently started to be developed from rural to residential landuse. Land clearing, soil disturbance and construction has had significant effects in some parts of the stream. Sediment deposits in some parts of the stream are smothering habitat and have had a significant effect on the ecological value of the stream. However, the stream still retains stretches of excellent native riparian cover, natural character and a range of habitat types.
Lucas Creek has been identified as a category 2 stream due to a high level of community interest, a need to protect the stream mouth and high heritage values.
Documents
Lucas Creek report PDF 
(1.16MB)
Lucas Creek maps (PDFs)
Links
North Shore stream assessments overview page
You will need Acrobat Reader to view some documents on this page, which can be downloaded free from www.adobe.com
| Length | 16.3km | |
| Size Of Catchment | 600ha | |
| Vegetation Cover | 24% (144ha), generally in the northern part of the catchment | |
| Imperviousness | 17.3% | |
| District Plan Land Use | Albany expansion centre | > 1% |
| Business | 15% | |
| Recreation | 5% | |
| Residential | 3% | |
| Residential expansion | 1% | |
| Road | 10% | |
| Special Purpose | 9% | |
| Rural | 1% | |
| Structure Plan Area | 56% | |
| Recreational Use | Low, most reserve is associated with the lower main channel | |
| Receiving Environment | Lucas Creek Estuary | |
| Substrate | Generally silt/mud | |
| Natural Wetlands | 3 | |
| Artificial Wetlands | 5 | |
| Periphyton | Below nuisance levels | |
| Macrophytes | Possible management issues in upper catchment | |
| Macroinvertebrates | A range of scores | |
| Fish | 6 species of native fish + koura | |
| Potential Man-Made Barriers to Fish Passage to Upstream Habitat | 7 | |
| Channel Modification | Majority of the stream network is unmodified, most modification is the result of historical farm ponds or water supply dams. | |
| Erosion around Structures | 7 structures with slight erosion | |
| Bank Erosion | Significant bank erosion in the lower main channel, upper section of tributary three and the lower part of tributary 7. | |
| Temperature | Maximum temperatures are of concern, median temperatures are within acceptable range | |
| Suspended Solids, Turbidity And Visual Clarity | Suspended solids and turbidity readings were above the average measured for other North Shore streams. Clarity readings were variable. |
|
| Oxygen and Oxygen Demand | Results suggest some organic pollution of the stream | |
| Nutrients | Typical concentrations compared to other North Shore Streams | |
| Contaminants | Results suggest that zinc levels may be elevated | |
| Bacteria and Pathogens | Levels of indicator bacteria indicate that the stream is not suitable for contact recreation. | |
| Sediment Quality | No data | |
| Debris | Insignificant compared to other North Shore streams | |
| Stream Grouping | Group 2, High value low disturbance | 50% |
| Group 3a, Urban semi-modified | 30% | |
| Group 3b, Urban modified | 12% | |
| Group 4, Concrete lined channel | 2% | |
| Group 5, Piped section |
6% |
|