Wetlands coming back to Christchurch

Once upon a time, most of Christchurch and, indeed,  most of the Canterbury Plains were wetlands – areas that provide a buffer between land and water. 
European Settlers drained nearly all of our wetlands. Unfortunately, now we are finding that we need some of them back!  Wetlands hold water back in a flood, can supply water to the surrounding area in a drought, help to filter pollutants out of water before it gets into waterways. 

People living in the lower reaches of the Otakaro/Avon and Opawaho/Heathcote have noticed that flooding is becoming more of an issue as areas upstream have been hardened and no longer soak up rain when it falls. Partly this is about our climate changing so that where we used to have more regular light rain, we are not getting more irregular heavy rain which overwhelms our river systems when it falls but leave them drying out in between. 
We have lots of new wetlands being developed in and around Halswell specifically to hold water back in a big rain so that people in the lower Opawaho/ Heathcote are flooded less than they otherwise would be.


The wetlands in the picture to the left are in Shirley near Horseshoe Lake.
The man made floating wetlands that you see in this picture will support plants that will take up nitrogen, phosphates and heavy metals, through their roots.  This will improve water quality in Horseshoe Lake and the Otakaro/ Avon River.





As well as being very important in a flat city like Christchurch, these wetlands are also good at sequestering carbon and the make wonderful places for walking.   Check one out near you soon