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Managing our Environment

Fortification Creek Wetland Management Area

Description:

Extensive wetland area covering the slow moving meandering lower reaches of Fortification Stream and the Teviot River, associated oxbow lakes and ponds, and adjacent sedge and red tussock (Chionochloa rubra) wetlands on the alluvial valley floor in an open flat basin of the Upland Plateau land unit. Also covers the swamps at the inlets to Lake Onslow. 1

Type/Class:

Fen 2

Size:

525.9 ha

Altitude:

700 - 740 m above sea level

Approximate location:

26 km Southeast of Roxburgh.
NZTM (centre point): E1339000 N4947800

Regional Plan:

Water for Otago
Schedule 9 Regionally Significant Wetland, no.45, Map F27.

Territorial Authority:

Central Otago District Council District Council

 

Fortification Creek Wetland Management Area

Recorded Values:

Value

Description

A1

 Habitat for nationally or internationally rare or threatened species or communities. Habitat for threatened Banded Dotterel (Charadrius bicinctus bicinctus). The threatened plant species Cardamine sp. and Ranunculus ternatifolius also present. 1, 22

A4

 High degree of wetland naturalness. 2

A5

 Scarce in Otago in terms of its ecological or physical character. Scarce wetland type. One of the last remaining relatively uniform areas of red tussock (Chionochloa rubra) wetland combined with meandering streams. 1

A8

 Regionally significant wetland habitat for waterfowl. 1

A2, A3, A6, A7, A9

 No relevant information is currently held by the ORC.

 

Other Information:

  • Composition of red tussock (Chionochloa rubra). 2
  • Listed as an Area of Significant Indigenous Vegetation, Habitats of Indigenous Fauna and Wetlands in the Central Otago District Plan. 55

References

1 Otago Regional Council (2004) Regional Plan: Water for Otago. Published by the Otago Regional Council, Dunedin.

2 Ausseil, A.G., Newsome, P., Johnson, P. (2008) Wetland Mapping in the Otago Region. Landcare Research Contract Report prepared for the Otago Regional Council.

22 Johnson, P. and Rogers, G. (2003) Ephemeral wetlands and their turfs in New Zealand. Science for Conservation 230. Published by the Department of Conservation, Wellington.

55 Central Otago District Council (2008) Central Otago District Plan, Published by Central Otago District Council, Alexandra.

94 Department of Conservation – Photo Archive

Aerial View of Fortification Creek Wetland Management Area (March 2006)

Aerial View of Fortification Creek Wetland Management Area (March 2006)

Fortification Creek Wetland Management Area with Lake Onslow in the background (2008)

Fortification Creek Wetland Management Area with Lake Onslow in the background (2008) 2

Fortification Creek Wetland Management Area (2010)

Fortification Creek Wetland Management Area (2010) 94

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