Salmon numbers in the Waitaki River could get a boost through two projects planned by the Central South Island Fish and Game Council to start a salmon-enhancement programme.
They follow a comprehensive report by the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (Niwa) which investigated what options were available.
The first project is to investigate and ascertain costs for improving salmon habitat in up to seven side braids which have been identified as being vital for rearing juvenile salmon.
The second is aimed at encouraging anglers and interested parties to set up and operate a small-scale hatchery and enhance streams for spawning, with Welcome Stream on the lower Waitaki plains identified as one possibility.
The hatchery proposal would be based on the highly successful McKinnons Stream hatchery on the Rangitata River, which is operated and funded by the Salmon Enhancement Trust jointly with the fish and game council.
Central South Island chief executive Jay Graybill said yesterday the two initial projects were identified by Niwa as among the top priorities for improving salmon runs into the Waitaki River.
Funding for the two projects had yet to be determined, but the council was negotiating with Meridian Energy Ltd under an agreement reached in 1991 which provided money for salmon enhancement as mitigation for the generating company's power schemes on the river.
Mr Graybill was hopeful an agreement for funding assistance could be reached, perhaps over the next six months.
In terms of establishing a hatchery, there were several options, including two existing salmon hatcheries on the river.
Mr Graybill said fish and game councillor Linn Koevoet, of Glenavy, had already discussed the idea with anglers and other interested parties and there was keen interest.
If a hatchery could be set up along the lines of the McKinnon Stream hatchery, the council would obtain the necessary consents and the hatchery would be run by volunteers, with money from grants and donations used to cover day-to-day operating costs.
Fish and game officer Mark Webb said, as part of the agreement with Meridian, Niwa was commissioned over last summer to identify and prioritise methods of improving spawning and juvenile salmon production, including hatchery options, in the Waitaki River.
The report identified enhancement of spawning and rearing habitat as the top priority.
Other options, in order of priority, are.
-Improving monitoring of the fishery for effects of flooding and other factors.
- Screening irrigation intakes.
- A hatchery to produce and reduce salmon.
- Enhancement of tributaries such as Welcome Stream and the Hakataramea and Maerewhenua Rivers.
Mr Webb believed enhancement of salmon-rearing habitat in up to seven side braids offered the greatest opportunity to substantially increase juvenile salmon production.
The effectiveness of that could also be readily measured.
Mr Webb identified the hatchery and tributary enhancement as the second priority, utilising angler support.
Current efforts to reduce salmon losses into irrigation schemes would continue.
