Investigation into factors influencing the water quality of the Taylor River.
The Taylor River runs through the centre of Blenheim and as a result has a high public profile. With State Highway One crossing the river and the popularity of the walking tracks that run along-side the river, many hundreds of people have contact with river on any single day. Over recent years a number of the public have begun to express concerns over the current state of the river. The Council’s State of the Environment Monitoring Programme has also shown that the water quality of the Taylor River and Doctor’s Creek, its major (rural) tributary were in a poor state of health.
A Taylor River Characterisation Project has been initiated to carry out an assessment of the significance of land use factors influencing water quality and their effects in the Taylor River Catchment, ascertaining potential solutions and options to mitigate any issues identified and provide input towards land use policy guidelines to ensure that the Taylor River is a healthy sustainable waterway into the future.
Aligned to this project is the Stormwater Monitoring Network project that is being undertaken by Councils Assets and Service Department, to understand the Blenheim stormwater infrastructure and managing the potential effects of contaminants entering the Taylor River from the stormwater network.