Little Shoal Bay and Lower Wetland

Web page under development - please bear with us - this was copied and pasted from our old Google Groups site!

Report on progress achieved in the Little Shoal Bay (Lower) Wetland

Thanks to sponsorship from the Auckland Regional Council's CEF and EIF fund, the Auckland Council and the Birkenhead Trust / Lion Foundation as well as volunteers from BNZ and ASB

Progress in 2011 and 2012

2013

- BNZ Closed for Good project due to "release" the 2013 plantings at Glade Place
- Volunteers planted 3500 natives in and around wetland from Dudding Park to junction of 3 tracks
- Volunteers released natives planted last year - some plants doing well
- - but weeds are still winning in places; more plantings due this year
- Volunteers planted another 2300 natives around the Glade Place Bridge
  - See 2012 Events and Achievements
- Several working bees cleared hundreds of willow weed, nutsedge and other weeds
- An EIF grant from Auckland Council is being used to hire EcoScience to clear re-emergent willows and pampas plus a range of other weeds

2012

2011

- Volunteers planted another 1500 natives around the Glade Place Bridge
- 2011 Events and Achievements
- Volunteer working bees cleared weeds around the margins
- A CEF grant from Auckland Council iwas used to hire EcoScience to clear re-emergent willows and pampas plus a range of other weeds across the wetland

Here is a photo galley outlining the improvements - 2008 - 2010

Progress in the wetland:

Little Shoal Bay Wetland was formed after the mouth of the estuary was blocked off by developments and reclamation.

As salt water and mangroves gave over to a fresh water environment, gradually native raupo took over large parts of the area.

Unfortunately Crack Willow and Pampas also spread across the Little Shoal Bay wetland choking the waterways. Four local residents made a tremendous impact on the wattles in the 1980s-1990s. However, crack willow regrows from the smallest fragments and the wetland was invaded again.

From 2007, with the assistance of CEF and the Birkenhead Licencing Trust, the LRB Management Committee employed a contractor to start restoring the wetland to its native splendour. Each year, the wetland is improving - but the battle is constant as seeds are blown or flown in from the surrounding land. In 2011 we can proudly say that the bulk of the willow and pampas is under control at last with only minor regrowth occurring.

Attention is now focussing on other species - such as emergent wattles, honeysuckle, ginger and many others. Our work to date has been based on a plan developed in 2008. For 2012 we are looking to develop a more detailed regeneration plan with assistance from the Auckland Council and other supporters.

Wetland with large willow stumps, no sign of pampas

Wetland with smaller regrowth willows and no pampas!

Interpretive signs in Little Shoal Bay:

ON 7 November 2010, Jonathan Coleman (MP for Northcote) unveiled four new educational signs in Le Roys Bush and Little Shoal Bay reserves assisted by Grant Gillon (Kaipatiki Local Board member and former NSCC Councillor) and with Carol Hosking (Chair of Le Roys Bush Management Committee)

Weed control - some snapshots:

1998 - Pampas Grass down to Rod's Island being cleared by LRBMC

(Ray Marshall and Rod Taylor on a working bee)

2009 - BNZ "Closed for Good" project works in Little Shoal Bay wetland clearing weeds

2010 - EcoScience drilling invasive Wattle trees on Maritime Tce side of LRB wetland - project funded by EIF

Planting:

Planting day 7 Nov 2010 with guests Grant Gillon and Jonathan Coleman

Volunteers after planting day on 7 November 2010 - another planting day will be held 10 July 2011

Minor weed species found in and around the LSB wetland:

Queen of the Night - invades and seeds easily

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) or Canadian fleabane (Conyza bilbaona)

Tomato growing from sewer overflow spillage

Oxtongue & Climbers invade newly planted natives

Stump treated ginger (blue-dyed rhizomes) now covered by climbing asparagus

For details of the Little Shoal Bay Naturally Smarter project go to http://www.naturallysmarter.co.nz/projects/lsb.html

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