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2023 Smarter Targeting of Erosion Control (STEC) News

  1. Sediment fingerprinting: a catchment-based technique to quantify erosion source contributions to downstream sediments

    Sediment source fingerprinting uses the properties of soils and sediments as tracers to estimate the contribution of erosion sources to downstream sediments. It is the only method that directly links catchment sources of erosion to sediment entering receiving environments. The technique first emerge...

  2. The influence of erosion sources on sediment-related water quality attributes

    Erosion of fine sediment and its delivery to streams pose significant issues for freshwater quality and receiving environments. Increased sediment loads reflect the loss of agriculturally productive soils and land instability, as well as sedimentation issues that can affect infrastructure and produ...

  3. The sediment contributions of New Zealand’s largest landslides

    In addition to improving our understanding of the erosion process, as incorporated in previous sediment budget models, the STEC programme is attempting to quantify the sediment contributions from other sediment sources. In partnership with Massey University, the STEC programme has supported the PhD ...

  4. Modelling fine sediment dynamics in rivers to improve our understanding of impacts on streambed habitat and water quality

    Most modelling of catchment erosion and sediment has focused on annual river loads linked to catchment erosion rates. However, to interpret the water quality impacts of (fine) suspended sediment and the degradation of streambed habitat by deposited fines, we need to understand the dynamics of sedim...

  5. A co-developed evaluation framework to assess the effectiveness and performance of erosion and sediment control mitigation

    Despite a long history of erosion management in New Zealand using soil conservation plants such as poplars and willows, and more recently a range of techniques and products to manage soil erosion from construction and earthworks, there is little quantitative information on the effectiveness and perf...

  6. How will climate change affect erosion and suspended sediment loads across New Zealand?

    Understanding the potential impact of climate change on erosion and suspended sediment loads is critical for developing catchment management plans that achieve land productivity and water quality objectives under future climate. The response of erosion and sediment loads to climate change can be exp...