Rule 24 Placement of vegetative bank protection structures

The placement of any cabled willow or willow clump for river bank erosion protection that is fixed in, on, or under the bed of any river including any associated;

• disturbance of any lake or river bed; or
• deposition on the river or lake bed; or
• temporary diversion of water; which

(1) is not in a river, or part of a river, identified by Policy 4.2.10 (Appendix 2 -water bodies with a high degree of natural character (click here for a pdf High Natural Character (2.5mb) )); and

(2) extends into the available river bed width from the bank no more than whichever is the lesser of:

• 10% of the width of the water body; or
• 5 metres; and

(3) does not use crack willow, Salix fragilis, or grey willow, Salix cinerea, except on the margins of rivers where they are already predominant;

is a permitted activity provided it complies with the conditions specified below.

Conditions

(1) Fish passage shall be maintained during any construction activities and all works shall be undertaken in a manner that will provide for fish passage.

(2) In any part of the river or lake bed covered by water in any water body identified in Policy 4.2.14 (Appendix 4 - Water bodies with important trout habitat (click here for a pdf Important Trout Habitat (146k))), the activity shall not take place between 31 May and 31 August.

(3) The placement of willow clumps or cabled willows shall not cause any bank erosion beyond the site or change to water levels.

(4) No contaminants (including but not limited to oil, petrol, diesel, paint, or solvent) shall be released to water from equipment being used for the operation, and no refuelling of equipment shall take place on any area of river or lake bed.

(5) Any excess material from the activity shall be removed from the river or lake bed and disposed of in an appropriate manner.

(6) All reasonable steps shall be taken to minimise the release of sediment to water during the activity.

(7) Water is diverted only for the period necessary to carry out the activity.