Management of rural water schemes: responding to climate change
Annual Conference
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Rural irrigation and water supply schemes are essential to the performance and long term operation of New Zealand’s agricultural sector. This paper explains the expected impacts of climate change on rural water schemes, and identifies possible response options to better manage resources and infrastructure in response to climatic changes. It draws on a comprehensive study completed for the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to assess climate change impacts on rural water infrastructure, and identify opportunities to implement changes to how rural water schemes are managed to minimise the future impacts of climate change.
The proposed climatic changes in New Zealand will impact on rural water scheme infrastructure by increasing sediment loads on storage facilities, increasing the frequency and severity of floods and droughts, and the significance of water quality and ecological effects. It will also alter the reliability of supply.
The MAF study identified a number of opportunities to better manage rural water schemes to encourage the adaption to and minimisation of the impact of climate change. Some of these changes could be implemented through granting global consents or through regulatory changes to Regional Plans, while others could be addressed through general scheme management works.