Where possible 'retire' the riparian strip alongside waterways. Plant the riparian margins with trees and/ or thick grass to protect from direct sunlight and overland sediment flow. Treat direct pollution inputs before discharge e.g. use of artificial wetlands, sediment ponds, land-based disposal. This can be as simple as pouring a bucket of soapy water onto the ground, rather than down a drain. Don't allow introduced aquatic plants and animals into natural waterbodies. The aquarium and gardening industries are responsible for the millions of dollars of problIs these pests now cause. Remember that floods can also cause breakouts! Where possible keep roads and walking tracks away from the actual waterway margins (this also protects bank-stabilising vegetation). Look to alternatives to piping or culverting streams; they have functions other than just carrying our stormwater away! Stormwater runoff eventually drains to our streams, rivers and lakes; what chemicals go down these drains comes out in the homes of their wildlife!

And finally...

...remember to involve as much of the watershed for restoration and protection as possible. Note that the small headwaters are is proportionally more important to the whole system, and remember that the main Stream or River is a sum of its tributaries.

RECOMMENDED READINGS AND *REFERENCES CITED. Coffey, B. T. & Clayton, J. S. 1988: New Zealand waterplants. MAFTech North. Hamilton, New Zealand. 63p. Collier, K. J.; Cooper, A. B.; Davies-Colley, R. J.; Rutherford, J. C.; Smith, C. M. & Williamson, R. B. 1995: Managing riparian zones: a contribution to protecting New Zealand's rivers and streams. Department of Conservation. Wellington, New Zealand. (2 volumes) McDowall, R. M. 1990: New Zealand freshwater fish: a guide and natural history. Heinemann-Reed. Auckland, New Zealand. 553p. *Mitchell, C. P.; Eldon, G. A. 1990. How to locate and protect whitebait spawning grounds. Freshwater Fisheries CenTRe Publication for the Department of Conservation. MinisTRy of Agriculture and Fisheries, Christchurch. 49p. Moore, S.C. 1997: A photographic guide to the freshwater invertebrates of New Zealand. Otago Regional Council Publication. Dunedin, New Zealand. 24p. *Pendergrast, J. C.; Cowley, D. R. 1966: Introduction to aquatic insects. Collins. Auckland. Winterbourn, M. J.; Mason, K. 1983: Freshwater life: streams, ponds, swamps, lakes and rivers. Mobil New Zealand Nature Series. Reed. Wellington, New Zealand. 76p.