Human impacts

Freshwater environments are affected by pressures from human activities. Land clearance and land use, modifications to freshwater systems, the introduction of exotic species, irrigation and climate change have impacts. These, in turn, have impacts on our culture, recreation, freshwater species, habitats, ecosystems, health and economy.

The degradation of our freshwater can impact the ability to maintain mātauranga Māori and access mahinga kai.

The following resources provide information about human impacts on freshwater.

Articles

• Our freshwater 2023

• Waitī – freshwater environments

• Water quality – factors and issues

• Human impacts on rivers

• Water issues and effects

• Water quality monitoring

• Farming and environmental pollution

• Nutrients – resource curation

Media

• Culverts, ramps and baffles – video

• Wastewater – video

• Land use – impacts on waterways – interactive

• Our use of water – impacts on water quality – interactive

Activities

• Nutrient pollution

• Farming and environmental issues

Image: Pivot irrigator, 123RF Ltd.