Appendix Two Table 7 (cont) Indigenous Vegetation and Landforms - Portage Ecosystem Landform Components Geology Remnant Native Past and Potential Vegetation Native Vegetation 3. Moderately steep low Siliceous, strongly Forest Forest broad he adlands developed Black beech forest Rimu/black beech forest 0-50 m elevation Marlborough Schist 4. Minor prograding inlet Recent alluvium Rushland Rushland heads, fans, and from predominantly Sea rush-jointed rush Sea rush-jointed rush wetl ands [e.g; P27/ schistose rocks, rushland with marsh rushland with marsh 877978, 870935] minor swamp and ribbonwood. ribbonwood. 0-20 m elevation estuarine deposits 5. Steep coastal cliffs,minor Siliceous, strongly Shrubland Shrubland componen t developed Coastal fringe of rangiora- Coastal fringe of rangiora- 0-100 m elevation Marlborough Schist akiraho-Wharariki-akeake akiraho-Wharariki-akeake shrubland. shrubland. A. The Physical Environment 1. Landforms/Geology Strongly developed schist with pronounced foliation into layers. Schist geology responsible for the blocky nature of hillslope landforms. Minor alluvium and swamp deposits. Moderately steep to steep Inner Sounds hill slopes. Extensive northwest-oriented faces above a weakly indented coastline in Kenepuru and Mahau Sounds, strikingly contrasted by the deeply incised coastline of headlands and recessed bays in Queen Charlotte Sound. Excessively dissected coastline due to marine submergence. Rare gently-sloped fans at bay heads, and rare alluvial fans (especially Anakiwa, and between Mahau and Kenepuru Sounds). Wetlands naturally uncommon and confined to alluvial flats at the western, Inner Sounds end of the ecosystem. A few small islands (Motuara, Allports, Motutapu) and rock stacks. The eastern end of Portage ecosystem is separated from Stokes ecosystem by a major fault feature. Slopes particularly prone to slips due to foliated geology, and intense rainfall events. Significant eg; Mahau Sound head, Ohinetaha Bay and Umungata Streams small to moderate-sized; total lengths generally very short. Generally steep, although significant low-gradient stretches near the coast. 2. Climate and Elevation Moderately dry to moist, temperate climate. Many areas frost-free. Frosts occasional on less steep sites, especially in sheltered bays. Cold air drainage and ponding is pronounced in inland western parts of the ecosystem and typical of sheltered bays. Moderate rainfall: 1400-1600 mm. Summer droughts occasional on drier northwest-facing slopes above Kenepuru Sound. Occasional intense rainfall events. App Two - 37