Marlborough Sounds Resource Management Plan a) State of the environment monitoring including: • Near shore coastal water quality; • Estuarine water quality; and • Bathing beach water quality with a particular emphasis on pathogens that pose a threat to public health. b) Impact monitoring to assess the effects of authorised and unauthorised discharges of contaminants on coastal water quality and the benthic environment; c) Compliance monitoring to ensure that all holders of coastal permits involving the discharge of contaminants to water meet the conditions of their permits; d) Record keeping including: • State of the environment, impact and compliance monitoring information; • Requests for information from iwi, other agencies and the public; and • The number of notified and non-notified coastal permits applied for and the number granted and declined in each category. e) Reporting to the Council on a regular basis the results of the above state of the environment, impact and compliance monitoring activities; and f) In conjunction with other agencies, the Council will undertake a comprehensive monitoring programme of the foreshore conditions of Long Island - Kokomohua Marine Reserve. A number of methods are included to implement the objective and policies outlined above. It is the implementation of the rules though, which is likely to be the most effective means in achieving the water quality sought and the sustainable management of coastal water. Refer to Chapters 13 Soil Conservation and 14 Discharges of Waste to Land for methods relating to coastal water contamination as a result of run-off from land. 9.4 Alteration to the Foreshore and Seabed Section 12 of the Act places restrictions on use of the foreshore and seabed within the coastal marine area. Essentially, no person may reclaim or drain, disturb (excavate, drill or tunnel), deposit substances or remove any natural material (sand, shingle, shell) in respect of the foreshore and seabed, unless it is provided for by either a rule in the Plan, or by a resource consent. These types of actions which are restricted by section 12 of the Act, are all taken to be alterations to the foreshore or seabed. Various activities involving alterations to the foreshore and seabed are undertaken within the Plan area. A number provide considerable benefits to the community. An example is the clearance, cutting and realignment of river 9 - 14