2. General Rules Volume Two 2.14.4. Maintenance of a culvert or floodgate. 2.14.4.1. A temporary coffer dam constructed for the purpose of maintenance must be removed at the completion of the maintenance. 2.14.5. Land disturbance activity for the purposes of diverting water. Works undertaken for the purposes of creating a diversion, do not cover the diversion of water controlled under Section 14 of the RMA. 2.14.5.1. The diversion of water must be a Permitted Activity. 2.14.5.2. The works must only be carried out working in an upstream direction. 2.14.5.3. Redundant channels must be left open at the downstream end in a manner that ensures that fish stocks are not entrapped. 2.14.5.4. The full length of the redundant channel must be surveyed for stranded fish. Any stranded fish found must be relocated to the same river immediately upstream of the diversion. 2.14.5.5. The Nelson Marlborough Fish and Game Council and the Department of Conservation must be informed of the proposed works at least 5 working days prior to works commencing. 2.14.5.6. The diversion must be necessary for the maintenance and operation of the Drainage Channel Network. 2.14.5.7. Any discharge of sediment into water associated with the activity must not, after reasonable mixing, cause a change in colour of more than 5 Munsell units or a decrease in clarity of more than 20% for more than 8 hours in any 24 hour period and more than 40 hours in total in any calendar month. 2.14.6. Planting vegetation for the purposes of edge and aquatic habitat protection and prevention of bank erosion. 2.14.6.1. When vegetation is planted for the purposes of aquatic habitat protection, native plant species must be preferentially planted. 2.14.7. Removal and control of aquatic vegetation by cutting with an excavator mounted bucket with tined blades. 2.14.7.1. Cutting must not be carried out more than once in any 12 month period on any section of drainage channel. 2.14.7.2. The removal and control must not be carried out in a tidal reach between 1 February and 30 April, and 1 August and 30 November in any year. 2.14.7.3. The excavator must not enter flowing water. 2.14.7.4. The cutting must not be carried out over more than 90% of the channel width by leaving an uncut strip on each side of the channel. 2.14.7.5. Removed material must be retained on adjacent channel banks for a period not less than 12 hours to provide opportunity for fish and animals to re-enter the drainage channel. 2.14.8. Removal and control of aquatic vegetation by a floating weedcutter with reciprocating blades, or by hand held cutters (e.g. scythes). 2.14.8.1. Cutting by mechanical means must not be carried out more than once in any 12 month period on any section of drainage channel. 2.14.8.2. The cutting must not be carried out over more than 90% of the channel width by leaving an uncut strip on each side of the channel. 2 – 20