What we’re up to

Today should be World Fish Migration Day but it's been postponed to October 24, 2020 due to Covid-19. But here's some information from Department of Conservation​ about fixing barriers to fish passages so they can get where they need to go! https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/habitats/freshwater/fish-passage-management/fixing-barriers-to-fish-passage/

Pūkorokoro-Miranda land-owners and the local community are banding together to make big difference! WATCH how working together across the catchment to eradicate pests is having big benefits for our native plants and birds! https://www.livingwater.net.nz/im:1941/

We are in the process of having catchment maps illustrated for us by talented Christchurch illustrator, SmartKat, to show how all the projects, tools and partnerships happening in each catchment work together to benefit freshwater in New Zealand and demonstrate integrated catchment management in action

Planting has been scaled up at Yarrs Flat and other Te Waihora lakeshore sites with funding from the One Billion Trees Programme through Te Uru Rākau - Forestry New Zealand. Since drone filming for this video was completed, planting has expanded considerably into areas of conservation land which were previously farmed and where willow forest had begun to establish. The planting programme perfectly complements the increased effort DOC is putting into willow control, mostly on the western shore of the lake. Watch the video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1_SARYwXcmM&feature=youtu.be

Catch up on the latest with our newsletter https://mailchi.mp/f9c9c29c3a32/living-water-newsletter-jul-478657

Our water quality monitoring data shows how in drought conditions the cyanobacteria counts rise dramatically and impact on water quality, our latest results from Ruatuna show levels are on their way down. The quality and quantity of water had us concerned for Puweto numbers, they seem consistent with last year. The low levels helped with access around the lakes. It also enabled a good look at the willow die-off from previous drone spraying.

In Waituna we've been release spraying around young plantings (on-farm) to protect them from weed and grass overgrowth until they're big enough to fend for themselves. These plantings will reduce surface run-off into sensitive freshwater areas. https://www.livingwater.net.nz/catchment/waituna-lagoon/

Pest control continues after our open day held at Pūkorokoro-Miranda in November 2019 with a contractor working closely with landowners to identify prime possum habitat on their properties, with special attention to vulnerable native bush remnants. The degree of community support and enthusiasm for this project has been fantastic. Watch the community in action 👇 https://youtu.be/5gbl_3853rs

Food production and healthy freshwater ecosystems are integral to life on earth, they shouldn’t be mutually exclusive. Today being #EarthDay2020 we’re celebrating being part of a change. The Living Water partnership between Department of Conservation and Fonterra combines restoration expertise with responsible dairying knowledge to trial solutions for dairy and freshwater ecosystems to thrive together for the future. Read about what we’re doing to make a difference https://www.livingwater.net.nz/our-progress/national-projects/trialling-tools-and-solutions

As a meteorological drought was declared for all of Northland it drastically effected our ability to deliver our work, followed by the recent lockdown. All the waterways within the Okarika Pocket where we are concentrating our project work are completely or near completely dry so our water quality monitoring programme is drastically curtailed until flows return and lockdown is lifted. https://www.livingwater.net.nz/catchment/wairua-river/

MEET THE TEAM: Each month we introduce you to one of our hard working Living Water people, this month is Nicki Atkinson, South Island Manager. The best bit about my job is: The totally awesome team of people across DOC and Fonterra that I get to work with everyday Most people don’t know that I: Have sailed across the pacific ocean in a 38ft yacht In my spare time I: Take my dog George on adventures. Fit out the inside of out my tiny house & work on the restoration of my 74 year old classic yacht. If I wasn’t working here, I’d like to: Be learning the art of fine woodworking, making documentaries, taking photographs, sailing, tramping, traveling to distant and exciting places and cultures, making delicious food for my friends, gardening …there’s too many things!. Before working at Living Water, I: Was galivanting around New Zealand’s native forests and mountains measuring trees as part of a national biodiversity monitoring programme for DOC.

Bar-tailed Gotwits and Pied Oystercatchers use the mud flats and the nearby farming fields to feed and roost alongside dairy cows. Learn more from bird experts and farmers about what's happening near New Zealand's Pūkorokoro-Miranda Shorebird Centre 👇 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTzCvCXpzVg&t=7s

Our Waituna Creek fish survey is the biggest event on the calendar for our Southland Team! It requires extra person power, good weather and some pretty special equipment. This is our first survey after the first lot of fish habitat has been added back in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsEu-NUa43Q&t=201s

We love the Ohaupo community in the dairying Waikato who passionately restore their peat lakes with Living Water, National Wetland Trust of New Zealand and others. Their welcome, farewell, and lake signs are now all about the peat lakes! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdaXmbvkjrw

A reminder for when you're out getting your daily moovement 😉🐄

We partered with the CAREX team part of the UC Freshwater Ecology Research Group to investigate how sediment traps, a simple and effective tool to capture excessive sedimentation, could be implemented across many waterways throughout New Zealand. This video describes why sediment is an issue, what a sediment trap is and how it works. It also provides guidance on how big to make a suitable sediment trap for ecological and financial benefits 👇 https://youtu.be/BMUJn9zL2y8