Volunteers used 'citizen science' equipment to measure suspended sediment, nitrate, phosphate, dissolved oxygen, pH and stream temperature. Water samples were also sent to Bay of Plenty Regional Council for E. coli (bacteria) analysis.
Water quality, stream health and biodiversity are hot topics these days.
In some regions strongly opposing viewpoints between the rural sector and others, including 'townies' and recreational users, has provoked antagonism and over-reaction, says Wild About NZ's monitoring coordinator Andrew Jenks.
"Finding common goals and aspirations seems to be a
more common process in our Katikati community, and there has been nothing but positive support amongst rural landowners for Uretara Estuary Managers (UEM) catchment restoration plans."
UEM, Bay of Plenty Regional Council and Western Bay of Plenty District Council have signed up three properties for substantial environmental projects beside Te Mania, Tahawai and Boyd streams, and another three are already on the drawing board.
"The plans are more comprehensive than usual due to an additional funding contribution from Ministry for the Environment's Freshwater Improvement Fund. Improving water quality, biodiversity and habitat from the Kaimai Forest Park down to the estuary in four large catchments is taking a great deal of planning time, including farm walks and assessment of the current state of the environment," he said.
