EXAMINING STREAM HEALTH IN SOUTH WEST OTAGO

NZ Landcare Trust funded a Participatory Science Platform project looking at stream health in South and West Otago, where they worked with 10 schools to undertake stream health assessments, in areas close to their schools. The funding for this project was provided through Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE).

Through the Examining Stream Health in South West Otago project students were encouraged to assess how activities occurring on the farms and towns in South West Otago, ultimately affects the stream environment. Students learned scientific techniques to assess the health of their school’s local stream using habitat, physical, chemical and biological indicators. They were also encouraged to explore ways stream health can be improved.

Project objectives

• To raise awareness of the state of water quality in South West Otago.
• To educate school pupils and the wider community on scientific techniques to assess the health of local streams.
• To introduce ecological systems to school children, by investigating what lives in the streams of the area.
• To explore ways stream health can be improved.