Lowburn Stream Health Workshop
Streamside Community Workshop to Assess Stream Health at Lowburn
Clutha Flathead GalaxiasA practical community workshop being held at Lowburn next week will teach simple scientific methods for assessing stream health.
A hands-on demonstration is being hosted by the Lowburn Catchment Group for anyone with connection to the Lowburn Inlet and the surrounding catchment - landowners, residents, recreational users and others with view to developing a vision for enhancing the riparian environment and biodiversity.
Otago Regional Council (ORC) catchment advisor Becky Clements will demonstrate assessment tools that anyone can use. She will also present results of a recent e-DNA (Environmental DNA) survey carried out in the catchment by ORC. Becky and retired fishing guide and catchment group member Grant Adolph will assist with identification of aquatic species and lead discussion around stream ecology, including the effect of a major flooding event in the Lowburn catchment last September.
Families are welcome and children will be catered for with educational streamside activities, or can use the Lowburn Playground with own parental supervision ( please leave dogs at home).
The Lowburn Catchment Group was formed 18 months ago to focus on the Lowburn stream and catchment habitat, biodiversity, water quality, flooding and environmental issues. It has a particular interest in protection of the endangered native scaleless fish known as the Clutha Flathead galaxiid which has previously been identified in the upper reaches of the Lowburn, and other rare or endangered species. The group is also focussed on flood mitigation, and enhancing biodiversity and native birds through appropriate native plantings.
The session will be based at the Lowburn Community Hall, and runs from 4-6.30pm on Tuesday 13th February, ending with a barbeque meal at the hall. Registration is not essential, but would be helpful for catering purposes. Please phone/text 021 450846 for more information.
The event is supported by ORC and Otago Catchment Community.