Have you ever wondered how the water quality of the Ashburton Lakes/Ōtūwharekai is monitored or what is being done to improve the health of the lakes’ ecosystem for our native species?

A pop-up event on Saturday 25 February at Lake Clearwater/Te Puna-a-Taka will give the community a chance to learn about initiatives under way to restore the lakes by the organisations and landowners who are part of the Ōtūwharekai Working Group.

Some of the activity is easy to spot, such as the water quality monitoring stations floating in the lakes, and signs to improve visitor behaviour in the area. But there’s also work happening in more remote parts – like stream surveys, farm assessments and mahinga kai cultural health assessments.

The pop-up event will run from 11am until 2pm at the lakefront at Mount Darchiac Drive and is an opportunity for people to ask questions and talk to those directly involved in the projects. It’s being jointly hosted by the Ōtūwharekai Working Group and the Ashburton Water Zone Committee, and will include displays, kids’ activities and a sausage sizzle.

There will also be information on the lakes’ significance to Ngai Tahu Whānui.

Central South Island Fish & Game is planning a live fish display to show some of the species that live in the lakes, and Environment Canterbury scientists will demonstrate the tools used to measure water clarity and colour. They’ll also share recent data on lake health.

Children can get busy with a bug search and an interactive water run-off model, and play the very popular tuna and drains game.

Ashburton District Council staff will be present at the open day too to answer any questions that people might have.

Other displays will focus on biodiversity, conservation, aquatic pests, council requirements, visitor behaviour in the area, and a whole lot more.

The overall aim is to share information in a relaxed, family-friendly environment – with a free sausage sizzle.

Ashburton District Council is a member of the Ōtūwharekai Working Group, along with Te Rūnanga o Arowhenua, Te Ngāi Tūāhuriri Rūnanga and Te Taumutu Rūnanga, Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu, Environment Canterbury, farmers in the area, Department of Conservation, Toitū Te Whenua LINZ, Central South Island Fish & Game, the Ministry for the Environment and Ministry for Primary Industries.

The group was set up in 2019, driven by declining water quality and problems with algae at Lake Clearwater.

The lakes are one of the few remaining areas of native biodiversity in Mid Canterbury and its wetland habitats are nationally important and home to more than 30 bird species, and many threatened plants and aquatic species.

Want to know more about the restoration plan?

• Come along in person to the one of the regular Ōtūwharekai Ashburton Lakes public updates to the Ashburton Water Zone Committee (agendas are on the Ashburton District Council website)
• Check out Ashburton District Council’s own plan relating to the area Lakes Camp and Clearwater | Ashburton DC
• Visit the Ōtūwharekai Working Group webpage ecan.govt.nz/otuwharekai and sign up to the e-newsletter
• Head to ecan.govt.nz/otuwharekai for more information.