Native fish make surprise appearance at stream health monitoring workshop
Native fish were discovered during a stream health monitoring workshop in North Canterbury, highlighting the value of community-led freshwater monitoring using SHMAK kits.
Native fish discovery highlights stream health
A surprising discovery was made at a recent workshop teaching locals how to test the health of streams and rivers - and it involved a few unexpected bullies.
The workshop at Hunters Stream in Cust, North Canterbury, was designed to teach community members how to use SHMAK kits, which provide a science-based indication of stream and river health.
During a demonstration of the kit’s kick net - used to check for invertebrates - three native upland bully fish decided to make an appearance.
A moment that brought stream health to life
Our Senior Land Management Advisor, Anna Veltman, was at the workshop and said it was an exciting moment to witness.
“All of a sudden, people had evidence they hadn’t seen before — that there really are these small indigenous species living up there in this stream,” she said.
Anna said seeing upland bully in the stream gave those at the workshop “buy-in” to the benefits of using SHMAK kits, and the importance of protecting streams and rivers.
Community-led monitoring in action
The workshop was put on by the Hunters Stream Community Group, a group of locals keen to understand the health of waterways. The day was run by staff from EOS Ecology, with support from our staff.
About 15 people from all over Waimakariri District attended the workshop. They were there for a number of reasons, including having a waterway they cared about or wanting to start a stream monitoring programme in their area.
Lisa Taggart, a Hunters Stream Community Group member who owns the land where the training was held, said it was a “great workshop with like-minded locals.”
“Spotting the native fish really highlighted the importance of protecting our waterways,” Lisa said.
Other workshops on how to use SHMAK kits were also run recently in Timaru and Christchurch.
How SHMAK kits help monitor waterways
Canterbury Regional Council (Environment Canterbury) have nine SHMAK kits available to loan — located in Christchurch, Kainga and Timaru. The kits are available for landowners and farmers, iwi and hapū, schools, and education groups and community and environmental organisations.
What you can test with a SHMAK kit
As well as testing for invertebrates, the kits can be used to monitor key freshwater indicators such as:
- Nitrate and phosphate (nutrients that affect water quality)
- E. coli
- pH levels
- Dissolved oxygen
- Water temperature and clarity
- Algae
- Conductivity
The kits include step-by-step instructions to help you collect samples and understand your findings.
Note: SHMAK kits are for testing stream water only, not drinking water.
Check the health of your stream using a SHMAK kit: Learn how to book a kit, what you can test, and how to get started