Getting the measure of our lagoon

It's wet and cold and takes 20 minutes of careful hand-held monitoring each time but measuring water flow in and around the Waitarakao Washdyke Lagoon helps us understand its natural character and improve the health of the lagoon.

Environment Canterbury has set up eight new water level and flow gauging sites to gather information that will help inform how we can improve the lagoon habitat, which is home to aquatic life and 60-plus species of birds, including wrybills and dotterels.

Future enhancement of the lagoon, in collaboration with local rūnanga, Timaru District Council, Department of Conservation and other partners, could include improving water movement around the lagoon, restoring wetlands and traditional food gathering opportunities, and creating a recreational cycleway and walkway.

To find out how you can get involved, visit the Ōrāri Temuka Ōpihi Pareora Zone pages on the Environment Canterbury website.