Otematata Wetland plants thrive five years on
A native wetland planting project supported by the Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee is flourishing five years down the track thanks to careful maintenance and predator control carried out by volunteers.
In 2019, a project to replant and foster natives throughout the Otematata Wetland Walkway was completed.
Recently, biodiversity officer Jenna Hughes-Games revisited the site to measure its success – and was pleased to see very positive results.
“This planting project has been incredibly beneficial to the wetland area. Over 80 per cent of the seedlings planted, in what is considered a really tough environment to grow, are doing well and have grown above the grass line of the wetland.
“It’s also great to see that the majority of the weeds removed have not returned, and a solid fence was installed to keep out grazing stock.”
The volunteers have also carried out a lot of pest control work, with 20 stoat, rat, and ferret traps, and eight possum traps.
Volunteers make a difference
For nearly 20 years, local volunteers have been planting and maintaining the wetland located between Te Ao Mārama/Lake Benmore and Mahi Tikumu/Lake Aviemore in South Canterbury. What was once mere shingle and weeds left over from the construction of Benmore Dam slowly transformed into a hub of life with native seedlings being planted and endemic species returning.
The Upper Waitaki Water Zone Committee provided funding to the project in 2016 and 2017, which allowed more seedlings to be purchased and existing work to be completed and maintained.
Tristine Clark is one of the Otematata Wetland volunteers
A summer haven
Now, Otematata Wetland is a popular recreation area that gets particularly busy in summertime.
When volunteers first walked through it was very overgrown with briar and weeds – now there are toddlers on little bikes, parents with prams, and groups of families.
Species like pūkeko, pīwakawaka/fantails, ducks, and wāna/white swan have returned and can often be spotted during a walk.
Keeping an eye on things
These days, only a small number of regular volunteers maintain the wetland. Tristine Clark and her husband Steve drive up from Ōamaru on weekends to visit their holiday house and often find themselves pulling weeds and checking on the native plants.
Despite the transformation so far, Tristine said they could always use more funding. “It would help with plant and track maintenance, planting, and chemicals for weed control.”
Otematata Wetland in 2024, five years from the end of the project
Harakeke/native flax thriving thanks to the hard work of volunteers