Stream Monitoring - Waiorongomai Valley Farm
- Roslyn Nancekivell
- Mar 3
- 2 min read
Updated: Apr 8
Earlier this year Waikato Regional Council visited Waiorongomai Valley Farm, north of Morrinsville, to undertake monitoring of native species in streams which have been planted with native sedges. The team set tuna fyke nets and minnow traps within two streams on the farm - Te Puninga and the Donald stream.
Freshwater ecologists Sarah Becker and Brenda Bartels visited the following day to bring in the nets and traps and record the species caught. All native species were released back into the stream after being counted and, where relevant, measured.
Between the two sites, the following native species were found: short fin tuna (eel), īnanga (whitebait), common bully, native freshwater shrimp and a torrentfish.
"The lone torrentfish in Te Puninga really stands out, since these fish prefer swift moving rapids within stony bottomed rivers and streams. We don’t expect to see them in soft-bottomed streams, like these watercourses. The presence of both the torrentfish and inanga suggests that there’s good connectivity between this site and the ocean, since neither species are strong climbers." - Sarah Becker, Waikato Regional Council
"There was a large number of elvers / juvenile eels in Donald Drain, which shows good recruitment, meaning it’s not just older adult tuna living here without new fish adding to the shortfin population. Based on this, the site is likely providing good quality habitat (and cover as a refuge) and has a stable food supply for fish (through macroinvertebrate colonisation and input) into both watercourses." - Sarah Becker Waikato Regional Council
The introduced pest species found were mosquitofish and goldfish. Pest species were humanely euthanised.
Native sedges were planted along steams on Waiorongomai Valley Farm to provide bank stability and increase habitat for native species. Te Puninga stream was planted 3 years ago, and the Donald stream 2 years ago. The diversity recorded shows that these streams now provide suitable habitat for our native species. Planting sedges along the streams has lowered the water temperature, reduced sediment and invasive weeds, and increased the insect population (food).
"Having good instream cover and a strong food supply definitely helps fish populations thrive – both of which you seem to have at these sites." - Sarah Becker, Waikato Regional Council
If you would like more information or are interested in planting small streams on your property, get in touch with us.
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