On Monday, Jess and Josh from Environment Southland visited to teach us about our local awa, the Mararoa River.
Josh introduced us to the issue of microplastics and explained how they can end up in our waterways — and even in the air we breathe.
Jess showed us how water travels from the mountain tops to our local rivers and lakes, and taught us ways we can help keep waterways healthy.
We discovered that the Mararoa begins in the Livingstone Mountains and joins the Waiau River before flowing to Te Waewae Bay near Tuatapere.
We learned about protecting wetlands, planting native trees, and washing footwear to help stop the spread of didymo between waterways.
At the Mararoa River, we tested the water’s clarity, temperature, and overall health.
We explored the riverbanks searching for water bugs, which can tell us a lot about the health of the river.
It was a fantastic day of hands-on learning about our local awa and the importance of caring for our environment.
