Tools to Assess Stream Health
The Riparian Health Assessment and SHMAK test have helped several catchment groups understand impacts on stream health and plan action, both individually and as a catchment group.
Riparian Health Assessment
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The riparian zone is very important to stream health because it is the interface between land and water. The Riparian Health Assessment (originally prepared by NIWA for Environment Canterbury) enables catchment groups to quickly assess the functionality of the riparian zone across large lengths of stream.
This assessment gives a quick assessment of impacts, what they are (stock access, lack of shade, invasion of weeds, etc). Along with eDNA and physiographic information, it provides a much better understanding of how a stream is being or has been impacted, next practical steps for improvement, as well as a baseline from which to start so efforts can be acknowledged in the future.
The Riparian Zone is the interface between land and water
SHMAK Test with Woodbury School
SHMAK Test
NIWA’s Stream Health Monitoring Assessment Kit (SHMAK) is a way to assess stream health, using a set of scientifically rigorous indicators, including physical factors such as water clarity, algal growth, macroinvertebrate abundance, as well as nitrogen and phosphorus. It is designed to be used by individuals and small groups to do their own assessment of stream health and how it is changing over time.
A SHMAK test kit can be borrowed from Living Landscapes on request.
Templates to Plan Action
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​Physiographic Maps enable farmers to undertake a well-founded assessment of risk, which they can then communicate to others with minimal reliance on (costly) support from consultants. To make the most of this information we have prepared templates and run workshops to prepare high quality winter grazing plans and freshwater focused farm plans in a community context at very low cost.
Freshwater Focused Farm Plan Workshop
Winter Grazing Plan Workshop with DeerNZ