Whitebait Connection Coordinator Ray worked with Kaingaroa School for programme delivery in term 3 of 2022. This programme was funded by Foundation North. As part of the programme the students went on field trips to the Otanenui stream and Rotopokaka lake (Coca Cola lake) for freshwater investigations.
Here are the results from the investigation at Otanenui stream:
- Habitat Assessment: The students noticed there was a good amount of shade over the stream and a good root system from native plants and trees holding the banks together
- Clarity: 70-80cm
- Temperature: 12-14 degrees celsius
- Conductivity: 130-150
- pH: 7
- Macroinvertebrate: shrimp, woody-cased caddisflies, tail gilled stonefly
- Fish: 4 banded kokopu, 9 common bullies and one redfin bully were caught in the traps over night
Lake Rotopokaka is a dune lake. The lake is also known as 'Coca Cola lake' as the peat and tannins in the water give the lake a distinct colour like ‘Coca Cola’.Here are the results from the investigation at Rotopokaka lake:
- Clarity: 40-60cm
- pH: 7.5
- Temperature: 18.5 (the tannins in the water attract the sun)
- Macroinvertebrates: damselflies, water boatmen, dragonfly larvae
- Fish: invasive gambusia were caught in the fish traps
