Recent national recognition has highlighted the collaborative and community-led work happening across the East Otago catchments. What began in 2019 as a small group of farmers focused on improving winter grazing practices has grown into a catchment-wide network spanning Waihemo Shag River, Stony Creek, Te Hakapupu Pleasant River, Waipaku Post Office Creek and Waikouaiti River.

The group’s work now includes projects focused on farm planning, biodiversity restoration, water quality, pest management, fish passage improvements, community planting days, and species recovery initiatives such as the Upper Shag tributaries trout removal project, which has contributed to a significant increase in the rare Taieri Flathead Galaxias population.

Read more here, and here