July 2024
This preliminary project to quantify freshwater community-based monitoring (CBM) efforts in Aotearoa New Zealand has identified that a wide range of monitoring is being carried out across the county. The sample of community and catchment groups reviewed for this study showed data collection has been undertaken at over 350 sites across nine catchment groups or collectives. In most cases, multiple variables have been monitored at regular intervals, and some groups now have over 5 years of data.
Discussions with three freshwater modellers found that CBM data has strong potential to inform spatial statistical models used in catchment-, regional- and national-scale modelling and reporting applications. Data that are of high quality could also be used to verify modelling predictions and be applied in model calibration exercises.
To increase the utility of CBM information in the future, we recommend the following actions:
By combining these data sources, there is potential for a richer understanding of waterbody health and an improved information base to support freshwater management.
Cawthron Report 4061 prepared for Our Land and Water National Science Challenge
Projects which produced this output