The great Kākahi Count
More than 40 volunteers got hands-on with scientific research as part of the Kākahi Count at Wairarapa Lake Shore Scenic Reserve in February. Everyone gathered their 50 kākahi within the 30 minute time-frame. We also collected one juvenile – the first for this site and only the second between the two sites for the four years of data collection.
We also came across dead fish along the lake shore due to very warm water temperatures. Because kākahi can bury into the cooler sediment of the lake bed they aren’t affected the same.
Kākahi are filter feeders that reduce algae and sediment in the water. However, they’re in decline due to deteriorating water quality in our lakes and rivers. Monitoring kākahi populations is one measure of how healthy our region’s lakes and wetlands are.
Find out more about our Lake Wairarapa kākahi monitoring programme.