Quarterly Water Quality Report – April 2026
Opuha Water Ltd publishes its quarterly water quality reports for Lake Opuha and the wider scheme catchment to share with the community the results of our extensive water quality monitoring program. This report gives a summary and highlights key findings for the eDNA results from March 2026, with a focus on the ecological health description. A summary of aquatic species identified is also given.
Key Findings
- Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling was undertaken in the Opuha Scheme and wider catchment in March 2026, with ecological health ratings of Excellent and Good.
- The Lake Opuha tributaries of North Opuha River, South Opuha River, Ribbonwood Creek, Station Creek and Deep Creek were all rated as Excellent.
- The Opuha Riverand the Te Ana Wai River were both rated Good.
- The ecological health ratings for the Opihi River were Excellent and Good with a general decrease in eDNA score from upstream to downstream.
- The Kakahu River was rated as Good at Upstream of Discharge and Downstream of Kakahu Gorge, with significant ecological species of freshwater crayfish/kōura, freshwater mussel/kākahi, longfin eel and shortfin eel identified Downstream of Kakahu Gorge through eDNA sampling.
Download the full report here: Water Quality Monitoring Report – April 2026