Sinclair Wetlands

50km south of Dunedin, Sinclair Wetlands, Te Nohoaka o Tukiauau is a restored wetland complex. The 315 hectares of diverse ecosystems are known for sustainable practices and community involvement. Their commitment to the environment ensures restoration of habitats, pest control and community education.

Waterwatch provides the coordinators and volunteers of Sinclair Wetlands with the technology and equipment necessary to accurately monitor hydrological levels and flows. This information allows them to plan future wetlands management and make decisions regarding habitat restoration, mahinga kai activities and ensuring access throughout. They will additionally be able to develop weed and pest management as well as developing protocols for subsequent water quality assessments. Waterwatch monitors the Sinclair river channels, pools and swamps to eliminate any uncertainty with changing weather patterns and unexpected changes to the ecosystem.

The Waterwatch LS1 is the perfect tool for the wetlands as it is cost effective and easy to install compared to high end, traditional monitoring equipment. It is also a highly configurable device allowing it to work in many varying contexts as well as being accessible and easily interpreted by staff members. The extended battery life of the LS1 gives the coordinators at Sinclair Wetlands peace of mind that their waterways are constantly being measured and they have readily available, accurate data whenever they need it.

The Waterwatch Live website displays the water levels and warning signals across the entire property using simple percentage markings. These can be clicked on to reveal more detailed information on the individual sensor and to configure it’s settings.

Being easily accessible via the internet and smartphone connectivity, coordinators can track any abnormalities and set up alerts at high or low thresholds to be notified. This allows immediate reactions to protect the wetland and inform recreational visitors on any changes. It also allows the greater insight into any fluctuations to better understand the factors that affect the environment they work so hard to protect.