In the Retaruke catchment, a local farming family is showcasing how simple tools like leaky weirs, detainment dams, and fencing can turn a wet, hard-to-manage seep into a water-quality win. With support from the Whanganui Region Catchment Collective and NZ Landcare Trust, this on-farm trial is proving how slowing down water in hill country seeps traps sediment and filters E. coli before it reaches the creek.

Early results are impressive—92% drop in turbidity and 90% drop in E. coli just 80m downstream. The set-up is practical, low-cost, and works with what’s already on the land. With a bit of fencing, some native planting, and regular maintenance, farmers can boost water quality and make use of those awkward wet spots.