Across the weekend of October 1-2, 2022 over 30 community members participated in the inaugural Lake Pedder BioBlitz. People of all ages, and back grounds came together to survey over 30km2 on terra firma, kayakers monitored over 10km of the impoundment shore line and a cohort of university environmental science students embarked on the arduous 18km return trek following the old Lake Pedder Track.

The event was made possible thanks to the incredible support of Highways and Byways, through their incredible community work in healing the land and healing ourselves, together.

Thanks also to the wonderful folk at Roaring 40s Kayaking for the equipment and ongoing support. Likewise the accompanying expertise of the Tasmanian Wilderness Guides, for volunteering their time and enthusiasm to make the weekend a success.

(Kayakers on their survey around Trappers and Hamlett Inlets)

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The main surveys teams found plenty of Tasmanian devil and quoll scatts, as well as evidence of masked owls, and a platypus was spotted. They also gathered a comprehensive set of vegetation data from 12 sites around the impoundment.

The Lake Pedder BioBlitz was also be run as an early instalment of the Great Southern BioBlitz, mapping biodiversity in the southern hemisphere using iNaturalist. Not only will our work be helpful for Lake Pedder, it will be part of a critical global environmental snapshot amidst the biodiversity crisis.

The Pedder Track crew (featured below!), had the biggest epic of all! An overnighter below the Coronets, where we’d hope, one day in the not to distant future, there will be a lookout with interpretation telling the story of Lake Pedder. The cohort from the University of Tasmania’s enviorment society and landcare society, survyed the risks of increased foot traffic in the area, as well as recording the biodiversity around key points such as the entrance saddle, Swampy Creek and Coronets.

Our inaugural BioBlitz has been made possible thanks to the incredible support of Highways and Byways. Be sure the check out their incredible community work in healing the land and healing ourselves here.

Want to assist with further citizen science for the restoration of Lake Pedder? Let us know below! There are several follow up surveys, monitoring and birding to be done, and as the annual BioBlitz has limited participation capacity, its never too early to jump in for 2023!