The middle reaches of the Rangitikei River are in better condition now than they were 10 years ago, Hugh Stewart says.
He was in a group of Rangitikei Forest and Bird members on a rafting trip run by River Valley Lodge last weekend. The 13 and their guides rafted downriver, from the lodge at Pukeokahu to Gravity Canyon.
Horizons Regional Council has been getting flak from environmental groups for its care of freshwater. Mr Stewart had nothing but praise.
There had been rain in the previous week, but the water looked better than it did 10 years ago, he said.
"We were absolutely amazed at the clarity of the water. Every single one of the group could see the bottom of the river."
He's been told the two feedlots affecting water quality upriver have closed, because they were aware the regional council was unhappy with them and because their results were not worthwhile.
The group saw herons, and met fishers who had caught trout in a sidestream.
They heard that River Valley, the Aorangi Awarua Trust and neighbouring landowners were all trapping predators. River Valley alone had trapped 100 stoats in three years.
"Blue duck are moving downstream as the work is coming to fruition," Mr Stewart said.
The council has also been pro-active about weeds, including the toughest one for the area, old man's beard. The group didn't see any of it, until they got to Gravity Canyon.
Horizons was making a huge effort to stop old man's beard getting into the Ruahine and Kaimanawa ranges, Mr Stewart said.
"We think the efforts that Horizons are making are a huge benefit to that whole stretch."