Otago farmers are being asked to help develop a regional water quality plan.
The Otago Regional Council is concerned that waterways in the region are being affected by an increase in discharges from intensive farming operations.
It is holding two forums, in Balclutha and Cromwell, later this month to discuss how to manage that increase, and what the future strategic direction for water quality should be.
The council's deputy chairman, Stephen Woodhead, who is also a south Otago sheep and beef farmer, says the forums offer farmers a chance to influence water policy in the region.
Mr Woodhead says this approach to farmers has not been tried anywhere else in the country, and the Council is keen for it to work, though registrations for the forums have been slow so far.
