Society members had recently visited areas on both sides of the river to get a feel for the range of wetlands and their condition, society secretary and Environment Canterbury (ECan) resource care co-ordinator Julia Laming said.
"The group now needs to consider all the information that has been gathered to determine where best to focus our efforts in protecting some of the local areas," she said.
Wetland ecologist Diana Robertson, of Boffa Miskell, provided comment on the condition, plant and animal life and importance of each wetland visited.
The ecologist's report, commissioned by Meridian Energy Ltd as part of its north bank tunnel concept hydro proposal, documented all the important wetlands in the lower river, helping the society identify priority sites.
The society was keen to hear from landowners who wanted help with wetland area issues.
Work could involve fencing off the wetland, weed removal (such as willows and gorse), ensuring there was adequate water at all times and, possibly, strategic plantings.
The society wanted to help, and one approach was to encourage owners of property containing wetlands to apply for part-funding for the work from ECan's environment enhancement fund.
Some farmers might be able to secure a Queen Elizabeth II Trust covenant if areas were of sufficient significance.
Members of the society and the public went to Te Anau recently where they met the Waiau Fisheries and Wildlife Enhancement Trust and saw how enhancement work on a dammed river and its associated wetlands had been achieved with strong local co-operation and support.
The Lower Waitaki group thought wetlands would be an ideal starting point for similar enhancement work on the Waitaki River before special areas were lost.
It would be among the first field projects for the group, which was looking forward to starting work.
