Water Shortage Direction renewed for Opihi River and tributaries

Another Water Shortage Direction for the Opihi River and its tributaries (which includes the Opuha River and Lake Opuha, but excludes the Temuka River) is in effect from Wednesday 8 April 2015 for 14 days.

The Direction ensures that the Opihi River continues to sustain environmental flows for the health of the river.

The Direction requires Opuha Water Limited to maintain a minimum flow of 2.5 cubic metres per second in the Opihi River (at the Saleyards) when Lake Opuha is below 375m and above 370m; and when the water level is above 375m, the minimum flow will be maintained at 4.0 cubic metres per second.

When the water level in Lake Opuha is at or below 370m, Opuha Water Limited shall manage a transition to natural flows to a level of 369m.

For the duration of the Direction, when the water level in Lake Opuha is at or below 374m, consent holders linked to the Opuha Dam will not be able to abstract for irrigation from the Opihi River and its tributaries.

Notwithstanding the above, when the lake level is above 370.5 metres and the minimum flows specified are achieved, restrictions on “above dam” consent holders shall be determined by the minimum flows in the waterways to which they are tied.

Environment Canterbury has authority under Section 329 of the Resource Management Act 1991 to notify the Water Shortage Direction.

Water Shortage Direction is available to view on the Environment Canterbury website via the link below.

http://ecan.govt.nz/services/online-services/monitoring/irrigation-restrictions/Pages/irrigation-restriction.aspx?AreaID=11

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