January 15, 2007
Media Release

River And Groundwater Abstraction Restrictions Update

River and groundwater abstraction restrictions have been lifted from all but one river in the Canterbury region. Only the Rakaia River has a current limited*(Band 5) water take restriction, according to Environment Canterbury environmental protection officer, Gill Carr.

“Last year we’ve basically had restrictions in all Canterbury rivers in place all the time during the irrigation season, which stretches from September to March/April. This year the situation is totally different and so far we have experienced a predominantly restriction free season,” says Ms Carr. “All restrictions have now been lifted from the Central Canterbury Ellesmere tributaries, which last year had restrictions in place throughout the season.”

See table below for comparison to last year.
The lack of restrictions this season is attributed to higher than normal rainfall in most of the region. “Soil moisture levels are being retained, and farmers don’t need to irrigate as often as they would in a dry season.”

She says minimum flows haven’t been reached with nearly the same regularity as in the past, which means ecological values and water quality will be higher than in previous years. Gill Carr says many lowland streams that haven’t been running for at least three to five years, are now running more regularly above their minimum flows.

Ellesmere tributaries comparison with last year
05/06 Season
Irwell River at Lake Road - Out of 242 days (i.e. 1 Sep to 30 April) Irwell on restriction 234 days = 97%
Selwyn River at Coes Ford - Out of 242 days Band 1 on restriction for 94% of season and Band 2 for 98%
Rakaia River at Fighting Hill
Band 1 - Out of 242 days Band 1 on restriction for 28%
Band 2 - Out of 242 days Band 2 on restriction for 123 days = 51%
Band 3 - Out of 242 days Band 3 on restriction for 138 days = 57%
Band 4 - Out of 242 days Band 4 on restriction for 176 days =73%

06/07 season to date (12 January 2007)
Irwell River at Lake Road - Out of 134 days (i.e. 1 Sep to 12 Jan) Irwell on restriction 0 days = 0%
Selwyn River at Coes Ford - Out of 134 days Band 1 and 2 restriction 0/134 days = 0%

Rakaia River at Fighting Hill
Band 1 - Out of 134 days Band 1 on restriction for 0 days = 0%
Band 2 - Out of 134 days Band 2 on restriction for 11 days = 8%
Band 3 - Out of 134 days Band 3 on restriction for 18 days = 13%
Band 4 - Out of 134 days Band 4 on restriction for 50 days = 37%
To find out more about water take restrictions, phone the River Report 24 hour info line on 083 22 55 22 (Calls cost 12 cents per minute) or visit www.ecan.govt.nz/Our+Environment/Water/Rivers/Irrigation+Restrictions/Irrigation-restrictions.htm

For more information contact Gill Carr, Environmental Protection Officer, Environment Canterbury, 03 363 9318
*River restriction bands are based on reliability of supply - Band One being most reliable. That means that in terms of restrictions, people on Band Five are the first to be placed on restrictions for irrigation purposes (That is when the river flows start to decrease below the highest trigger level).

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