Rivers generally receding across region

For immediate release: Monday 24 January 2011, 2.30pm, update number 7Bay of Plenty Regional Council staff are still working in the field after all rivers have peaked except the Rangitāiki River which is excepted to peak tomorrow. The Rangitāiki River is still rising steadily, but isn’t expected to cause any further flooding issues.

Whakatane River, at Valley Road, peaked at 7.1m about 9.30am – approximately a 30-year event. Good outflows are occurring at the Whakatane River mouth where the spit is actively eroding. This good outflow has yet to assist the river further upstream and the Te Rahu and Kopeopoeo Canals are still very high. It is expected that the Whakatāne River will recede at a faster rate this afternoon after the high tide earlier today.

The Waimana River, at the Gorge, peaked at 5.2m; the Waioeka River, at the Cableway, peaked at 8m; and the Otara River, at Browns Bridge, peaked at 3.3m. Kaituna River peaked at 1am and is receding but river levels still quite elevated.

Stoplogs at Ohau Channel are being removed to allow Rotorua Lake to recede.

Field teams will continue to work on shifts through the night.

Rainfall totals for the past 48 hours are up to 280mm in the Rotorua Lakes catchment and up to 270mm in the Rangitāiki River Catchment. Most other catchments have received more than 200mm of rain over the same period.

ENDS

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