Extended dry spell refocuses attention on water storage

Media Statement

27 November 2014 – for immediate release

Extended dry spell refocuses attention on water storage

The extended dry spell New Zealand is experiencing has highlighted the country’s need for further reliable water storage projects based on alpine water systems, says IrrigationNZ.

IrrigationNZ CEO Andrew Curtis says without substantial rain over much of winter and spring, many farmers across the country are already experiencing soil moisture deficits and irrigation would be critical this season.

Water restrictions are imminent in many regions and this could have a huge impact on production levels, says Mr Curtis.

“The only way to guarantee water in our summer-dry foothill river systems is to invest in alpine water storage. We don’t want another season like 2011-12 when billions of dollars was lost from the economy when drought struck the North Island and dry spells plagued the South Island,” says Mr Curtis.

Lake levels in Opuha Dam are now hovering just above 50% of the lake’s full level, a situation Tony McCormick, CEO of Opuha Water Ltd, says is unprecedented for this time of year.

“We are very concerned about our level of storage and we are about to implement restrictions on Monday in an attempt to preserve the storage and extend the time that we can continue to supply water to maintain river flows and for irrigation.

Environment Canterbury is planning to issue a Water Shortage Direction that will restrict consented water takes if the lake reaches a 50% full level (expected around 1st December).

Mr McCormick says weather patterns in South Canterbury this Spring have been variable but the overall result has been little rain.

“The lack of snow in our lowlands catchment coming out of winter has been a significant factor in our low storage levels. This situation is unprecedented in the history of Opuha but has always been anticipated. We are describing it as a one in 20 year event.”

River flows in the region’s foothill rivers are also exceptionally low this Spring and Environment Canterbury has stepped up its monitoring, which IrrigationNZ applauds.

“Farmers need to know on a daily basis how their water supplies are faring so more regular river flow measurements help. When there’s no rain, irrigating farmers need to turn off systems when river flows hit minimum flows so the more advance warning the better.”

In these one-off unprecedented years, farmers and other stakeholders more than ever need to be working together to balance the economic and environmental values of our water resources,” says Mr Curtis.

IrrigationNZ supports a collaborative approach to address the practical implementation of water restrictions.

“Any response needs to account for different irrigation system designs and combine rostering and rationing approaches to achieve the required water restrictions,” says Mr Curtis.

“As Opuha’s pro-active response to the lake’s current situation illustrates, irrigation schemes need to be trusted in the management of the water resource as they have a range of options available to them to most efficiently address declining water supplies. They’re also the closest to what’s happening and will act to ensure sustainability of the water resource,” he says.

Declining river levels have also triggered a warning about possible water restrictions for Nelson residents who take their water directly from streams and wells.

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