Rise In River Levels

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32350, 16 July 1970, Page 5

Rise In River Levels

The Federated Mountain Clubs of New Zealand have warned members of all affiliated bodies about the dangers of fording, swimming, or fishing in rivers downstream of hydro-electric power stations. Their warning follows a letter from the New Zealand Electricity Department saying that river levels could rise very quickly and without warning below hydro works and control gates.

An extract from the department’s letter, printed in the Federated Mountain Club’s bulletin said that warnings have been' put on fishing licences, and notices of the danger erected at many riveraccess points frequented by the public within a mile or two of a power station or control works.

“We feel, however, that such warnings are inadequate because access to rivers is not restricted to these particular places,” the letter said. “Also, the heavy toll of drowning accidents in New Zealand shows that dangers which exist are not being brought home to people as forcibly as they should be,” the let ter said.

The river levels affected in the South Island are: the

Clutha, Waitaki, Waipori, Arnold, Takaka. Rakaia, Hawea, Monowai, Pukaki, Tekapo, Harper Diversion, and Cobb Rivers and the Lake Coleridge outflow.