River affected by ash pocket?

Press, 24 April 1987, Page 5

River affected by ash pocket?

PA New Plymouth Conservation authorities are investigating signs that the Stony River in Taranaki may have suffered a severe ecological setback.

A tributary of the river, the Pyramid Stream high up in Egmont National Park, may have cut into an ash pocket, the Taranaki Acclimatisation Society believes. If this is the case, silting could affect fish life in the river.

The Stony River, flows from Mount Egmont to the sea near Okato and is considered to be one of the best rainbow and brown trout streams in the district. It is the only watercourse in Taranaki

to have a local conservation order placed on it

The Conservation Department’s chief ranger, Mr John Clay, of New Plymouth, confirmed that he recently noticed large deposits of sand in the higher reaches of the river, and suspected bad silting.

He said he would make further investigations.

Society executives are making their own studies. The Stony River is running off-white — almost a biscuit* colour — which society officials fear is a sign that it is running ash and could silt up the stream bed.