LAKE TAUPO DAM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23338, 5 May 1939, Page 10

LAKE TAUPO DAM

WATER FOE ARAPUNI REGULATION OF THE FLOW TWO POSSIBLE SITES CHOSEN [FROM OUR OWN correspondent] HAMILTON, Thursday Two prospective sites for the proposed dam fit Lake Taupo to regulate the flow of water into the Waik.ito River have been chosen by tho parties from tho Public Works Department, which have been carrying out surveys for some weeks. With the building of tho dam, tho problem of water supply for the Arapuni power-station will be greatly alleviated. The final selection of the site has not yet been made. The dam, which will only be a few feet high, will be equipped with sluice gates to control the flow from the lake to the river. At present more water than is required for Arapuni flows through the river following tho spring thaw of snow on tho mountains which feed the lake and river. At the end of summer, however, there is often insufficient water for tho generation of tho power required. By tho building of the dam it is hoped to eliminate this irregularity of water supply to Arapuni.. Water will be conserved in the dam in the spring and in the autumn the gates will be opened to maintain the level of the Arapuni Lake. It is expected that the erection of the dam will be completed within two years.