EXTRA WATER STORAGE

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1929, Page 15

EXTRA WATER STORAGE

ANTICIPATING A DRY SPELL. LEVEL OF RATAPIKO DAM, -During a discussion at yesterday’s meeting of the Taranaki Power Board, Mr. N. H. Moss asked for information regarding a contemplated increase in the level of the Ratapiko dam with a view to giving greater storage of water to meet the effect of a dry spell. The chairman (Mr. H. G. Carman): We think that by putting flash boards in position at the spillway we can raise the level about two feet. The idea is under consideration. Mr. W. H. Climiej consulting engineer, said the present area of the lake was about 80 acres at high water. Therefore, if the dam was raised the increased storage would be equivalent to “80 acre feet” for each foot raised. Mr. B. H. Goldsmith, resident engineer, suggested that the flash boards should be fitted in a temporary manner. The board could then see in a day how far the rising of the lake level would affect the surrounding country. The chairman: The water might encroach only a few feet in some directions, but there is a possibility of inundating a goad deal of low-lying land and the question of compensation has to be considered. Mr. Climie, however, thought the water would mainly back up small blackberry-infested creeks and would do little damage. To Mr. H. J. Marchant, the engineer said a rise of two feet would represent an increase of about 20 per cent, in storage. In reply to Mr. Moss, Mr. Goldsmith said that by making the flash boards in a non-permanent setting a cloudburst or any excess of water would simply wash them away and do no damage to the dam. Mr. Moss and Mr. Marchant stressed the advisability of making some such provision as was -suggested before tne dry weather might be expected.