Hawke's Bay Regional Council placed a complete irrigation ban on the Ngaruroro River today as the continued dry weather affects water flows.
The flow was gauged at 2100 litres/sec at the Fernhill monitoring site which is 300l/sec below its low flow limit of 2400l/s.
Irrigation takes linked to higher flow levels were already banned but the 40 takes linked to the minimum flow were being contacted by the Council to advise the consent holders of the ban.
There has been little significant rainfall in the region since December so flows are dropping more quickly now on most rivers and streams.
On Monday a complete irrigation ban was placed on the Waipawa River when its flow dropped below the low flow limit of 2300 litres/sec.
A warning is on the upper section of the Tukituki River, while the lower section of the river is being monitored closely as a warning is likely. Several streams on the Heretaunga Plains also have irrigation bans.
Hawke's Bay Regional Council monitors 27 sites on rivers and streams for low flows limits set on resource consents for irrigation takes.
Click here for more Lowflow information. |