Number of pages: 02
Date: 08 October, 2008

River, Rainfall Data On NRC Website

A range of rainfall and river data – including flood warning levels - is now available on the Northland Regional Council’s website.

Dale Hansen, the Council’s Water Resources / Hydrology Programme Manager, says the data is gathered automatically from a network of about 70 Council monitoring stations throughout the region.

“We expect this information will be useful to a range of people from resource consent holders, farmers (including marine farmers) and schools on a regular basis, as well as the general public and media during Civil Defence situations.”

Mr Hansen says data is currently posted automatically at 9.30am (daylight saving time) each day on www.nrc.govt.nz/riversandrain but can be posted hourly in a flood or other emergency.

The river level data shows information from 30 automatic water level station in rivers around the region, as well as six tidal monitoring stations (four on the East Coast and two on the West Coast).

General information such as catchment details, map references, dates that records began the, highest and lowest levels recorded, flood warning levels and median flow levels can be downloaded from monitored sites as a spreadsheet.

The rainfall data is collected from 25 sites around the region, many of them located along East Coast areas which typically bear the brunt of heavy rainfall events.

A range of general rainfall information, including river catchment, map references, altitude, date records began and mean annual rainfall for all sites can also be downloaded as a spreadsheet.

“Viewing real-time data enables important decisions to be made with respect to heavy rainfall events and potential flooding for both Council Hydrology staff and the wider public.”

“These tools will enable anyone with a computer and internet access to view rainfall and the likely effects it will have on river levels in their area.”

Meanwhile, Mr Hansen says although few in Northland would appreciate it after the storms and heavy rain over the past year or so, the data could also prove useful in times of drought as a water management tool.

ENDS

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