Potential Moutoa floodgate opening

Horizons Regional Council staff are currently monitoring Manawatū River levels with predictions signalling the potential opening of the Moutoa floodgates mid-morning tomorrow. 

Horizons acting river management group manager Craig Grant says that a significant amount of rain has fallen over the region this weekend, in particular for the Tararua, Manawatū and Horowhenua districts.

“The Manawatū River is predicted to peak at 8.35 metres tomorrow morning. Should the peak reach 8.6 metres, point 25m above current predictions, this would trigger an opening of the Moutoa gates sometime around mid-morning,” says Mr Grant.

“Horizons’ staff will be at the Moutoa gates site from 6am tomorrow morning to open the gates if required.

“Initially, the forecast predicted the heavy rain would ease by mid-afternoon today and move further north, however rainfall continued longer than expected.

 “This has resulted in a lot of water in the Upper Manawatū, primarily Mangahao and Mangatainoka catchments, and surface flooding across the lower parts of our region now making its way into the main stem of the Manawatū River.

“Horizons Regional Council duty officers have been monitoring the conditions through the weekend, including checking on flood protection infrastructure and modelling river levels.

“Staff are currently notifying landowners within the Moutoa gates area to ensure they are prepared for any operation that may occur tomorrow.”

Up-to-date information on river heights and rainfall is available via Horizons 24 hour toll-free Waterline 0508 4 FLOOD or via our website https://envirodata.horizons.govt.nz/

Updates will also be posted to the Manawatū-Whanganui Civil Defence page: https://www.facebook.com/civildefencemanawatuwhanganui

For weather forecasting information please see www.metservice.co.nz

The next update will be provided after 8am tomorrow morning.