Preparation underway for a Moutoa floodgate operation

Horizons Regional Council are preparing for a Moutoa floodgate operation tonight.

Horizons emergency management controller Craig Grant says current modelling indicates that Manawatū River levels at Moutoa will require an operation around midnight.
 
“To prepare for this we are notifying lease holders to remove stock from the floodway this afternoon and will have a gate operation crew on site from 9pm,” he says.
 
“These floodgates, located between Foxton and Shannon, divert water down a spillway as a shortcut to get high flows to the sea and relieve pressure on the lower part of the catchment. While this has no impact upstream, it provides a large benefit to properties downstream of the gates.”
 
Mr Grant says rainfall across the region has seen river levels rise and Horizons is continuing to work with city and district councils to respond as required.
 
“This includes considering what impact storm surge and tides may have on coastal communities. Sometimes these factors can influence the rate of flood flows exiting river mouths and is something both we and our territorial authorities are across.
 
“We expect to have a further update about any coastal impacts and river levels following our 4pm briefing.”
 
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.

Updates will also be posted to the Manawatū-Whanganui Civil Defence page and for weather forecasting information please see Metservice.