Flood watch Christchurch, New Zealand

[kiwibird]

We are not in imminent danger of flooding from burst stopbanks, but there is a site where the Waimakariri River level is monitored real time. A level of over 3.5 m triggers flood watch protocols and, I think from speaking with one of the people responsible for monitoring, that the stopbanks are at risk when the level reaches 5m. Of course if there is structural damage to the stopbanks from the earthquake, this figure will be lower, possibly nearer 3.5m.

http://ecan.govt.nz/services/online...lows/Pages/river-flow-chart.aspx?SiteNo=66402

 

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Flood watch Christchurch, New Zealand

Stopbanks damaged

Environment Canterbury is hoping there will be no need to evacuate people living near stopbanks along the Waimakariri River.

Chief executive Bryan Jenkins said this afternoon's high tide - due around 2pm - and the peak flow in the river would not coincide.

ECan river engineers had calculated the peak of around 800 cubic metres a second would be reached around 8pm.

Jenkins said the area of concern was downstream from the old Waimak bridge.

However, engineers had checked out the stopbanks and they had sustained some damage from liquefaction.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/4098338/Disruption-follows-quake