River users decry Moawhango scheme

RECREATIONAL users on the Moawhango River say hydro schemes destroy peoples' opportunities to use rivers.
Although Genesis Energy (GE) would be flushing the Moawhango River with water on March 26, New Zealand Recreational Canoeing Association (NZRCA) communications officer Robin Rutter said the 30 cubic metres per second for nine hours from 12am to 9am would allow for limited use on the afternoon of that day only.
GE environmental manager renewable energy Jarrod Bowler said the flush was delayed from the usual date of March 21 because it coincided with Easter, when recreational users would be on the river.
Mr Rutter said the taking of the water from the Moawhango caused silt build-up and irreparable damage to the river.
"The hydro schemes [have been] a degradation of a resource for many decades, even if they were to restore the river to its natural flows."
The diverting of water was butchering the river and a huge lump of concrete sitting in a waterway was not ideal for the ecology of the river, he added.
Mr Rutter rejected GE's claim that hydro dams were a renewable resource.
"The water is being exploited, used and dumped into another catchment."
The Moawhango water is diverted to the Rangipo Power Station south of Turangi before being fed into the power station at Tokaanu and then into Lake Taupo.
The Moawhango River headwaters flow from the Kaimanawa Ranges into the Rangitikei River and exits on the west coast near Scots Ferry, west of Bulls.
Under the Resource Management Act conditions of the water take, GE maintains minimum levels with river flushing four times a year between December and March.
The flushing flows removed the build-up of silt and debris, which impacted on the ecological systems in the river.
Aquatic insects mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies were indicators of the health of the ecosystems and the flushing improved their habitat while reducing algae growth, Mr Bowler said.
The health of the native fisheries and trout were a secondary component and their presence and numbers were made through observations.
GE public affairs manager Richard Gordon said prior to the consents process on the Moawhango River, there was no minimum flow downstream of the dam.
In conjunction with the Moawhango community, Mr Gordon said the river was viewed as a "healthy high-country lake-fed water course", which balanced the need to maintain the river's ecology and values while using some of the water for electricity generation.
Mr Gordon said reports from the community on the health of the river were "overwhelmingly positive".
He did say, however, that an extensive programme monitored whether the community objective was being achieved and "although it's early days, the results are looking promising".