River flow data

We record water levels at 152 river and lake sites in Canterbury, from the Clarence River/Waiau Toa in the north to the Waitaki River in the south. We measure river flow at 132 of these sites and this information is combined with water level data to produce continuous flow records. We report this alongside data from 19 other sites recorded by partner agencies such as the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and Christchurch City Council.

 

Irrigation restrictions

Find out about irrigation restrictions for a specific area, which may relate to a consent you hold.

Please note that this river flow information is raw data only and is subject to change.

Please note Times below are in NZ Standard Time. During Daylight Saving Time please add one hour.

 

River flow data for developers~~

River flow data is available for developers to use in their applications.

Visit our Developer Data Portal to find out more and sign up to use this service.

River flow information sent to your phone as a text message~~
Daily river flow information can be sent to your mobile. The cost is 30 cents per message, charged by your carrier, not Environment Canterbury. This river flow information is not to be used for resource consent compliance purposes.

How to receive text messages in 3 simple steps

1. Look up the shortcode for the river you want (see list below)

2. Text "RV" (for river), a space and then the shortcode to phone number ECAN (3226). For example, send RV CLAR to ECAN for information on the Clarence River. Remember to include the space between "RV" and the shortcode.

3. You will receive the information in a text message.

Northern region text message shortcodes
Northern region rivers Shortcode

Clarence

 RV CLAR

Hope

RV HOPE

Waiau

 RV WAIA

Hurunui at Mandamus

 RV HURUM

Hurunui at SH 1

 RV HURU1
Waipara RV WAIP
Okuku RV OKUK
Ashley at Lees Valley RV ASHL
Ashley Gorge RV ASHG
Ashley at Rangiora RV ASHR
Waimakariri at Esk RV WAIME
Waimakariri at Gorge RV WAIMG
Waimakariri at Old Highway Bridge RV WAIMO
Cust Main Drain RV CUST
Selwyn at Whitecliffs RV SELWW
Selwyn at Ridgens Road RV SELWR
Selwyn at Coes Ford RV SELWC
Rakaia RV RAKA
Kaituna RV KAIT
Southern region text message shortcodes 
Southern region rivers Shortcode

North Ashburton

 RV ASHBN

South Ashburton

RV ASHBS

Ashburton at SH 1

 RV ASHB1

Rangitata

 RV RANG

Orari

 RV ORAR
Temuka RV TEMU
North Opuha RV OPUHN
South Opuha RV OPUHS
Opuha RV OPUHA
Opihi at Rockwood RV OPIHR
Opihi at Saleyards RV OPIHS
Opihi at SH 1 RV OPIHI
Tengawai RV TENG
Pareora RV PARE
Waihao RV WAIH
Hakataramea RV HAKA
Ohau RV OHAU
Tekapo RV TEKA
Ahuriri RV AHUR
Omarama RV OMAR
Waitaki RV WAIT
Maerewhenua RV MAER

How we collect our data~~

All the data we collect from our sites in the field are collected in accordance with National Environmental Monitoring Standards (NEMS). 

Flow derivation from water level

To produce the flow plots as seen on our website, our systems derive flow from a relationship with water level (and in a few cases, velocity). Flow is almost never continuously measured directly.

The flow sites on our website measure water level (also called stage) every five minutes and send the data to our database usually once per hour, 24hrs/day.

Maintenance of "water level to flow" relationship

To establish and maintain the “water level to flow” relationship, our staff undertake flow measurements (gaugings), routinely one per month, and more frequently during unusually high or low flows. A change in the relationship is brought about by a change in the effectual riverbed shape, level and or slope.

Aquatic weeds can also affect the water level and subsequent flow. Some of our sites are affected by tides, which are removed from the data used for analysis, but not from the data displayed on the website, for example, Waimakariri River at OHB. Each site is different.

Decision-making for site visits

Our staff understand what flows and conditions are likely to produce a change in the relationship at the sites they visit and balance this against a number of factors when considering an unscheduled site visit.

Gauging accuracy

Gaugings are our primary means of establishing and maintaining the flow record. Using the best methods and equipment at a good gauging site produces a measurement that can be 95 per cent certain and within 5 per cent of the actual flow; at a less favourable site, for example, during a flood, this will usually extend to 8 per cent.

Rating curve for flow conversion

To convert water level data into flow, we use a rating curve. We plot our gaugings on a grid with water level on the Y axis and flow on the X axis. Gaugings are given 8 per cent error bars to allow for uncertainty in the gauging, water level measurement and rating curve drawing.

A curve is drawn through the gaugings, and this curve will then allocate a flow for any given value of water level.