Zone Name:	Levels Plain	Status:	(White)
Allocation Limit:	32.9 million m3/yr	Valid date:	24th November2004
Order of Approach:	Second (50% of land-based recharge)

Recharge Component

Method of Estimation

Background Notes

The Levels Plain has a component of recharge via irrigation losses from the LPIS scheme. The scheme has been designed to provide groundwater recharge in the upper part of the plains, to allow irrigation from groundwater in the lower area of the plain. The effect of the recharge is very seasonal, with summer highs and winter lows.
Changing irrigation practices with the scheme may decrease the amount of groundwater recharge over time, and hence the reliability of suppy for groundwater users.
The contribution of losses from the Opihi River and tributaries to groundwater recharge is currently being considered.

Other Available Information Sources

These reports may be used to provide a full description of groundwater resources in this area. They may include information that will be of use in a consent application, but are not necessarily a comprehensive list.

• Aitchison-Earl, P., Davey, G., Ettema, M., McKerchar, A., Scott, D., Smith, E., and Weeber, J. 'State of the Canterbury Region Water Resource October 2004' (pdf 3.83 MB), U04/101
• Bird, T.D. 1986: Levels Plain Irrigation Scheme Groundwater Supply Simulation, Report No WS1132 CHCH IRR. 86/2. Ministry of Works and Development, Christchurch, New Zealand
• Brown, L. J, 2000, 'Groundwaters of the Canterbury Region' Environment Canterbury Report R00/10.
• De Joux, R.T., 1981, The water resources of the Opihi and Temuka Rivers, South Canterbury Catchment Board and Regional Water Board Publication No 28.
• Environmental Consultancy Services, 1995, Groundwater Issues and Investigations within the Opihi Catchment. Canterbury Regional Council Unpublished Technical Report U95/33.
• de Joux, R.T. 1988, 'An assessment of the groundwater resources within the Opihi River Catchment' South Canterbury Catchment Board and Regional Water Board Publication No 55.

Allocation History

Effective Allocation

 06 October 2011

Effective Allocation (million m3): 25.403
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 77%

 30 August 2010

Effective Allocation (million m³): 25.07
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 76%

 3 May 2010

Effective Allocation (million m³): 25.25
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 77%

 7 December 2009

Effective Allocation (million m³): 25.29
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 77%

 3 November 2009

Effective Allocation (million m³): 25.28
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 77%

 6 July 2009

Effective Allocation (million m³): 25.26
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 77%

 2 June 2009

Effective Allocation (million m³): 25.24
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 77%

 2 March 2009

Effective Allocation (million m³): 24.54
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 75%

 9 February 2009

Effective Allocation (million m³): 24.55
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 75%

 1 December 2008

Effective Allocation (million m³): 24.40
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 74%

 3 November 2008

Effective Allocation (million m³): 25.04
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 76%

 13 October 2008

Effective Allocation (million m³): 24.12
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 73%

 11 August 2008

Effective Allocation (million m³): 24.23
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 74%

 12 May 2008

Effective Allocation (million m³): 24.03
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 73%

 31 March 2008

Effective Allocation (million m³): 23.99
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 73%

 3 March 2008

Effective Allocation (million m³): 23.97
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 73%

 4 February 2008

Effective Allocation (million m³): 23.93
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 73%

 3 December 2007

Effective Allocation (million m³): 23.89
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 73%

 3 September 2007

Effective Allocation (million m³): 23.67
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 72%

 23 July 2007

Effective Allocation (million m³): 22.87
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 70%

 7 May 2007

Effective Allocation (million m³): 21.43
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 65%

 19 February 2007

Effective Allocation (million m³): 20.36
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 61.88%

 5 December 2006

Effective Allocation (million m³): 20.10
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 61.4%

 18 September 2006

Effective Allocation (million m³): 18.9
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database live-read
Proportion Allocated: 58%

 29 June 2005

Effective Allocation (million m³): 17.48
Reason for Change: Water drawn into the zone from surface waterbodies via hydraulically-connected groundwater takes is now counted as extra water available for allocation, as decided by the Water Allocation Group on 29 June 2005
Source: Consents database
Proportion Allocated: 53.00%

 1 February 2005

Effective Allocation (million m³): 25.3
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database
Proportion Allocated: 76.90%

 24 November 2004

Effective Allocation (million m³): 32.29
Reason for Change: No change
Source:
Proportion Allocated: 98.15%
Proportion Allocated & colour changed due to Allocation Limit change

 26 June 2004

Effective Allocation (million m³): 32.29
Reason for Change: Consents update
Source: Consents database
Proportion Allocated: 106.22%

 23 January 2004

Effective Allocation (million m³): 32.2
Reason for Change: This is the first estimate made
Source: Report U04/02 (Table 6.2)
Proportion Allocated: 105.92%

Allocation Limit

 1 February 2005

Allocation Limit (million m³): 32.9
Reason for Change: No change
Source: n/a

 24 November 2004

Allocation Limit (million m³): 32.29
Reason for Change: Implementation of 2nd Order Approach as approved by the Directorate
Source: Report U04/97

 26 June 2004

Allocation Limit (million m³): 30.4
Reason for Change: No change
Source: n/a
Colour change due to effective allocation change

 23 January 2004

Allocation Limit (million m³): 30.4
Reason for Change: This is the first estimate made using the 1st Order Approach, and includes an additional 7.8 million m³/yr recharge from irrigation schemes
Source: Report U04/02 (Table 6.2)