Call 0900 RIVER (0900 74 837).

The River Report is updated twice daily and more frequently during floods, and gives you information on:

• River levels and flows
• Flood information
• Rainfall
• Irrigation restrictions (during the irrigation season)
• Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere status

The charge is 50 cents per minute (excl. GST) as at August 2008.

How does it work?

You will need a touch-tone phone to access the River Report.  Call the number, and then follow the instructions.  You can use the hash key (#) to start the current menu over again, or the star key (*) to go back to the previous menu.

When does it get updated?

The general river and rainfall information is updated twice daily and more frequently during floods.
 
Flood predictions are given as well as the existing flood situation.  Information regarding Te Waihora/Lake Ellesmere is updated weekly.

For irrigation users:

Any irrigation restrictions imposed apply for 24 hours from midnight. Information for tomorrow’s restrictions will become available between 4 pm and 7 pm the day before. If you are in doubt about which restrictions apply to your consent(s), you should refer to your consent document for clarification, or contact Environment Canterbury’s Customer Services staff before you start irrigating.

Is there another way to find out river information?

Yes!  Our website carries links to river, rainfall and irrigation information: 

• River flows   
• Rainfall   
• Irrigation restrictions

Text messaging

Daily river flow information can be sent to your mobile.  The cost is 30 cents per message, charged by your carrier, not Environment Canterbury.

Note: 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 short code for the river you want (see list below).
2. Text "RV" (for river), a space and then the short code 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 short code!
3. You will receive the information in a text message.  

Short river codes

Disclaimer:

The river levels presented are provisional only and should be used at your own discretion. River levels are telemetered twice daily from remote monitoring stations, and could misrepresent the immediate state of the river. Be careful - river levels can change quickly!