River Works
The Taylor River Flood Detention Dam, built in 1965, is the largest of its kind in New Zealand. It is 20 m high and involved 400,000 m of earthworks. The dam operates by detaining a one-day flood in the dam releasing its flow over two days, thereby reducing a 300 m/sec flood peak to a 108 m/sec peak.
The Wairau Diversion is also the largest of its kind in New Zealand. It is capable of carrying 3,000 m/sec - 55% of the Wairau River's flow - on a direct, shorter path to the sea. Some 2,000,000 m of material has been removed from the diversion channel.
The Conders stopbank/groyne at Conders Bend near the Wairau (Renwick) bridge on State Highway 6 is vital in keeping the Wairau River out of the old Upper Ōpaoa River channel that leads to Blenheim.
Other river works data is:
| Works | Stopbank Length | Rock in Banks |
|---|---|---|
Wairau Floodway | 98 km | 850,000 tonnes |
Upper Ōpaoa /Roses Floodway | 45 km | 70,000 tonnes |
Lower Ōpaoa /Taylor Floodway | 44 km | 50,000 tonnes |
| Drainage Channels' Length | Drainage Flood Pumps | |
|---|---|---|
Lower Wairau Drainage Area | 160 km | 30 |
