Kapiti Flood Emergency - The dune lake fights back

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Actively supporting NZ’s endangered wetland birds

Flooding Wharemauku

After a severe rain storm hit the Kapiti Coast overnight dropping 90mm plus on the district and its nearby foothills, a flooding emergency is currently underway. The Wharemauku has been up to its stopbanks – the highest we have seen it in four years, with around 20 houses now evacuated in its downstream reaches.We have been out there assessing the chaos as it developed and here are some photographs that tell the story.

Wharemauku at airport

The weather has just set in again as we write this, (2.00pm) but here is the Wharemauku at lunchtime, looking toward the back of the airport and then downstream. The stopbanks were raised after a big flood in 1998 and here they are a couple of feet below that peak. It is no longer a creek but a river and homes downstream from here have been evacuated as it leaks out into the roadways. The 1998 flood occurred after three days rain whereas the Wharemauku raised to these levels after a 12 hour downpour. The road and rail link into Wellingotn are currently blocked.  

Disabled pollution monitor May 9

Disappeared pollution monitor May 14

The dunelake is about two km upstream from here and this is the Wharemauku again, at the pollution monitor. The original photo of the damaged monitor was taken last Saturday, the ripple in the water is where it is today.

The most dramatic change however has occurred at the dune lake. The NZTA made submissions to the Board of Inquiry stating that this was not a wetland. From here you can make up your own mind.

Dunelake excavations May 12

Dune lake excavations May 14, 10am

Dune lake excavations May 14, noon

The first photograph was taken after about 20mm fell last week. This year the dunelake was about a month behind its usual size but that rain brought it up around what it should be. The last twelve hours however, have put it about two months ahead, though it still has a way to go to reach its September-October peak. Here is also confirmed the way water drains down from the town end of this area into this corner. It is always the last spot to dry up in January. The NZTA  cleared a track long the fence line last week and this has now become a wetland in its own right, while facilitating the passage of water down into the dune lake. Another reason why it has filled up so quickly. The second photograph was taken around ten this morning, the third at 12. You can see from these two images just how fast this area has filled. 

Wharemauku flood May 14 

The most dramatic area of flooding however is in the flood plain opposite the dunelake. Here the Wharemauku has flooded out into the open paddocks beyond, which has helped relieve water pressure down stream; though it will keep the Wharemauku high while it floods out – or rather - when it floods out. 

This post is for Willa who arrived on this planet 3 days ago and is one of the main reasons we’re trying to make it a better place to live in.

Track we were listening to while posting this –Bessie Smith – Back Water Blues...

When it rains five days and the skies turn dark as night

When it rains five days and the skies turn dark as night

Then trouble's takin' place

In the lowlands at night

Jill Studd’s Blog

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