Here are some new pictures from two days after one of our largest rain storms with the Wharemauku now subsiding but still topping banks 48 hours later.
We’ve been checking with other rain gaugers, (a stalwart breed) and all agree with around 180-200mm falling over the two days. But our luck held out with the flooding. The rain eased off around 4ish at 120mm, but then we got another fifty overnight which kept the Wharemauku overtopping its banks for 48 hours. This is unprecedented but the flood plain seems to have done its job in limiting the damage between town and the sea.
Here is the diverted channel of Wharemauku after the flood.
Each flood is unpredictably different and here the serous issues developed at the north end of Raumati Beach where the creek began flooding behind the stopbank.
It poured into the back gardens, threatening the houses while back-lifting these drain grills in the street right out.
But quick action by a local with a pump, then Council support prevented the flood from inundating any residences.
This the worst effected, now clear. Then they’re out this morning repairing damage to the walkway.
These pictures from further down look bad, but here too the water levels stayed below the houses.
Up rooted tree
The flood levels rose 6 to 7 feet within the floodplain itself. We haven’t seen a lot of pukeko this year, only one chick, but there will be nests and these would have been flooded out.
The wetland ngahere (forest)wasn’t immune either...
This is the floodplain at its peak and these shots below, show the impact on youthful trees.
ti kouka (cabbage tree)…
saltmarsh houheria (lacebark)…
Kahikatea. 8 feet tall, so that’s only half of it…
They’re all reasonably ok with wet feet so long as it doesn’t hang around too long. It’s curious about ti kouka which is usually found thriving under dry conditions, but they’re water resilient too, so here’s hoping…
Track for today?
We’re feasting upon Judy Garland and here is her Christmas anthem—Have yourself a Merry LittleChristmas… Too forlorn for Christmas you think? Well its the Xmas song from 1944 so understandable, as Judy raises the bar on melancholy to transcendental levels. (Emily Dickinson can do this too…with words) But keep a watch out for our Xmas video – coming to you soon… (free to air).
Ngā mihinui
No comments:
Post a Comment