Water levels now at record low in Fiordland

A shortage of rainfall is leaving boaties stuck on dry land in Fiordland.

A lack of rain has meant rivers and lakes in the area are at low levels.

Guardians of the Lakes member Fred Inder said the water levels were the lowest since records began.

Meridian Energy was doing its best to hold it at the level but a good dumping of rain was the only fix to the lowering levels, Inder said.

‘‘We’re in a very low period of rain. It’s not the usage, it’s nature we’re dealing with,’’ he said.

‘‘No matter what we do it’s up nature. She’s the boss.’’

MetService meteorologist April Clark to said in the past 60 days Southland and Fiordland had been moderately to severely dry.

A Meridian Energy spokeswoman said it had been ‘‘some time since the last real rain into the southern hydro lakes’’.

The last storm system to pass through the Waiau and Waitaki catchments was in early February, she said.

‘‘As a result, the South Island hydro lakes are all below normal storage for this time of year.’’

In the past four out of five years the levels had been in a similar position but rain in late April and May restored hydro storage levels, she said.

‘‘Te Anau is in its low range but we’re used to managing these situations so there is no impact to power generation.’’

It was still too early to tell if there would be implications for winter, she said.

So far there was no impact on users of the lakes, recreational or otherwise, she said.

But Inder had concerns because there was no forecast for rain in the near future and the low water levels had already caused disruption to boaties.

‘‘Quite a few’’ boats could not get in and out of several lakes in the region, he said. ‘‘It’s that shallow. ‘‘It’s disrupting the harbour quite a bit.’’

Some boats were sitting on the bottom already, Inder said.

Water levels were ‘‘well-below’’ average water levels, he said.

Lake Te Anau’s average lake level above sea level is 202.2 metres, but on Monday it was 20cm below that level.

‘‘It’s at a very, very low stage,’’ he said.

But it was all the rivers and lakes in the area that were affected. They all flow in and out together, he said.

‘‘We’ve just got to carry on nature makes its mind up.’’ until

BARRY HARCOURT/634055594 The Upper Waiau River is at the lowest residents have seen it for many years. Craig Herron, from Alexandra, is on the hunt for a fish but finds them hard to catch.