An update on the state of the Hutt River

We are in a GLOBAL crisis but I like to monitor what is happening in my own backyard.

Stats indicate that Hutt River flow rates are HALF of what they were last year

More on the (unreported) sorry state of the Hutt River

TheHutt River, water source for the whole region, in deep crisis

Today it is "raining" - there is some precipitation which has wet our garden table but no more.

Recently, I listened to a discussion between Jeff Rense and Dane Wigington in which they were talking about conditions in California in which they described conditions in California.  They described how it would be rain which would provide moisture to at most the top inch of soil but never replenish moisture in the subsoil.

The authorities can present information so it looks like an isolated event (an anomaly). 

However, I have been looking at this for a number of years with an observant layman's eye and I have seen no evidence to counteract my theory that droughts come and go but within that there is an ongoing process of drying-out.

In addition to the "rain" there is another anomaly - it is one of a handful of days where the temperature has sunk below 20 degrees Celsius, which is the mean maximum temperature for this time of the year.  If I had to think of a ballpark figure I would say that most days for weeks the temperature has been hovering around 25C, up to 27C.

Personal anecdote admittedly I cannot think of a summer here that has seen "wetter-than-usual"  conditions. For that matter, outside the odd flood, I could possibly add winter to that.

Unfortunately I am not a gardner but it may be an interesting exercise to dig down in your garden and see what the condition of the soil is below the very top inch which may be moistened for a while but returns to its usual dry conditions very quickly.

Certainly this is not the worst year I have seen but there are some worrying indications because they are likely to represent a trend.

Toxic algae

Hutt River toxic algae alert

Greater Wellington Regional Council is warning swimmers to stay out of the Hutt River from Kaitoke Regional Park to where the river meets Wellington Harbour. This is due to the risk of swallowing pieces of toxic algae. Toxic algae is naturally occurring, but poses a significant risk to human and animal health if ingested.

Because of the warm, dry weather the toxic algae bloom in the Hutt River has increased significantly, and pieces are detaching from the riverbed which poses a risk to swimmers. Even small pieces of toxic algae can be fatal to people and dogs if swallowed. Young children are particularly at risk due to their size.

We advise against swimming anywhere along the Hutt River until further notice. We are working with Regional Public Health and local authorities to inform people of the risks, but we encourage you to know what toxic algae looks like so you can avoid it and stay safe.

The black "shadow" in the video is the algae.

Rainfall anomoly

Soem quite useful information has appeared, provided by the Greater Wellington Council

River levels
 

I find the following graphs (which I have always taken from the same

location -Taita Gorge) to be rather unhelpful.

Perhaps the most indicative thing is the absolute value given for the day

16/02/2018 .   6.960 m3/second

16/02/2019 .   3.588 m3/second

See below - 

Soil moisture

This confirms dry conditions along the Hutt River but appears to me to underestimate just how dry things are.

This region has been affected by the hot summer but far less so than other parts of the country.

In particular , with floods last year, now drought and fires in the Tasman district at the top of the South Island is the area worst affected.

In the news today -

Tasman facing serious drought

The Waimea Plains, cradled between two mountain ranges, are usually immune to such extremes in the weather.

But a Tasman District Council water scientist says the wider area is facing its worst drought since 2001.

Joseph Thomas met with MPs and opposition leader Simon Bridges today on the Waimea River bed, which is now flowing at its lowest level in decades.

The region hit by two large ex-tropical cyclones a year ago, which sluiced out hillsides and tore through homes and crops, has been stricken by a large wildfire over the past 10 days.

Now it's as dry as a bone, with no immediate relief in sight.

Mr Thomas, who has been working as water scientist in Tasman since 1992, said the situation is now dire.

"This is as bad as I've seen it since 2001. Back then the river went dry, but a lot later - we're earlier by a month so if it doesn't rain we'll be in a dire situation."

Censored

P.S.  I tried posting this on a Facebook group and was blocked because this is is "abusive".

A discussion on drought, ecology, and the inter-connected web of Nature

Pam and Robin have completed their annual tour-of-inspection of the Hutt River. We describe this, the drought as well as the question of pollination and the interconnectedness of Nature and how poorly this is understood