A river runs through it

Flood recovery work on the Taylor River has been put off until May – to protect spawning fish.

Blenheim residents will have to put up with flooding at the downtown amphitheater for a bit longer.

A wet summer and two major storms in two years have sparked an increase in silt on the riverbed.

But until fish spawning season is over, crucial weed cutting works will have to wait.

Council Rivers and Drainage Engineering Manager Andy White says council appreciates the delay may be frustrating.

“The key fish species we are protecting are inanga. Juvenile inanga are the main species that make up the whitebait catch.

“We’ve had a fairly wet summer on top of two major storms over the last two years, which means there has been increased siltation - or aggradation - of the riverbed.

“This is part of the natural behaviour of all rivers when rainfall is heavy or prolonged.”

Under rules laid out in the Marlborough Environment Plan, river works are not allowed in the Taylor or Opaōa rivers from 1 February to 30 April.

The move means people should steer clear of the flooded area, with barriers being put in place to discourage people from cycling or walking there. An Easter egg hunt had also been relocated.

Andy says council will also remove gravel and sediment to help lower river levels.

“In mid-May we will carry out some gravel and sediment removal to reduce the height of the riverbed.

“If the water level drops over the coming weeks we will be able to reopen the boardwalk. The situation will be reviewed daily.”

Currently the Eastern side boardwalk (Grove Road side) is dry and free of water.