Continuous heavy rain and a forecast for more led Meridian Energy to spill from Lake Tekapo yesterday.
Meridian Energy and Environment Canterbury yesterday issued a warning to holidaymakers to be aware there would be rising water levels in the Tekapo River as water was spilled from Lake Tekapo.
"The spilling is a result of the heavy rain in the area in the past week," Meridian Energy spokeswoman Michelle Brooker said yesterday.
"Heavy rain forecast for the area in the next 36 hours meant the decision was made to spill from Lake Tekapo today."
Further spills were also possible this week from Meridian's other main storage lake at Lake Pukaki, she said.
"The recent rain has boosted hydro lake levels to the point where it was necessary to release an initial 20cumecs from Lake Tekapo today and this may increase tomorrow.
"Today's rain also means we may need to spill from Lake Pukaki as early as tomorrow," she said yesterday.
The lake levels and rain were being "carefully monitored", Ms Brooker said.
Environment Canterbury yesterday issued a warning to holidaymakers in the area.
"Campers and recreational fishers need to be mindful of the possibility of rising water levels in the Tekapo and Pukaki Rivers and in all catchment areas above Lake Waitaki and down the Waitaki River," duty flood controller Malcolm Miller said yesterday.
"They need to factor rising water levels into camping, fishing and farming activities over the holiday period."
