The Waitaki River will be running low for the second consecutive weekend as Meridian Energy Ltd conducts research into the effects of its proposed north bank tunnel power scheme.
Last weekend, the river was dropped to about 150cumecs and this weekend it will go down near its resource consent limit of 120cumecs.
Meridian has applied for resource consents for a $900 million, 30km, tunnel-based power scheme between the Waitaki dam and Stonewall on the north bank, which would produce 1100GWh to 1400GWh a year of electricity.
Its application was heard by an Environment Canterbury panel last year.
Last weekend, Meridian dropped the flow of the river from about 400cumecs to about 150cumecs on Sunday before taking it back to 500cumecs.
The company's external relations manager, Claire Shaw said yesterday that was to enable didymo samples to be taken.
This weekend, the flow will be dropped again.
National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research scientists, using divers and boats, will be conducting research on didymo and aquatic life between the Waitaki dam and the sea during the low flow.
Aerial photographs will be taken to gauge the effect of the lower flows on river braids.
Meridian is also conducting research into riverbed bird-breeding habitats on islands in the river.
Over the past week weeds, willows and broom had been cleared by Environment Canterbury from some of the river's islands used for breeding.
The islands would then be monitored to see if the cleared areas attracted breeding birds.
