Another dry spell is making its presence felt in Otago as rivers drop to levels at which irrigation restrictions may soon be triggered.
Rivers were not hard hit by the last extensive dry spell in late January and early February due to heavy rain earlier in January.
However, recent dry conditions are starting to affect the region's rivers, with the majority below their normal levels for this time of year.
The Shag River at the Grange, the Taieri River at Sutton and the Clutha River at Balclutha were the only sites with normal flows in the past week.
Otago Regional Council environmental information and science director John Threlfall said there had been no rain in Central Otago and the Queenstown Lakes district in the past 10 days and less than 5mm along most of the east coast.
''The forecast is limited for rain so we could be dry for another 10 days.''
The last significant rainfall in the region was on February 4, with another front bringing less than 5mm to the region on February 11 and Dunedin on February 15, MetService figures showed.
No rain is forecast for the region until March 2.
Landowners with consent to take water needed to be vigilant about their water use in these conditions, Mr Threlfall said.
''We've got several days yet but ... they need to be wary of low-flow conditions.''
So far, only the Kakanui at Mill Dam had hit first restrictions on irrigation takes.
Given it was nearly March and the region was only now facing low river flows, ''it wasn't bad'', he said.
