Two families who have farmed beside Trotters Creek for more than 130 years have different views on the minimum flow needed to preserve what has been described as "a little gem at our back door".
Two generations of the Trotter family, who have farmed there since the 1840s, want a minimum flow in summer higher than the Otago Regional Council proposes in its water plan.
But Norman Matheson, whose family has farmed there for more than 130 years, yesterday defended his son James' existing right to take water for irrigation.
The council proposes an October to April minimum of 10 litres a second (l/s) and May to September minimum of 35l/s.
The Matheson resource consent allows water to be taken down to a minimum of 5l/s, but the family has indicated 10l/s would be acceptable.
A council hearing in Moeraki yesterday was considering public submissions on the proposed flows.
The Trotters supported the May to September minimum flow, but opposed the October to April minimum, wanting 20l/s.
They believed that summer minimum flow would not maintain the creek's values.
Morgan Trotter said those values were "held in very high regard by my family and members of our community".
John Trotter considered the creek was too small to support irrigation, except harvesting water during high flows. Craig Trotter found it difficult to understand why the council had proposed such a low summer minimum flow when its own report concluded 20l/s was required to maintain the stream.
Mr Matheson said the health of the river and the fish species were "as good as ever in the last 30 years".
Coastal Otago River Communities wanted the minimum flow at 35l/s year round.
The group's submission said the creek was special because of native bush, diverse fish life and clean, clear water, particularly in its upper reaches.
Group member and Moeraki consultant Dugald MacTavish said Trotters Creek was "a little gem at our back door".
Its value would increase if its qualities were preserved.
