Read at : Google Alert – drought
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/rural/62706/fear-of-drought-in-north
Fear of drought in north
Three months of dry weather have brought fears of another summer drought in Northland.
Last summer’s drought cost the region $300 million in lost primary production – and councils were forced to ration water.
But this time, they say they will be better prepared.
The water level in Whangarei’s Whau Valley dam is 2% higher than normal.
But that’s because the council’s been drawing heavily on other sources to conserve its storage.
There’s been hardly any rain in the north for three months. So far this month, Whangarei has had 17mm, Kaitaia had 20mm and over in the west, Ruawai had 7mm.
Dargaville kumara grower Andre de Bruin says he has been watering his young crop constantly since day one.
He says cracks that appeared in his soil last summer – and never quite closed over winter – are re-opening.
Kaitaia supply
Far North District Council is determined it won’t be caught short again.
The council has applied for resource consent to tap into an aquifer, for Kaitaia’s water supply as a back up to the Awanui River. But it won’t be granted in time for summer.
However, the Kaitaia dam that could not be used last year because of an algal bloom, should be useable.
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