The River Report brings you the very latest in rainfall and river level information. The information is updated twice daily and more frequently during floods. Information on irrigation restrictions is available during the irrigation season.

The River Report 24-hour info line! Call: 0900 RIVER (0900 74 837)

Get up-to-date information on:

• River levels and flows
• Flood information
• Rainfall
• Irrigation restrictions
• Lake Ellesmere status

The charge is 50 cents per minute (plus GST) as of August 2009.

How does it work?

You will need a touch-tone phone to access the River Report.  Call the number, and then follow the instructions.  You can use the hash key # to start the current menu over again, or the star key * to go back to the previous menu.

When does it get updated?

The general river and rainfall information is updated twice daily and more frequently during floods.
 
Flood predictions are given as well as the existing flood situation.  Information regarding Lake Ellesmere is updated weekly.

For irrigation users:

Any irrigation restrictions imposed apply for 24 hours from midnight. Information for tomorrow’s restrictions will become available between 4pm and 7pm the day before. If you are in doubt about which restrictions apply to your consent(s), you should refer to your consent document for clarification, or contact Environment Canterbury’s Customer Services Section prior to commencing irrigation.

Is there another way to find out river information?

Yes!  You can find river, rainfall and irrigation information on our website using the following links: 

• River flows   
• Rainfall   
• Irrigation restrictions

There is also a text messaging service to find out information about flooding and river levels.

River and flood text messaging

We publish daily river flow information on this website and via our river and flood infoline since October 1989.  Now you can check up on your favourite river using your mobile.  The cost is 30 cents per message, charged by your carrier, not Environment Canterbury.

Note: This river flow information is not to be used for resource consent compliance purposes.

How to text ECAN in 3 simple steps

1. Look up the short code for the river you want.
2. Send a text message containing "RV" (for river), a space and then the short code to phone number ECAN (3226).
   For example, send RV CLAR to ECAN for info on the Clarence River. Remember to include the space between "RV" and the short code!
3. Receive the information in a text message and read it!  

Short river codes

Disclaimer:

The river levels presented are provisional only and should be used at your own discretion. River levels are telemetered twice daily from remote monitoring stations, and could misrepresent the immediate state of the river. Be careful, river levels can change quickly!