Graham River
Encyclopedia
The Graham River is a river in the Marlborough
Region of New Zealand
. It arises to the south-east of Mount McCormick
and flows north, then west, then north again, and into Whatamango Bay on the south side of Queen Charlotte Sound
.
Part of the river valley was subdivided into residential sections in the 1950s. Some of the sections were built on in 2000. Because flooding occurred in the area in November 1994 and July 1998, and to a lesser extent in May 1995, the Marlborough District Council required minimum floor levels and imposed a disclaimer notice on residents.
Unexpected very heavy rain caused a flash flood on the Graham River on 17 February 2004. The rain also caused floods at Waikawa
and Picton
. Residential land was covered by deep and fast-flowing water. This was estimated to be a once-in-200-years event. Another flood occurred in 2005. The council agreed to remove gravel from the upper reaches of the river, because the gravel is swept downriver during flooding and reduces the river channel capacity.
Marlborough, New Zealand
Marlborough is one of the regions of New Zealand, located in the northeast of the South Island. Marlborough is a unitary authority, both a region and a district, and its council is located at Blenheim. Marlborough is known for its dry climate, the picturesque Marlborough Sounds, and sauvignon blanc...
Region of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. It arises to the south-east of Mount McCormick
Mount McCormick
Mount McCormick is a mountain 2 nautical miles southeast of Mount Ralph in the Ford Ranges, Marie Byrd Land. Discovered and mapped by the United States Antarctic Service . Named by Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names for W.S. McCormick, airplane pilot with the Byrd Antarctic Expedition ....
and flows north, then west, then north again, and into Whatamango Bay on the south side of Queen Charlotte Sound
Queen Charlotte Sound, New Zealand
Queen Charlotte Sound is the easternmost of the main sounds of the Marlborough Sounds, in New Zealand's South Island. It is, like the other sounds, a drowned river valley , and like the majority of its neighbours it runs southwest to northeast before joining Cook Strait.The town of Picton, the...
.
Part of the river valley was subdivided into residential sections in the 1950s. Some of the sections were built on in 2000. Because flooding occurred in the area in November 1994 and July 1998, and to a lesser extent in May 1995, the Marlborough District Council required minimum floor levels and imposed a disclaimer notice on residents.
Unexpected very heavy rain caused a flash flood on the Graham River on 17 February 2004. The rain also caused floods at Waikawa
Waikawa, Marlborough
Waikawa is a small settlement to the north east of Picton, Marlborough, New Zealand. Waikawa Bay opens onto Queen Charlotte Sound.The population was 1158 in the 2006 Census, an increase of 168 from 2001....
and Picton
Picton, New Zealand
Picton is a town in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. It is close to the head of Queen Charlotte Sound near the north-east corner of the South Island. The population was 2928 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 72 from 2001...
. Residential land was covered by deep and fast-flowing water. This was estimated to be a once-in-200-years event. Another flood occurred in 2005. The council agreed to remove gravel from the upper reaches of the river, because the gravel is swept downriver during flooding and reduces the river channel capacity.