Lee River

For other uses, see River Lee (disambiguation).

Lee River
Map
Location
CountryNew Zealand
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationBryant Range
MouthWairoa River
 • coordinates
41°24′19″S 173°07′50″E / 41.4054°S 173.1305°E / -41.4054; 173.1305
Length24 km (15 mi)

The Lee River lies in the northwest of New Zealand's South Island in Tasman District. It is both the inflow and outflow for the Waimea Dam. Lee Reserve, close to the Lee River's confluence with the Wairoa River, is a popular bathing spot.

Geography

The Lee River runs north for 24 km (15 mi),[1] originating in the Bryant Range and flowing into the Wairoa River, just before the latter enters the Waimea Plains.[2] The Lee River has nine tributaries, of which only three are named:[1] Roding River (true right),[3] Long Gully (true right),[4] and Shaggery Gully (true left).[5]

The Lee River is crossed by a road bridge upstream from its confluence with Roding River. This is the start of Mead Road, and the site is one of river flow sites operated by Tasman District.[6]

Swimming and water quality

Lee Reserve, some 5 km (3.1 mi) upstream of Brightwater, is one of the most popular river swimming sites in Tasman District, with 400 to 500 visitors during summer peak. The long-term water quality grade is "fair", as reported by LAWA in March 2026.[7][8] During the 2016–17 summer, Lee River at Lee Reserve was one of seven freshwater swimming sites in Tasman District where water quality was measured at least weekly. Of the 286 samples taken at freshwater and marine sites during that summer, 16 samples exceeded faecal indicator bacteria levels, and 1 of those samples was from Lee River.[9]

Waimea Dam

In November 2018, Tasman District Council voted 9 to 5 for the Waimea Dam to be built in the Lee Valley.[10] The dam is designed to increase the flow rate in the Lee, Wairoa and Waimea rivers during dry summer periods; when the two cone valves are opened, downstream water levels can rapidly increase.[11] Waimea Dam formally opened on 7 February 2025.[12] The dam is not publicly accessible, as roads leading to it are privately owned.[13]

References

  1. ^ a b "Lee River". WaterwayMap.org. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  2. ^ "Place name detail: Lee River". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  3. ^ "Place name detail: Roding River". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  4. ^ "Place name detail: Long Gully". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  5. ^ "Place name detail: Shaggery Gully". New Zealand Gazetteer. Land Information New Zealand. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  6. ^ "Lee at Meads Bridge". Tasman District. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  7. ^ "Lee River Reserve". LAWA. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  8. ^ "Extract: Best swimming holes in the top of the South Island". Stuff. 29 January 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  9. ^ Sivignon, Cherie (17 August 2017). "Tasman swimming spots some of the best in the country". Stuff. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  10. ^ Sivignon, Cherie (30 November 2018). "Tasman District Council gives Waimea dam project final nod". The Nelson Mail. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  11. ^ "Warning over rising river levels as Waimea Community Dam tests valves". Radio New Zealand. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  12. ^ Frethey, Max (10 February 2025). "Lessons to be learnt as Waimea Dam opens after 24 years". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  13. ^ Hubbard, Catherine (28 March 2025). "Public access to dam to be explored". The Nelson Mail. Retrieved 15 March 2026.

Content Disclaimer

Informasi ini disarikan dari Wikipedia dan disajikan kembali untuk tujuan edukasi. Konten tersedia di bawah lisensi CC BY-SA 3.0. Kami tidak bertanggung jawab atas ketidakakuratan data yang bersumber dari kontribusi publik tersebut.

  1. The information displayed on this website is sourced in part or in whole from Wikipedia and has been adapted for the purpose of restating it. We strive to provide accurate and relevant information, however:
  2. There is no guarantee of absolute accuracy. Wikipedia is an open, collaborative project that can be edited by anyone, so information is subject to change.
  3. It is not intended to constitute professional advice. The content displayed is for informational and educational purposes only. For important decisions (e.g., medical, legal, or financial), please consult a professional.
  4. Content copyright. Wikipedia is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License (CC BY-SA). This means that content may be reused with appropriate attribution and shared under a similar license.
  5. Responsible use. Any risk arising from the use of information from this website is entirely the responsibility of the user.