Concern Over Erosion Near Shannon

Chronicle (Levin), 26 July 1949, Page 3

Concern Over Erosion Near Shannon

Erosion at the Barber estate below the No- 2 cut in the Manawatu River a,t Taupunga, above the Shannon Bridge, was su'ch that orie substantial flood would thredten the stopbank, reported Mr. H.' .R. Farquhar, engineer to the Maria-watu-Oroua River Board, on Thursday. In July, 1947, at a point 'eight chains above the cow-ished,;,the erodin'g face was three and a' half chains away from the toe ' of the stopbank. Today this dis'tance was one chain, and the erosion was active even with seven-foot freshes. Mr. S. Barber waited on the board at Thurs'day's meeting and pointed put the dangers of this erosion. It. 'was decided that Mr. Jamieson, resident engineer of the Ministry of Works, Palmerston North, Mr. P. G. Evans, chief engineer of the Manawatu Catchment Board, and Mr. Farquhar confer and draw up a reporc on how to deal with the problem.

Three chains above the old Foxton-Shannon .Road. bridge,. on the left -bank of the " Mangaore Stream, erosion was occurring into the toe of the stopbank. Two chains of willow protection weight'ed down, with cabbage trees "on drums and anchored to deadmen, set over the stopbank, were required. . The 'cost wou d be £75. Increasing quantities of gravel were being transported hy this stream and settling in beds from the Foxton-Shannon highway to the Manawatu River, a distance of one and a quarter miles. In the upper length of 45 chains between the two road bridges the cehtre lines of the stopbank were generally less than two Chains apart. The right bank of this section largely had good willow protection, but the left bank, with the exception of a few isolated willows, had no protection. To rrieet the gravel menace dense willow planting was required at the toe" of the stopbank for the full length, effectively fenced from stock. Mr. Farquhar also reported that eight chains below .the Old Foxton Bridge, erosion had: removed part of the Mangaore right band. Willow protection was * required. >-•. ■ Those present were: Messrs ; ■ J! Chrystall (in the chair) , J. " B. Chrystall, J. Mitchell, A. Gillespiei R. J. Law, S. Newth, R. Saunders and W. G. Simpson.- . , . - j