Unnumbered Page Advertisement 1

New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 763, 5 March 1954, Unnumbered Page

Twlubwsv7 Dur water resdurceS Lake Rotoroa, Nelson: depicted above, is to play a0 and the dams for the Waikato schemes; the forests in important part in the huge Braeburn hydro-electric the head waters of the rivers feeding them come first in scheme: Water is to be diverted from the upper the series of reservoirs through which the water passes reaches 9f the Wairau River to Lake Rotoiti, from this on its way down to the sea. Where there are no lake to Lake Rotoroa, and thence to the Mangles River, lakes the forests are all important: Most of our larger 2 tributary of the Buller River. Success in this scheme rivers carry far too much shingle co be harnessed for will depend upon protecting the forests fire could electricity, but many of their smaller tributaries rising wichin 2 few hours undo the work of centuries in in the forested ranges are or will be sources of hydro- building uP a balance of soil and vegetation on the electric power. In the Mangahao and Cobb River mountain sides. schemes the forests of the catchments are vital. Conservation of water resources is one of the principal The same is true with town water supplies Forested concerns of forest administration. The value of water catchments yield a well-regulated flow of clear water for resources for hydro-electric power, and for town and Wellington 'City ; the water is So pure no creatment is industrial water supplies; depends on the total volume, needed, and in the Hutt River no dam, only 1 collecting regularity and purity of the water. Forests spread the weir; is required. flow of water screams and rivers flowing through them The Waipaoa River flowing into Poverty Bay is an example are much clearer and fluccuate much less than streams of what sometimes happens when forests are destroyed. flowing through country similar in topography but Almost completely deforested, the catchments Yield uP cleared of forest. The water flowing from our pro- very large quantities of silt during heavy rain, and in dry tection forests is therefore one of our great national periods there is no stored water to feed the river. The assets: lowest flow recorded for this river is 26 cu: secs. and the Forests are, then, natural reservoirs of water. Where maximum 145,500 cu: secs To prevent such a loss of lakes and dams provide storage of water, as Lake Taupo water resources; we must protect the forests. Prevent Forest and Country Fires Keep_ New Zealand Green NEW ZEALAND FOREST SERVICE SOIL CONSERVATION COUNCIL FS53-48-4