Opuha Dam facts for kids

The Opuha Dam is a large structure built across the Opuha River in New Zealand. This river flows into the Opihi River in a place called South Canterbury. The dam helps manage water for different uses.

The dam holds water for farms to grow crops. This process is called irrigation. It also helps make electricity for New Zealand's power grid. The Opuha Dam produces 7.7 megawatts of electricity.

The area around the dam is very important for birds. An organization called BirdLife International has named it an "Important Bird Area." This is because a special type of bird, the black-billed gull, comes here to build nests and raise its young. These gulls are an endangered species, which means there are not many left in the world.

Building the Dam

Building the Opuha Dam was a big project. In 1997, on February 6, part of the dam broke while it was still being built. This happened because of very heavy rain.

Workers fixed the dam, and it was finally finished in 1998. When the dam was completed, it created a large lake behind it. This lake is now known as Lake Opuha.

Keeping the Lake Healthy

In 2003, people noticed that the water in Lake Opuha needed more oxygen. To help with this, a special system was put in place. This system adds air to the water, making sure there is enough oxygen for the fish and other living things in the lake.