Following Didymo Dave’s suggestion on a beautiful Autumn morning TRM completed a photo survey so you can judge the difference of the Tongariro River at full natural flow – around 37 cumecs – compared to the controlled flow which has been at record low levels around 21 cumecs all summer.

The power company was completing maintenance on the canal from the Poutu Intake on the upper Tongariro River to Lake Rotoaira, so the canal was closed off and the river was flowing at the full natural level.

In the image looking up river from the Koura Street swing-bridge on the TLB (True Left Bank looking down-river) you should be able to identify the weed in the river extending about 2 m from the edge. That is the best photo evidence I could find to show the increased flow, but there was another major difference not so obvious in the pics. That is because it was missing.

The fishos must have been scared off by the dirty colour and faster flow. In our circuit on a bright sunny Thursday morning we did not see a single fisho anywhere? Below is the popular Bridge Pool which alone produces more trout than most other rivers..

The number of locals and tourists out walking this upper loop of the Tongariro River Trail justified keeping it so well maintained. TRM will report on that tomorrow. We probably passed over forty. Below are two French tourists enjoying the track with the view up river over Judges Pool beyond.