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| Media Release Marlborough and Nelson engineers
enjoy annual clash Engineers aren’t averse to Blenheim/Nelson rivalry,
illustrated last week (29 July) at the Institution of Professional Engineers
New Zealand, (IPENZ) Nelson/Marlborough Young Engineers Presentations
Competition. First place was Kyle Christensen, (pictured)
a rivers Kyle Christensen is also in his final year of a Master of Engineering,
specialising in river geomorphology and hydraulics. His topic is also
his Masters thesis on the effects of river control works on flow regime
and sediment transport in the Lower Wairau River. “I kayak on the
Wairau River everyday, so I’ve got to know it very well,”
said Kyle. “The main idea that I wanted people to take away from my presentation was that understanding and integrating longer-term processes in the design and management of river control works was the key for providing effective, sustainable, long-term solutions,” he said. “I discussed the longer-term (10,000+yrs) natural processes that have formed the Wairau Plains and how flood control works have had a significant impact on the medium term (50-100yr) processes that are shaping in the system. “In particular I spoke about the significant degradation (bed level lowering) and subsequent aggradation (bed level rising) resulting from the blocking off the Opawa Breach overflow channel (1917) and then the construction of the Wairau Diversion (1965). “My presentation covered the significant effects of the current aggradational cycle which has seen river bed levels rise (1m over a 10km reach) in the Lower Wairau. Adverse effects include water quality, recreational opportunities, drainage effectiveness, ecological habitat and flood control." Kyle also discussed the options that the Marlborough District Council is investigating to lessen the effects of the bed level rise. (IPENZ) Nelson/Marlborough Young Engineers Presentations Competition Winners:
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