{{Short description|River in the Buller District, New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox river | name = Karamea River | image = Karamea River.jpg | image_size = | image_caption = | map = {{Maplink|frame=yes|type=line|plain=yes|zoom=9|frame-align=center|frame-width=270|frame-height=270|stroke-color=#0000ff|stroke-width=2}} | map_size = | map_caption = Route of the Karamea River | map_alt = | pushpin_map = New Zealand#New Zealand South Island | pushpin_map_size = 270px | pushpin_map_caption = Mouth of the Karamea River | pushpin_map_alt = | source1 = Biggs Tops | source1_location = | source1_coordinates = {{coord|-41.4117|172.4039|type:river_region:NZ|display=inline}} | source1_elevation = {{convert|1384|m|ft}} | mouth_location = Ōtūmahana Estuary | mouth_elevation = {{convert|0|m|ft}} | mouth_coordinates = {{coord|-41.255|172.10833|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | subdivision_type1 = Country | subdivision_name1 = New Zealand | length = {{convert|73|km|mi}} | discharge1_avg = | basin_size = {{Convert|1210|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/west-coast-region/water-quantity/surface-water-zones/karamea/|title=West Coast region: Surface Water Zone: Karamea|website= Land, Air, Water Aotearoa|access-date=18 January 2024}}</ref> | progression = '''Karamea River''' → Ōtūmahana Estuary → Karamea Bight → Tasman Sea | tributaries_left = Waters Creek, Taipō River, Kendall Creek, Orbit Creek, Apollo Creek, Mars Creek, Thor Creek, Atlas Creek, Mercury Creek, Venus Creek, Jupiter Creek, Saturn Creek, Silvermine Creek, Questa Creek, Pyramid Creek, Kākāpō River, Kelly Creek, Office Creek, Elford Creek, Jordan Creek, Gillbank Creek, | tributaries_right = Lost Valley Creek, Meteor Creek, Lunik Creek, Star Creek, Comet Creek, Satellite Creek, Apogee Creek, Perigee Creek, Sputnik Creek, Crow River, Slippery Creek, Leslie River, Roaring Lion River, False Creek, Ferris Creek, Ugly River, Fuchsia Creek, Greys Creek, Little Grey Creek, Virgin Creek, Coopers Creek | waterfalls = Saxon Falls | bridges = Karamea Bridge }}
The '''Karamea River''' is located in the West Coast Region of the South Island of New Zealand. The river rises within Kahurangi National Park in the Matiri Range of the Southern Alps. The river rises to the east of Mount Allen, meandering west briefly before turning north. After some {{Convert|25|km|abbr=on}} it again turns west, to enter a series of small lakes where its waters are joined by those of the Roaring Lion River. From here the river continues west through steep-sided valleys before leaving the national park and reaching its floodplain {{Convert|10|km|abbr=on}} from the coast of the Tasman Sea. The river passes the small settlements of Umere and Arapito before reaching the Ōtūmahana Estuary and the Tasman Sea close to the township of Karamea.
The river has a catchment area, including its tributaries, of {{Convert|1210|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}, representing around 23% of the entire area of Kahurangi National Park.<ref>{{cite web |title=West Coast region: Surface Water Zone: Karamea |url=https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/west-coast-region/water-quantity/surface-water-zones/karamea/ |access-date=18 January 2024 |website=Land, Air, Water Aotearoa}}</ref>
== Flood risk == There is a history of flooding from the Karamea River. In 1899, a large flood swept away a new bridge across the river and caused damage to settlers homes, farms and crops.<ref>{{cite news |date=7 February 1899 |title=Damage by flood |work=Colonist |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18990207.2.13.1 |url-status=live |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723223254/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC18990207.2.13.1 |archive-date=23 July 2022 |via=Papers Past}}</ref> Another major flood caused serious damage in January 1915, inundating the main street and the majority of houses.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 January 1915 |title=Country News - Karamea |work=Colonist |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC19150120.2.37.51 |url-status=live |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723223254/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TC19150120.2.37.51 |archive-date=23 July 2022 |via=Papers Past}}</ref>
The Murchison earthquake on 17 June 1929 led to debris blocking the existing mouth of the Karamea River, and a new outlet to the sea formed from the Ōtūmahana lagoon around {{convert|1.6|km}} to the south of the existing outlet.<ref name="mouth">{{cite news |date=17 September 1937 |title=Port again navigable - Karamea River mouth |work=New Zealand Herald |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19370917.2.166 |url-status=live |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723223254/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NZH19370917.2.166 |archive-date=23 July 2022 |via=Papers Past}}</ref> Deposits of silt raised the level of the river bed and led to a greatly increased risk of flooding in the townships of Karamea and Market Cross.<ref>{{cite news |date=14 September 1937 |title=New channel - Karamea River |work=Evening Post |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19370914.2.172 |url-status=live |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723223259/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19370914.2.172 |archive-date=23 July 2022 |via=Papers Past}}</ref> On 30 December 1929 there was heavy damage in Karamea and Arapito from a sudden flood attributed to the breach of a dam created during the earthquake.<ref>{{cite news |date=30 December 1929 |title=Sudden flood - Karamea inundated |work=Evening Post |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/EP19291230.2.100 |via=Papers Past}}</ref> In April 1931, floodwaters entered most of the homes around Market Cross, and some in the Karamea township.<ref>{{cite news |date=6 April 1931 |title=The floods - Karamea damage |work=Grey River Argus |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA19310406.2.18 |url-status=live |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723223451/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/GRA19310406.2.18 |archive-date=23 July 2022 |via=Papers Past}}</ref> In August 1931, the settlers were given access to relief funding from the West Coast Earthquake Relief Fund for the damage caused by these floods.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 August 1931 |title=Flood damage - Sequel to earthquake |work=Inangahua Times |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/IT19310812.2.12 |url-status=live |access-date=22 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723223509/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/IT19310812.2.12 |archive-date=23 July 2022 |via=Papers Past}}</ref>
Over the next few years, stop banks and training walls were constructed on the north side of the river to help mitigate the flood risk to the town. In May 1936 the Karamea School Committee notified the Education Board of their concerns about the damage caused by repeated flooding of the school. Relocation to a new site was proposed.<ref>{{Cite news |date=26 May 1936 |title=A flooded school - Conditions at Karamea |work=Nelson Evening Mail |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM19360526.2.42 |url-status=live |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723223509/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/NEM19360526.2.42 |archive-date=23 July 2022 |via=Papers Past}}</ref> In October 1936 there was a further major flood that entered 40 houses in Karamea and Market Cross.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 October 1936 |title=Buildings awash in Karamea township |work=The Press |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19361012.2.91 |url-status=live |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723223512/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19361012.2.91 |archive-date=23 July 2022 |via=Papers Past}}</ref> In September 1937, a large flood led to the river breaking through to the sea at the location of the old river mouth, cutting a new channel that greatly reduced the flood risk to the town and enabled the entry of vessels at high tide.<ref name="mouth" /> Further river protection works were installed between 1938 and 1940, and these successfully defended the township during a heavy flood in the river in February 1940.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 February 1940 |title=Karamea protection works tested |work=Inangahua Times |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/IT19400212.2.13 |url-status=live |access-date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220723223514/https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/IT19400212.2.13 |archive-date=23 July 2022 |via=Papers Past}}</ref>
In an extreme weather event in December 2010, the flow in the river reached the second highest ever recorded, at 3,125 cumecs. The peak flow did not co-incide with the time of high tide, and this reduced the level of flooding compared with the flooding experienced in 1998.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.wcrc.govt.nz/repository/libraries/id:2459ikxj617q9ser65rr/hierarchy/Documents/Publications/Natural%20Hazard%20Reports/West%20Coast/Report%20on%20West%20Coast%20Weather%20Event%2027%20and%2028%20December%202010.pdf |title=Report on West Coast Weather Event 27 & 28 December 2010 |publisher=West Coast Regional Council |pages=27 |language=en-nz |access-date=20 January 2024}}</ref>
Survey records since 1912 indicate that there have been either single or double openings to the sea from the Ōtūmahana Estuary, and that these openings have migrated over {{Convert|4.5|km|abbr=on}} of shoreline since records began. Between 2008 and 2010, the two openings merged at a location giving a direct exit to the sea for the Karamea River. From December 2010, the combined opening migrated south. Between 2013 and 2015, the channel moved further south by over {{Convert|2|km|abbr=on}}. In 2016, the channel was {{Convert|3|km|abbr=on}} south of the most direct route from the river to the sea. This new location increases the risk of flooding in some areas of Karamea. A report to the West Coast Regional Council in 2016 recommended mechanical excavation of a breach channel to allow the next major flood to cut a new direct route to the sea, and mitigate the flood risk.<ref>{{citeQ|Q113213400}}</ref>
== Rafting == The Karamea River is a highly rated wilderness river for rafting expeditions. A {{Convert|30|km|abbr=on}} rafting journey is possible over three days, passing through Grade 3 rapids in the upper reaches to Grade 5 rapids in the Karamea Gorge.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 November 2012 |title=Top 3 rivers to raft |url=https://www.wildernessmag.co.nz/top-3-rivers-raft/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220626114426/https://www.wildernessmag.co.nz/top-3-rivers-raft/ |archive-date=26 June 2022 |website=Wilderness magazine}}</ref>
==See also== *List of rivers of New Zealand
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{LINZ|id=24605|name=Karamea River|accessdate=23 July 2022}}
{{Kahurangi National Park}}
Category:Rivers of the West Coast Region Category:Rivers of New Zealand Category:Buller District Category:Rivers of Kahurangi National Park Category:Karamea