Branch River Power Scheme

Location
Branch River
Marlborough

Commissioned
1983

Max Capacity
11 MW

Annual Output
54.3 GWh

Branch River is a ‘run of river scheme’ consisting of two power stations, Wairau and Argyle.

Fish trap and transfer, and trout restocking programmes mean that Lake Argyle and the Branch and Leatham rivers are popular with anglers. A fish pass also allows migration of native fish species. A memorandum of understanding with tangata whenua reinforces our commitment to improving the Longfin Eel fishery in the catchment.