Editing Queenstown, New Zealand (section)

=== Flood risk ===
Low-lying areas of Queenstown that are close to Lake Wakatipu are at risk of flooding because during heavy rain and snowmelt, the outflows of the lake via the Kawarau River are less than the inflows and the lake level can rise significantly. Further, the outflow down the Kawarau River is impeded by the large delta of the Shotover River – a major tributary. There is also a narrow gorge that restricts flow in the Kawarau river. As a consequence, Queenstown has been flooded several times since its establishment, and there is an on-going risk of flooding in low-lying areas.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Forsyth |first1=Jane |last2=Clark |first2=Elizabeth |last3=Becker |first3=Julia |date=March 2005 |title=1999 Queenstown Floods |url=https://www.qualityplanning.org.nz/sites/default/files/1999%20Queenstown%20Floods.pdf |journal=Planning Quarterly |publisher=[[Ministry for the Environment (New Zealand)|Ministry for the Environment]]}}</ref> As the lake level rises, backflow through the town's stormwater system leads to flooding in some Queenstown streets when the lake level reaches 311.3 m. This has occurred around 20 times since 1878. In any one year, there is a 13 percent chance that the lake will reach this level, and a 75 percent chance of at least one event that exceeds this level in a 10 year period.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lake Wakatipu flood hazard: Queenstown CBD |url=https://www.orc.govt.nz/media/2955/queenstown-2014-updated-web.pdf |access-date=1 January 2024 |website=Otago Regional Council}}</ref>