Bowyers Stream

{{Short description|Stream in the Canterbury Region, New Zealand}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox river

| name = Bowyers Stream

| image =

| 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 Bowyers Stream

| map_alt =

| pushpin_map = New Zealand#New Zealand South Island

| pushpin_map_size = 270px

| pushpin_map_caption = Bowyers Stream

| pushpin_map_alt =

| source1 =

| source1_location = Mount Somers / Te Kiekie

| source1_coordinates = {{coord|-43.617996|171.375904|type:river_region:NZ|display=inline|format=dms}}

| source1_elevation = {{convert|1600|m|ft}}

| mouth_location = Ashburton River South Branch / Hakatere

| mouth_elevation = {{convert|245|m|ft}}

| mouth_coordinates = {{coord|-43.738614|171.536665|format=dms|display=inline,title}}

| subdivision_type1 = Country

| subdivision_name1 = New Zealand

| length =

| discharge1_avg =

| basin_size = {{Convert|23.2|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}{{cite book|title=Numerical hydrodynamic modelling of mountain streams for assessing instream habitat|first1=Glenn|last1= Carter|first2= Maurice|last2= Duncan |first3=Barry |last3=Briggs|date=April 1998|isbn=978-1-901502-45-9 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SBSygC_IHHIC&dq=%22Bowyers+Stream%22&pg=PA217}}

| progression = Bowyers Stream → Ashburton River South Branch / Hakatere → Ashburton River / Hakatere → Pacific Ocean

| tributaries_left = Taylors Stream

| tributaries_right = Caves Stream, Stevenson Stream

| waterfalls = Sharplin Falls

| bridges =

}}

Bowyers Stream is located in the Canterbury Region of the South Island of New Zealand.{{Cite web |title=Bowyers Stream |url=https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/17165 |access-date=9 June 2025 |website=New Zealand Geographic Board}}{{refn|group=note|name=first|The origin of the name of the stream is uncertain, but the Lyttelton Times of 10 December 1869 reports on proceedings in the Supreme Court, where Robert Bowyer states that he is a sawyer at Halford Forest, Ashburton.{{cite news|url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18691210.2.12|title=Supreme Court - Civil sittings|work=Lyttelton Times|date=10 December 1869|volume=XXXII|issue=2786|page=2|via=Papers Past}}}}

The upper reaches of the stream drain the northern face of Mount Somers / Te Kiekie and the southern face of Mount Winterslow in the foothills of the Southern Alps.{{cite web|title=Bowyers Stream |url=http://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz28436/Bowyers-Stream/Canterbury |website=nztopomap.co.nz|access-date=9 June 2025}} Sharplin Falls is located in Bowyers Stream in a deep gully beneath the fault scarp between Mount Somers / Te Kiekie and Mount Winterslow, near the small settlement of Staveley.{{cite news |date=23 October 1984 |title=Will the real Sharplin Falls please stand up? |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19841023.2.70.1 |work=The Press |page=13 |via=Papers Past}} The stream joins the south branch of the Ashburton River / Hakatere, at Annandale, west of Ashburton Forks.

The stream has been a contributor to severe flooding in the Staveley region.{{Cite news |date=25 March 1902 |title=Floods in Canterbury - a heavy rainfall |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT19020325.2.56 |work=Lyttelton Times |pages=5 |via=Papers Past |volume=CVII |issue=12767}}

Introduced trout were reported as being plentiful in Bowyers Stream in 1899.{{Cite news |date=30 September 1899 |title=Town and Country |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/LT18990930.2.36 |work=Lyttelton Times |pages=7 |via=Papers Past |volume=CII |issue=12010}} In 1930, around 10,000 brown trout fry were released into the stream by the Ashburton Acclimatisation Society,{{Cite news |date=28 August 1930 |title=20,000 trout fry |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG19300828.2.26 |work=Ashburton Guardian |pages=4 |via=Papers Past |volume=50 |issue=270}} with a further 50,000 trout fry released in 1933,{{Cite news |date=30 November 1933 |title=With rod and gun |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG19331130.2.67 |work=Ashburton Guardian |pages=6 |via=Papers Past |volume=54 |issue=43}} and 60,000 more in 1942.{{Cite news |date=22 May 1942 |title=Local and General |url=https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/AG19420522.2.5 |work=Ashburton Guardian |page=2 |via=Papers Past |volume=62 |issue=187}} Bowyers Stream has become an important tributary of the Ashburton River for trout and salmon spawning. In 2017, Environment Canterbury undertook flood-control works along a stretch of {{Convert|11|km|abbr=on}} in the bed of the river. The Central South Island Fish and Game Council commenced a prosecution of Environment Canterbury under the Conservation Act for disturbance to the spawning grounds of freshwater fish. The parties reached agreement in 2019 and the prosecution did not continue.{{Cite web |last=Cosgrove |first=Richie |date=10 September 2019 |title=Fish & Game and Environment Canterbury reach settlement over Bowyers Stream prosecution |url=https://www.fishandgame.org.nz/environment/news/fish-and-game-and-environment-canterbury-reach-settlement-over-bowyers-stream-prosecution/ |access-date=8 June 2025 |website=Fish and Game New Zealand |language=en-NZ}} In September 2019, there were concerns from landowners about the build-up of gravel in the stream bed, with calls for the stream bed to be lowered to reduce flooding risk.{{Cite web |date=2019-10-30 |title=Call to clear out gravel from stream |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/star-news/star-districts/star-mid-canterbury/call-clear-out-gravel-stream |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=Star News |language=en |via=Otago Daily Times}}

The Rangitata Diversion Race passes beneath the bed of Bowyers Stream in a siphon, around {{Convert|1.5|km|abbr=on}} south of Staveley.{{Cite web |title=Siphon on Rangitata Diversion Race |url=https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap?v=2&ll=-43.662593,171.438732&z=15 |access-date=9 June 2025 |website=nztopomap.co.nz}}

The Bowyers Stream Reserve is a freedom camping site located where the Inland Scenic Route crosses Bowyers Stream around {{Convert|3.4|km|abbr=on}} south of Staveley.{{Cite web |title=Bowyers Stream Freedom Camping Site |url=https://midcanterbury.co.nz/location/bowyers-stream-freedom-camping-site |access-date=9 June 2025 |website=Experience Mid Canterbury}}