This wide man-made channel which is rarely used as a floodway, is best known as a place to check for arctic waders in spring and autumn. Migrants such as Bar-tailed Godwit can be seen with locals such as Pied Stilt along lake edge adjacent to the channel probing for food.

There are no facilities here - indeed parking on top of the levee is tricky but a visit is often worthwhile. The Floodway was built as part of a flood control scheme that took the overflow when the Ruamahanga River flooded. It has allowed farmers nearby to securely use pastureland.