Public Safety Notice Of High Puntledge River Flows Begins Today

A public safety notice of high Puntledge River flows begins Thursday night.

A statement by BC Hydro revealed that “March was dry and cool. The dry trend continued into early April and then the moderate storms came through one after another, making the month of April the second wettest on record for precipitation in the upper watershed.”

“The wet month was needed. The warmer temperatures since late April have started the snowmelt and we’re seeing good water inflows into Comox Lake Reservoir.”

To control the Comox Lake Reservoir, crews will be tripling the water discharge from the Comox Dam this evening.

For public safety, BC Hydro is asking the public to stay away from the Puntledge River tonight through May 14th, as the river flows will be fast and dangerous.

Danger safety signage will be in place. The number of higher water releases from the dam will depend on the rate of snowmelt over the next month or two.

BC Hydro says the precipitation and water inflows in February and March were below normal.
In fact, inflows into Comox Lake Reservoir in March were only 36%, setting a new record low for the month of March in 60 years of data.

That was followed up by a wet April, making it the second wettest on record for precipitation in the upper watershed. Precipitation that month was about 200% of normal.

The initial water supply forecast for the February to September period was for water inflows over those eight months to be around 96% of normal. They now figure it will be more like 78% of normal.

BC Hydro’s Stephen Watson says their goal each summer is to have the Comox Lake Reservoir full by the time all of the snow has melted, usually by late June or early July. He says that won’t be a problem this summer.