Puntledge River Warnings

BC Hydro is warning residents to be cautious around the Puntledge River starting tonight through Wednesday.

Discharge from the Comox Dam will increase to control Comox Reservoir water levels. Temporary safety signage is in place.

BC Hydro says water inflows from the recent wet weather have slowly increased the Comox Lake Reservoir water level. 

Prior to the weekend, the Comox Lake Reservoir level was sitting at about 134.9 metres above sea level. Water free spills over the dam at the overflow spillway at 135.3 metres. 

We are approaching the time of year for summer Chinook salmon to begin migrating up the Puntledge River system. That includes adult salmon moving through the 6 km stretch of river from the generating station to the Puntledge River diversion dam, then through the fish ladder at the dam, and ultimately migrating past the Comox Dam into the reservoir. To help their migration, there will be five, two-day higher flow releases below the diversion dam, starting June 18th and 19th, and then taking place each Tuesday and Wednesday until July 17th.

There will be a public safety advisory each Tuesday and Wednesday from June 18th to July 17th in the Barber’s Hole, Nymph Falls, and Stotan Falls areas of the river, from the diversion dam to the powerhouse.