BC Hydro is set to start reducing the Campbell River flow this year on June 16, dropping it from about 80 cubic metres per second (m3/s) down to around 30 m3/s for the summer.
"We generally target the first week of July to move to the low summer river flow conditions," said Karla Louwers, public affairs coordinator with BC Hydro. "We are doing this a bit early this season given the water storage conditions in the upper reservoirs and thinking ahead to the early fall and the salmon migration period."
Louwers said the June water supply forecast for the Campbell system is 78.7 per cent of normal, which is a 2 per cent decrease since the last water supply forecast was issued in May. The residual forecast for the June to September period is 67 per cent of normal, she added.
According to BC Hydro, the Upper Campbell Reservoir/Butte Lake reservoir elevation is currently at 216.3 metres, 1.3 metres below the historical average, but within the Water Use Plan’s preferred zone. The reservoir drafted to a low of 216.1 metres on May 28, before rising to its current elevation. It is expected to rise to 217.4 metres before moving downward over the summer. The summer recreation target from mid-June to early September is from 217 metres to 220.5 metres.
BC Hydro has predicted that the reservoir level will likely stay at the lower end of that range for most of the summer, and it could fall below that range by the end of August.
The Lower Campbell Reservoir/McIvor Lake has been in the top half of its operating range, above 177 metres and within its preferred zone, according to Louwers. The target for this reservoir’s summer recreation level is from 176.5 metres to 177.5 metres and is expected to remain in the same zone as the Upper Campbell Lake reservoir.
