BC Hydro says unusually dry weather and low snowpack are forcing changes to water management on the Puntledge River.

The utility says precipitation in the Comox Lake watershed was just 39-percent of normal in April, and so far in May it is tracking at only 8 percent of normal.

That has led to significantly below-normal water inflows into the Comox Lake Reservoir, with BC Hydro now forecasting the remaining water supply through October at just 48 percent of average.

The reservoir is currently sitting slightly above the historical average for this time of year, but BC Hydro says it’s unlikely the lake will reach full pool before summer.

The utility says it’s continuing controlled water releases from Comox Dam to meet minimum downstream fish flow requirements, while closely monitoring conditions heading into the dry months.

Meanwhile, the Puntledge River Powerhouse has been offline since mid-April to conserve water and is scheduled to remain out of service for maintenance from June 1st through the end of September.

With the powerhouse shut down, all released water is being directed through the Barber’s Hole, Nymph Falls, and Stotan Falls sections of the river.

BC Hydro says river users should use extra caution in those areas, as water levels and flows are higher than normal, with warning signs now posted along the affected stretches.