BC Hydro To Increase Puntledge River Flows To Regular Intervals

BC Hydro has provided an update on the Puntledge River hydroelectric system.

Spokesperson Stephen Watson says Chinook salmon are set to begin migrating up the system, including adult salmon moving through the 6 km stretch of river from the generating station to the Puntledge River diversion dam, ultimately migrating past the Comox Dam into the reservoir.

Starting tomorrow, to assist their migration, there will be five, two-day higher flow releases below the diversion dam, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

BC Hydro will issue a public safety advisory to be cautious each Wednesday and Thursday to July 13 in the Barber’s Hole and Nymph Falls areas of the river, from the diversion dam to the powerhouse, as flows in this stretch of the river will be about double the normal summer flow.

Flows in all other areas of the Puntledge River will be normal with no safety notices in place.

The Comox Lake Reservoir level is currently at about 135.1 metres and the level may be peaking over the next few weeks.

The range is generally between 131 to 135.3 metres above sea level.

Once the reservoir level peaks, they'll then manage downstream flows as needed, with the available water storage through the summer and early fall for fish, domestic water supply and power generation.