BC Hydro says it will be reducing flows on the Puntledge River next week as dry weather continues to impact water levels in the Comox Lake Reservoir.

In an update on Puntledge River operations, the utility says May precipitation is tracking at just 8-percent of normal, while cumulative inflows into the reservoir are sitting at 34-percent of normal.

The Comox Lake Reservoir is currently at about 134.1 metres and is slowly declining, with inflows now lower than the amount of water required to maintain minimum downstream fish habitat flows.

To help conserve water and provide certainty for fish habitat through the summer and into the fall, BC Hydro says it will reduce downstream flow below the powerhouse from about 16 cubic metres per second to 12 cubic metres per second beginning the morning of Wednesday, June 3.

While summer flow reductions on the Puntledge River are not unusual, BC Hydro says they are typically made later in the season, usually in July or August.

Officials hope making the change earlier this year will eliminate the need for additional reductions later in the summer.

The utility says it will continue monitoring weather conditions and reservoir inflows while updating water models to manage both storage and downstream river flows through early fall.

BC Hydro says balancing water conservation remains especially important during dry conditions, with summer chinook currently in the river and water supplies also needed for returning fall chinook later in the season.

The reduced flow could expose small sections of riverbed, so crews will gradually lower water levels in stages and monitor key areas to help any stranded fish back into the main river channel.

BC Hydro says it is also working closely with the Comox Valley Regional District, noting the reduced river flow will trigger a higher level of watering restrictions.