River levels ramped up for chinook
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BC Hydro has increased water flows through the Campbell River to accommodate spawning chinook salmon.
But despite the recent rain, the reservoir levels above the John Hart Dam continue to drop, said Stephen Watson, BC Hydro’s Vancouver Island spokesperson.
“The Upper Campbell Reservoir/Buttle Lake is at 216.6 metres and dropping by about six centimetres per day,” he said in an e-mail. “The rain showers yesterday and perhaps over the next few days will have no measureable impact. Total system inflows are forecasted to be about 25 cubic metres per second the rest of the week, before receding to below 20 cubic metres per second for the weekend.
“This year continues to be the driest year on record for total water inflows, and looking ahead to the first week of October, the last time river flows were that low (65 cubic metres per second) for the time of year was in 1993.”
Watson said BC Hydro and Fisheries and Oceans Canada met on the river earlier this week to discuss the flow situation, and have found the current river flow not adequate for chinook spawning. Starting today, BC Hydro will increase the Campbell River flow from the current 53 cubic metres per second, by 4.5 per day, to a target 65 cubic metres per second.
“On Oct. 7, DFO will swim the river and assess suitability of flows for chinook spawning. The following day a determination will be made on maintaining or increasing river flows,” Watson said.
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