CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – B.C. Hydro advises residents to stay away from the Elk Falls Canyon until next week.
B.C. Hydro spokesperson Stephen Watson wrote in a statement that water inflows are predicted to be about 500 cubic metres per second (m3/s) per day. This is due to forecasted storms for the next several days.
The Upper Campbell River Reservoir-Buttle Lake is currently at 218.6 metres and rising. Watson wrote the inflow rate rose to over 600 m3/s before dawn, and has remained high until early afternoon.
B.C. Hydro will release 164 m3/s of water down the Campbell River through the powerhouse and Elk Falls Canyon. This will increase to 234 m3/s on Saturday, decreasing to 110 m3/s at Elk Falls Canyon.
Depending on inflows, water discharge from the John Hart facilities may increase to about 350 m3/s. Watson wrote they hope to hold at about 234 m3/s to limit environmental and fish habitat impact.
The goal is to keep the reservoir level below 220.5 metres with space above for flood risk management.
