CAMPBELL RIVER, B.C. – Flows will be slowed along the Elk Falls system this afternoon.
Utilities spokesperson Stephen Watson said eight storms hit the region over a 12-day period to last Saturday. On Friday, Watson said crews increased the flow rate down Elk Falls Canyon to 80 cubic metres per second.
This afternoon, that flow will be reduced to about 40 cubic metres per second, due to “benign weather”, according to Watson.
“The total discharge down the Campbell River will move from about 205 cubic metres per second to about 165 cubic metres per second,” he said.
Although the flows will be reduced, Watson said Hydro is advising people to stay away from Elk Falls throughout the week.
“There is a potential atmospheric river type storm that could bring rain and warmer temperatures causing low elevation snow-melt on Saturday,” he said.
“There is much uncertainly on where the storm may track and hit the coast. There is a potential we may end the extra water release down the canyon on Friday, if the storm misses the region, or we may continue the spill through the weekend. Temporary safety signage is in place and will be updated as needed.”
Watson said the Upper Campbell Reservoir/Buttle Lake level is currently at 219.9 metres and is slowly dropping.
“The level we want to avoid is 222 metres…so (there’s) still a decent amount of storage room. We see the reservoir level slowly dropping over the week, and the weekend will be dependent on the potential end of week storm,” he noted.
Watson commented on last week’s severe storms that hit Vancouver Island.
“As a point of interest, there was very high storm surge last Thursday from the severe wind storm. The ocean surge was about 0.75 metres and the Quinsam River was flowing high at about 90 cubic metres per second. We reduced the flow through the powerhouse to the minimum for fish habitat and were only releasing about 80 cubic metres per second, down from about 165, for about three hours during the high tide,” he said.
“Even with that operational consideration, the river level came very close to over topping the bank near the Campbell River Lodge. There was close coordination that day with the City of Campbell River. It was rare to see that much of an ocean storm surge.”
Watson said that crews continue to work hard to repair damage done by the storms to the company’s infrastructure.
