Months of dry weather have taken their toll on Island watersheds, leaving the Campbell River watershed facing historic lows.
Steve Watson with BC Hydro says last year’s dry fall, and sparse rainfall this year have left the Puntledge River system with the lowest August water inflows in 60 years of keeping records.
“That’s a new record, and follows June and July, which were the driest on record for those respective months,” he says. “For the month of August, it was the lowest water inflows we’ve ever seen for that month.”
He says in the Comox Valley BC Hydro is trying to keep water flows on the Puntledge River at levels high enough for returning salmon, but may have to increase flows next week.
In the meantime Watson says BC Hydro is hoping for fall rains to come soon and replenish the watershed.
