BC Hydro has been releasing high volumes of water from Comox Dam during the night this week to lower the Comox Lake Reservoir level.
The water releases have helped, but BC Hydro needs to extend the water releases to further lower the reservoir. The reservoir has come down but not far enough as BC Hydro looks ahead to be prepare for the very high ocean tides starting next Thursday and any potential storms.
BC Hydro will release high water volumes downstream from 9 tonight through early Friday morning before releasing more typical flows (40 m3/s) during the day. Then on Friday night through Sunday morning, BC Hydro will again increase the river flow by more than twofold for flood risk management preparation.
Releases from the dam will be up to 175 m3/s tonight and then about 110 m3/s Friday night through Sunday morning. The Saturday release of water will be ideal for the Vancouver Island Whitewater Paddling Society.
BC Hydro plans to have the reservoir down so that it can have about 1.5 to two metres of water storage room to prepare for future storms and subsequent water inflows into the reservoir. The current weather forecast looks promising during the high ocean tide period but forecasts can change, and BC Hydro wants to be prepared.
The public is asked to stay aware from the Puntledge River during the high water flow releases.
— BC Hydro