BC Hydro advises the public to stay away from the Puntledge River from Friday through Monday.High volumes of water, about five times the current river flow, will be released over the four-day period from the Comox Dam to control the reservoir level. BC Hydro advised Tuesday there is no risk of downstream flooding.The Comox Lake Reservoir was at 134.7 metres Tuesday morning and rising by 15 centimetres per day. It is now about 60 cm from free-spilling over the Comox Dam.The lion’s share of water inflows is from snowmelt, currently entering the reservoir at about 50 cubic metres per second (m3/s).With the planned Puntledge River Generating Station maintenance work, the station has been shut down and limited water flows have been released downstream, generally in the 20 m3/s range. This is for public safety considerations in the upper section of the river, mainly the Stotan Falls stretch of the river.On Thursday night, to control the reservoir level, BC Hydro will begin to increase the Puntledge River flow to 110 m3/s. This flow level is ideal for river kayaking. BC Hydro forecasts the Comox Lake Reservoir to be down to the 134 m range by Monday. BC Hydro’s water supply forecast for the Comox Lake reservoir this spring/summer should bode well for power generation, whitewater river recreation, fish habitat, and overall water abundance.The tubing season may be more challenging should temperatures remain cool over the next few months and the peak snow melt is delayed, leading to higher than normal summer river flows. River safety and extra caution must always be top of mind.The April to September forecast shows water inflows to be about 117 per cent of normal, with a variance of 21 per cent either way should it be dry or wet. Seasonal weather forecasts are always subject.The snowpack is high, but the majority of water inflows into the lake over the year are from rain. — BC Hydro