Campbell River System - Low Water Conditions

The current Upper Campbell Reservoir/Buttle Lake elevation is 215.85 m, or about 2.5 m below historical median. It is considered full at 220 m. The Lower Campbell Reservoir elevation is 176.8 m, or about 0.7 m below median.
BC Hydro's February to September water inflow forecast for the Campbell River basin is approximately 69% of normal, with a variation of about 15% should it turn very dry or wet. As an example, should conditions turn wet over the next number of months the February to September water inflow forecast may only get to 84% of normal.

On May 26, BC Hydro made its fourth adjustment downward to conserve water in the reservoirs. In February, BC Hydro obtained a variance from the Comptroller of Water Rights, with the support of government fish agencies, to go as low 50 m3/s in the Campbell River should conditions remain dry. The target river flow for this time of year is approximately 80 m3/s.

Weather patterns since December have created a very challenging operational situation for BC Hydro as it tries to balance river and reservoir water use interests. BC Hydro forecasts the reservoir being close to ideal recreation levels by around July 1. The current operational forecast shows that, with the 50 m3/s river flow and that there are average (anticipated) inflows, the Upper Campbell Reservoir/Buttle Lake should hit around 218.7 m by July 1.

More information available at:
Stephen Watson
BC Hydro Vancouver Island Community Relations
400 Madsen Road, P.O. Box 1500, Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 5M3
Phone (250)-755-4795