NOTICE: COLUMBIA RIVER FLOWS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO INCREASE TO
VERY HIGH LEVELS STARTING TODAY THURSDAY JULY 19, 2012
Riverfront and low-lying residents and businesses downstream of Hugh L. Keenleyside Dam
advised to take precautions
Due to very high inflows resulting from snowmelt and record rain, BC Hydro will start increasing discharge flows from Hugh L. Keenleyside dam later today. Currently BC Hydro is discharging about 100,000 cubic feet per second from Hugh L. Keenleyside dam and these flows are expected to increase to 110,000 cubic feet per second by the end of today (Thursday July 19, 2012) and may be increased further if required.
As a result, Columbia River flows at Birchbank (flow measuring station between Castlegar and Trail) are expected to reach as much as 215,000 cubic feet per second later today (Thursday July 19, 2012) and may increase further over the weekend depending on conditions. BC Hydro anticipates that this flow increase may result in river level rises of approximately 1 foot.
BC Hydro would also like to advise that depending on inflows, Columbia River flows at Birchbank could continue to climb to 225,000 cubic feet per second or higher by Sunday July 22, 2012. Although this flow will still be below peak levels experienced before the Columbia River Treaty dams were constructed, these flows would be the highest flow recorded since the construction of the Columbia River Treat storage dams.
Castlegar and Trail have established Emergency Operations Centres to coordinate any local emergency response required. For more information, members of the public should contact their local Emergency Operations Centre:
Castlegar Emergency Operations Centre
250-365-3266
Trail Emergency Operations Centre
250-364-0850
250-364-0851
