After the successful Comox Valley Paddle Festival last weekend, BC Hydro is shifting operations to consider the summer chinook migration up the Puntledge River.
River flows along the stretch of river from the diversion dam to the generating station will double, but other areas of the river will remain about the same as BC Hydro reduces flows out of the generating station.
The public is advised to be cautious within the Barber’s Hole, Nymph Falls, Stotan Falls section of the river every Tuesday and Wednesday from this week through to July 10.
The timed river flow increase over the next five weeks will allow chinook to migrate past river obstacles and access upstream fish habitat. The base flow within the five-kilometre stretch of river below the diversion dam will double to about 12 cubic metres per second.
The river flow increase may seem relatively benign but river areas like the potholes or small waterfalls near Stotan Falls, for example, can change river-flow hydraulics and be a hazard. This is especially the case for people who go into the river the day before the migration flow is in place and then not notice the difference the following day.
BC Hydro reminds you to be cautious.
— BC Hydro
