Most Rivers Running at Near Record Low Levels

By 250 News

Prince George, B.C.- The latest water supply bulletin from the Provincial Ministry of the Environment indicates water levels on the Fraser, Thompson, Skeena and Nass rivers are well below normal for this time of the year. Water levels  along the Peace, Skeena and Nass are so low that the areas have been classed as Drought Level 3 (very dry conditions).

The freshet is long over with discharges that were either well below the average, or among the lowest ever:

·        The Skeena River peaked on May 29, near 3200 cubic metres per second (m3/s), well below average.

·        The North Thompson River peaked on June 15 at 1325 m3/s, the second lowest freshet peak discharge recorded since 1959.

·        The Thompson River at Kamloops peaked on June 16, at the 3rd lowest freshet peak discharge recorded since 1952.

·        The Fraser River at Hope peaked on June 17, at a discharge of 5820 m3/s, the 2nd lowest freshet peak discharge recorded since 1912. 

Flows along the Fraser River are generally much-below normal for this time of year. The Nechako and Quesnel Rivers are flowing at below-normal rates. The Chilcotin River is flowing at a normal rate at present. The Drought Level for the Central Interior is generally Level 2 (dry) while the  Southern Interior and Vancouver Island is generally Level 1 (normal).  

In northern B.C., streamflow conditions vary from below normal to much-below normal. In some areas, current streamflow conditions are close to historical recorded minimums. In particular, the Stikine, Nass and Skeena Rivers are near record low levels for this time of year.

The Bulkley River is flowing at a below-normal rate.

The Peace River basin is also experiencing near record low streamflow levels. These conditions are primarily the result of the low seasonal snowpack accumulation this past winter, coupled with above-normal winter temperatures. The Drought Level for northern rivers is generally Level 3 (very dry).

In the Thompson River area, most streams are flowing at normal rates for this time of year. The exception is the North Thompson River, which is below normal at present. In the Okanagan area, most streams are normal for this time of year. The precipitation experienced in May and June has increased streamflow throughout the area.

In the Kootenay and Columbia areas, streamflow conditions are near normal for this time of year.

On Vancouver Island, some streams are still at above-normal levels as a result of significantly above-normal spring precipitation. Typically, streamflow levels in all parts of B.C. can be expected to recede during the summer months unless rainfall is above normal.

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