Public Advisory: Increased flows on
Nanaimo River
The public should
use extra caution when using the Nanaimo River for recreation next week, due to
increased water flows.
Starting on Monday, Oct.
1, 2012, Harmac Pacific and the City of Nanaimo will be releasing more water
from two reservoirs to improve fish access through the rapids into the Nanaimo
Lakes spawning areas.
Anyone using the river – especially
boaters and swimmers – should be aware of the increased water flows and use extra
caution. Increased flows can combine with storms to create strong currents and
undertows. The higher water levels are also expected to raise water levels at
the Highway 19 bridge later in the week by about 0.3 metres (one foot). The
higher water levels may last for two to three days.
Harmac Pacific will be
releasing water from its Fourth Lake reservoir, increasing flows from 2.83 to
7.07 cubic metres per second (100 to 250 cubic feet per second) starting
Monday, Oct. 1. The City of Nanaimo will be releasing water from its Jump Lake
reservoir, increasing flows from 1.00 to approximately 6.80 cubic metres per
second (35 to 240 cubic feet per second) starting Wednesday, Oct. 3.
Water release dates vary
each year, depending on the number of fish entering the river and river flows
resulting from rain. Present river flows are slightly below average for this
time of year. Nanaimo Hatchery staff are constantly monitoring fish movements
in the river by conducting fish-count swims.
These fall pulse releases
of water have been taking place for more than 20 years and are the result of an
agreement between several agencies, including Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the
British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations,
the City of Nanaimo and the Snuneymuxw First Nation, as well as Nanaimo Forest
Products, which operates Harmac Pacific.
