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Columbia River expected to rise

Discharge rates from Arrow Lakes Reservoir increase
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The Columbia River water level is expected to rise this weekend with an increased discharge from the Arrow Lakes Reservoir

BC Hydro has revised the discharge rates from Arrow Lakes Reservoir.

As of Thursday, discharges from the Arrow Lakes Generating Station and Hugh L. Keenleyside Dam increased from 1,883 cubic meters per second (m3/s) or 66,498 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 1,996 m3/s or 70,488 cfs. At 4:00 p.m., discharges will increase from 1,996 m3/s or 70,488 cfs to 2,091 m3/s or 73,843 cfs.

Higher discharge flows are required to maintain Arrow Lakes Reservoir at or below its full pool level of 440.1 metres (1,444 feet).

When combined with the outflows from the Kootenay River, Columbia River flows at Birchbank near Trail are will reach approximately 4,100 cubic metres per second (160,000 cubic feet per second).

As a result, the Columbia River water level below the Kootenay River confluence is expected to rise by roughly 0.3 metres (0.9 feet) above current levels. Please make safety your top priority when planning activities near the Columbia River.

The forecasted increase will bring the river level to approximately 8.95 meters (29.36 feet), 1.83 meters (6 feet) below last year's high water.

RDKB and City of Trail staff will continue to monitor river levels and work with BC Hydro to coordinate any necessary response.