The flow of the Cowichan River is being reduced this week because of the dry weather.
Brian Houle, Environmental Manager at Domtar’s Crofton pulp mill, says Cowichan Lake is currently at 69 per cent, and by controlling the flow over the weir the lake can be refilled in preparation for the summer.
He says their goal is to preserve a flow of seven cubic metres per second throughout July and August.
Houle says the river’s flow is being gradually reduced this week and will be down to seven CMS by Friday, where it will remain.
The decision follows a special meeting with regulators engaged in the Cowichan Watershed management program on Monday to review the current conditions.
Houle says the weather has been dry, but there is still a “reasonable amount of snow pack to melt” and with the flow reduction it should allow the lake to recover to nearly full.
This year, the level of the lake is lower than it was at the same time last year.
