From the Comox Valley Regional District:

Fish Screen Cleaning on the Puntledge Diversion Dam

The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) is encouraging residents connected to the Comox Valley water system to conserve water during a fish screen cleaning at the Puntledge diversion dam scheduled for January 27 and 28, 2016.  

The fish screen is positioned in the BC Hydro penstock at the Puntledge diversion dam, and requires up to three cleanings per year to maintain efficiency and to benefit salmon. This dam is where the water is diverted from the river, about 3.7 kilometres downstream of the Comox dam, into a pipeline that travels five kilometres to the generating station and back into the river. The purpose of the screen is to divert fish that get pulled into the intake and safely deposit them back into the Puntledge River. 

During those two days the CVRD will be required to pump water directly from the Puntledge River and not the BC Hydro pipeline. 

“The CVRD is not expecting to move to a higher stage of restrictions during this time as the winter months are the lowest water use period of the year,” said Koreen Gurak, CVRD’s manager of community engagement and education. “However, we’re asking residents to do their part to conserve water to ensure that flows remain as low as possible.” 

Looking ahead to BC Hydro’s spring maintenance on the Puntledge River generating station, the CVRD anticipates moving to stage three water restrictions in March with the dates still to be determined.   

To keep up-to-date with the latest water restrictions, visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/restrictions.  

The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing sustainable services for residents and visitors to the area. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.