FortisBC is advising local residents that Kootenay Lake levels are expected to increase rapidly over the next week.

Although spring rise was declared on April 24, according to Fortis, mild and dry conditions have caused lake levels to rise slowly up to this point.

During this time, lake levels are predominately driven by natural inflows as a result of melting snow pack and precipitation.

In order to help mitigate peak lake levels, FortisBC has been operating the Kootenay River system at the maximum discharge since the beginning of March and will continue to do so until after the lake peaks.