The International Kootenay Lake Board of Control, after consultation with FortisBC, has determined that the spring rise on Kootenay Lake occurred on Apr. 16.
A press release from the International Kootenay Lake Board of Control stated that they will now be monitoring the lake’s water levels until its measuring point in Nelson drops back down to 1,743 feet in elevation, marking the end of the freshet period.
At the time of the declaration, the lake’s water level measured at Queens Bay was at 1,739.29 feet, with the lake’s inflow measured at 22,800 cubic feet per second. These levels are predicted to keep rising over the next month.
The release stated that this year’s declaration happened earlier than in the past seven years, and two weeks sooner than last year, thanks to the region’s consistent warm temperatures at higher elevations throughout the winter months, with more warm weather anticipated in the coming weeks.
Snow in the area has been melting, and increased water flow has been observed in the Kootenay River. The International Kootenay Lake Board of Control will provide an update in the coming months once the region’s freshet peak has been recorded.
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