Duteau snowpack beats 2010 level
Greater Vernon may escape drought conditions this summer.
The latest measurements show a snowpack of 47 centimetres on the Aberdeen Plateau, which is above the 32 centimetres recorded at this time of year in 2010 but below the average of 50 centimetres.
“Things are looking good,” said Arnold Badke, the North Okanagan Regional District’s general manager of engineering.
In terms of water content in the snow, there is currently 120 millimetres which compares to 112 millimetres on average and 69 millimetres last year.
“That’s really good,” said Badke.
Reservoir levels on the Duteau Creek system are presently 1,200 megalitres below the average but double where they were at this time during 2010.
While he remains positive, Badke admits that the availability of water during the summer will be influenced by what happens with the weather before then.
“We expect a lot more snow up there and it will depend on rain in May and June,” he said.
“We don’t have the alarm bells going off like we did last year.”
Last spring, NORD initiated phase three water restrictions because of low reservoir levels. That included no irrigating of yards and no filling pools.
However, weather conditions changed and the arrival of rain allowed the district to ease restrictions.
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