Water supply doesn’t appear to be an issue for Greater Vernon at this time.
Greater Vernon Water staff recently monitored snow depth and snow water equivalent (the amount of water contained within the snowpack) at three sites near the Duteau Creek reservoirs.
“The March snow depth and SWE readings are slightly above average,” said Zee Marcolin, utility manager.
“GVW has these different sites to monitor how the snow accumulates and melts differently as a result of the difference in forest cover. The snow depth at the three sites ranged from 104 to 120 per cent of normal and the snow water equivalent was 114 to 133 per cent of normal.”
The B.C. River Forecast Centre reports that the early March snowpack in the South Thompson basin, which includes the Duteau Creek water reservoirs, was at 87 per cent of normal. The high elevation snowpack measurements for the Okanagan basin, which includes the Kalamalka Lake water source, was at 86 per cent of normal.
“According to the BCRFC, there was a slight increase in snowpack from the Feb. 1 readings as a result of colder than normal temperatures and higher low elevation snowfall,” said Marcolin.
“However, seasonally dry conditions have resulted in a generally lower than normal snowpack. Environment Canada reports that forecasts are indicating normal seasonal temperatures for March to May.”