South Thompson River near record low levels

KAMLOOPS – Thanks to a scorching summer with little to no precipitation, the South Thompson River levels are well below normal, head of the province's River Forecast Centre Dave Campbell says.

"It's definitely been a low year," Campbell says. "The South Thompson right now, it's quite near record low."

According to data from the centre, the South Thompson River at Chase is near the minimum recorded level and well below the median level, although years for that data aren't available.

But the North Thompson River had a bit of a rebound this past week, Campbell says, thanks to some much needed rainfall in the area.

The North Thompson is experiencing level three drought conditions while the South Thompson is experiencing level four conditions.

Snow packs were slightly above normal this year and it was a wet spring, but because of how dry the summer was levels dropped. The South Thompson River was so high this spring that the pier at Riverside Park in Kamloops was closed.

Campbell says things could have been worse for the South Thompson if its levels weren't as high as they were this past spring.

"In some ways, that probably helped what could have been worse for the South Thompson," he says.

Campbell says there likely won't be any long term impacts from these low water levels, but a winter with less snow than normal could have an impact on next year's spring.

For more information on river levels in your area, go here.

For tips on how to conserve water, go here.

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