Katherine Bickford

In September 2014 the water levels in Comox Lake were at some of the lowest recorded by BC Hydro in the 30 years of recorded history. When the water is this low you can really begin to see what logging and hydroelectric power did to the lake.

The level of the lake was raised in 1913 when a dam was built to increase the storage in Comox Lake and regulate the flow of water into the Puntledge River. Logging crews harvest the trees before the shore line gets pushed back inland by the rising level of the water – the lower levels once again expose the stumps and pilings of old piers and booming grounds.

I think these two images illustrate what happens when a dam is built, and how multiple demands on the stored water can combine with low rain and a small snow pack to create a huge problem.