Flow Monitoring

Water quantity has become a major concern within the Little Campbell River watershed. A portion of the mainstem of the Little Campbell River dries up for five months of the year (June – October), creating a disconnect in aquatic habitat for species such as salmonids. A Rocha began monitoring this section of the river in the summer of 2018. Due to these water flow concerns, the river has been highlighted as a priority to assess environmental flow needs. 

A Rocha has teamed up with the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD) to set up hydrometric stations on the river. This is the first step to assess the status of water quantity in the river. A Rocha conducts weekly flow and depth measurements at the hydrometric station located on the Brooksdale Environmental Centre property. Data are also collected from a permanent staff gauge and photos are taken up and downstream to document visible changes to the river. 

We will continue to partner with the provincial government to collect flow measurements in the Little Campbell River.  These data will be used to determine the environmental flow needs of this river, which once established can be used as a management tool under the Water Sustainability Act.

This project is funded by the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development