As the snow in the mountains continues to melt, Summerland’s reservoirs are filling and some have already started to spill.
Scott Lee, water systems manager for Summerland, said Thirsk Lake has been spilling for more than a week.
Other reservoirs have been opened for a more controlled release.
Lee said the reservoirs are expected to spill again this year.
He added that the exceptionally warm spring temperatures, coupled with a heavy snow pack, could lead to runoff problems.
Because of concerns about excess water from a rapid melt, the level at Garnett Lake has been reduced.
“Once Garnet begins to spill, everything that happens there is out of our control,” Lee said.
The melting snow can be seen in the latest snow pack readings, which were taken on May 1.
At Summerland Reservoir, the snow pack is 17 centimetres, or the equivalent of 30 millimetres of water.
This is 24 per cent of the historical average.
At Isintok Lake, which is at a higher elevation, the snow pack is 46 centimetres, or the equivalent of 146 millimetres of water.
This is 107 per cent of the average for this time of the year.
Lee said the conditions at this time of year are unpredictable and as a result the snow pack figures can vary widely.
He said there have been eight years in the past 50 with no snow pack recorded on May 1.