Vancouver Island water watchers remain on alert in the wake of last summerB次元官网网址檚 extraordinary drought.

But they have found some comfort in at least one nice soft pillow.

According to the posted today by the B.C. government, the Vancouver Island snowpack is right where one would expect it to be at this time of year: at 99 per cent of its normal historical level. ItB次元官网网址檚 an early indication that the Island may not be facing the same extreme conditions experienced last year.

Compared to a Vancouver Island snowpack of just 15 per cent of normal on April 1, 2015, the current measurements are being welcomed as a positive, ending five straight years of decline.

B.C. River Forecast Centre section head David Campbell said weather volatility make long-term predictions impossible, but the Island is at a good starting point heading into summer.

B次元官网网址淚 think it is not as extreme as last year in terms of the snow,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 still been warm, but weB次元官网网址檝e had enough accumulate on the higher elevation.B次元官网网址�

The Wolf River snow pillow B次元官网网址� located in the mountains northwest of Courtenay, and one of nine snowpack monitors on the Island B次元官网网址� is reporting levels at 112 per cent of the expected normal.

For communities further south, a snowpack measuring at 78 per cent of normal is being reported from the Jump Creek snow pillow north of Cowichan Lake.

Snow levels matter more the further north you are because of the higher mountains in Strathcona Park. Further south, water supplies are more influenced by rainfall. Victoria is barely affected by snowfall at all.

Warmer conditions, but more rain led to generally higher snowpack across the island, Campbell said. The transition from snow accumulation season to melt season is already underway, about three weeks earlier than normal. River levels are expected to rise noticeably in the coming weeks.

Last year, the Island experienced what Environment Canada called an B次元官网网址渆xceptionalB次元官网网址� drought when lack of snow combined with high temperatures and drastically reduced rainfall to create a summer of extreme fire warnings and severe water restrictions for most communities.

One of the hardest-hit Island areas last year was the heritage Cowichan River, where flows were reduced to a trickle.

David Thompson, a retired hydrology technician and conservation volunteer from Shawnigan Lake made a rugged April 1 day trip to Heather Mountain, a remote recording area high in the mountains northwest of Cowichan Lake.

He trudged on snowshoes up beyond the 900-metre level to find drifts 2.25 metres deep and snow with excellent water density. After a similar trek last year found a lot of bare ground, heB次元官网网址檚 feeling much better about the coming summer.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 nothing you can be sure of, but itB次元官网网址檚 going to be much better than last year,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚f it comes off gradually, it will maintain lake levels. Soil moisture levels are good. WeB次元官网网址檝e had a lot of rain.B次元官网网址�

In the Comox Valley, last year's river flows B次元官网网址� controlled by BC Hydro B次元官网网址� were reduced to the lowest levels in 50 years.

Comox Valley Regional District general manager of engineering services Mark Rutten said last May, June and July had the region considering implementing extreme B次元官网网址渟tage fourB次元官网网址� water restrictions for the first time ever. Rain in August and September eliminated the need, but it served as a reminder: conditions today donB次元官网网址檛 necessarily equate to conditions tomorrow.

B次元官网网址淲hat is interesting in this area that is very easy to overlook is that in the summer itB次元官网网址檚 like a desert. We can go three months with what seems like no rain. Only so much water is stored water.B次元官网网址�

Rutten said that while the snowpack already could mean enough water to last until July, residents in most jurisdictions should expect restrictions at some point, regardless. In addition to human consumption, conservation considerations must also take into account the ecology in addition to things like power generation and industrial consumption.

B次元官网网址淵ou know whatB次元官网网址檚 coming. You might as well prepare.B次元官网网址�