OKANAGAN MOVES TO DROUGHT LEVEL 2 AS HOT, DRY SUMMER CONTINUES
The B.C. Government has elevated the Okanagan to a Level 2 drought rating as a precautionary measure.
While Okanagan water purveyors are generally experiencing average supply conditions, regional drought conditions have escalated after weeks of hot, dry conditions. Kokanee and other fish species need sufficient flows in the fall to successfully spawn and fisheries scientists are becoming concerned about flows in several Okanagan streams, especially if the current weather patterns continue. The Province is sending letters to water users on those streams.
Given that water demand has also increased in many communities in August, we ask that water purveyors take a close look at current reservoir levels and downstream flows and consider ramping up communications with customers, increasing watering restrictions, or implementing other conservation measures as needed. Once again, the province is also asking licensees with upstream storage to closely follow their release schedule requirements to avoid low flows downstream and potential impacts to fish.