The OBWB commissioned a technical team to develop guidelines for drought stage triggers on the mainstem system. The guidelines are based on lake levels, and consider Okanagan Lake dam operations. They fill an immediate gap.
The triggers can be readily incorporated into drought plans so that mainstem purveyors will have a consistent, rational process for drought response – similar to the water use plans and reservoir management plans in place for purveyors with reservoir storage.
Ideally, using these guidelines, water managers with mainstem intakes would move through water restriction stages in a coordinated way.
UPDATED June 22, 2021
Download the Drought Trigger Guidelines Report (PDF)