B.C. government announces Level 3 drought rating for four regions

British Columbia’s Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations is urging water users in the Lower Columbia, West Kootenay, East Kootenay and Middle Fraser regions (the latter of which includes Cariboo and Chilcotin) to reduce water consumption as the provincial government announces a Level 3 drought rating for the areas.

Level 3 drought conditions call for voluntary water-use reductions of an additional 20% beyond Level 2 conservation levels (30% overall) from all municipal, agricultural and industrial users, the ministry explained in a press release on Friday. Staff with the ministry anticipate that this region “could experience significant water supply shortages in 2015.”

Ministry staff are closely monitoring river levels and ecosystems, and may upgrade the drought level if the weather continues to have a negative effect on stream flows and water supply.

Although residential, agricultural and industrial users within municipalities and regional districts backed by reservoir storage are less vulnerable to water supply shortages than water users served by smaller water systems from streams, lakes and wells, all water users are encouraged to observe local water conservation bylaws to prolong water supplies, the release said. [click image below to enlarge]

Level 4 drought conditions, the highest rating, are determined by factors including regional stream flows, water storage capacity, ecological concerns, weather forecasts and impacts on water users. Should conditions reach Level 4, provincial water managers may exercise their authority to temporarily suspend short-term water permits or industrial water licences in affected watersheds.

Late last month, the B.C. government announced a Level 4 drought rating for the South Thompson, Similkameen, Kettle and Skagit areas due to ongoing low stream flows. In mid-July, the government issued the same drought rating for the province’s South Coast and Lower Fraser areas.