Western Premiers met in Vancouver over the past two days to discuss ways to build future prosperity in Canada’s Western provinces and territories.

Western Premiers acknowledged progress, as directed by Canada’s Premiers last year, on creating a national inventory of firefighting resources and ensuring that training is provided to Canadian Armed Forces personnel in wildfire firefighting techniques.

Temporary water use restrictions on the Coldwater River and its tributaries have been rescinded effective noon, Sept. 18, 2015.

Temporary water use restrictions on the Coldwater River and its tributaries have been reinstated effective noon, Sept. 2, 2015, through an order issued by Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson.

Responding to continuing dry conditions, the Government of B.C. has announced a Level 4 drought rating for the North Thompson Region due to ongoing low stream flows.

To assist spawning salmon, the Province has released a pulse of water from storage into the Nicola River.

With weather conditions expected to remain warm and dry, water users in the Lower Columbia, West Kootenay and East Kootenay regions are being urged to reduce water consumption, and the Government of B.C. has announced a Level 3 drought rating for the area.

With weather conditions expected to remain warm and dry, water users in the Middle Fraser region (which includes the Cariboo and Chilcotin) are being urged to reduce water consumption, and the Government of B.C. has announced a Level 3 drought rating for the area.

With weather conditions expected to remain warm and dry, water users in the North Thompson region are being urged to reduce water consumption, and the Government of B.C. has announced a Level 3 drought rating for the area.