The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has implemented strict water licence restrictions within the Chimney Creek watershed due to low winter snowpacks and potential drought conditions.

Unless there is significant rainfall for the remainder of May, there will not be enough water to supply licensed demand. As a result, the ministry has invoked priority rights under the Water Act to control the amount of water used within the Chimney Creek watershed, which includes Chimney Lake, Felker Lake and Brunson Lake.

Water rights for licences issued after Oct. 6, 1976 are temporarily suspended for the remainder of the irrigation season (until Sept. 30, 2011), or until the order is rescinded. This order applies to domestic water use, as well as irrigation. It does not apply to groundwater withdrawals from wells.

Under the Water Act, water licences are regulated by the licence priority date, meaning older licences have priority over newer ones. The priority date of a licence usually reflects the date the application for water rights was received.

Residents within the watershed are encouraged to take voluntary conservation measures to help ease pressures on the water supply. Priority rights were also invoked within the Chimney Creek watershed last year, although conditions are not as extreme this spring.

For more information on what the public can do during drought conditions, go to: http://www.livingwatersmart.ca/drought/action.html

For details on what farmers and producers can do to manage their crops and livestock before and during a drought, visit: www.waterbucket.ca

Contact:

Cheekwan Ho

Government Communications and Public Engagement

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

250 356-5261

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect