With weather conditions expected to remain hot and dry in the coming weeks, water users in the Peace Region are being urged to reduce water consumption.

The region is currently experiencing Level 3 drought conditions, which call for voluntary reductions of 20% or more from municipal, agricultural and industrial users.

Staff with the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations are closely monitoring river levels in the region and may upgrade the drought advisory if the weather continues to have a negative effect on river levels.

Level 4 drought conditions, the highest rating, are determined by factors including stream flows, water storage capacity, ecology concerns and weather forecasts. The likelihood of a Level 4 drought advisory increases when stream flows drop below 20% of the annual average.

Should conditions reach Level 4, provincial water managers may exercise their authority to temporarily suspend short-term water permits or water licences in affected rivers and tributary streams.

As of July 30, only one of 12 Peace Region rivers with Water Survey of Canada monitoring stations - the Blueberry River - showed water levels below 20%.

There are two agencies in B.C. that issue short-term water permits - the Oil and Gas Commission (OGC) and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations. On July 28, the OGC suspended all short-term water permits in the Blueberry River, Cameron River, Farrell Creek, Cache Creek and Lynx Creek watersheds. There are no ministry-issued short-term water permits in those watersheds.

The Moberly River and the Beatton River, both near Fort St. John, are also being closely monitored. The Kiskatinaw River, which supplies domestic water to the City of Dawson Creek, is flowing around 39% of average and no mandatory restrictions are anticipated at this time.

Despite brief periods of rain in some areas last week, precipitation levels in the Fort St. John area have been less than one-half of normal over the past three months, according to data from Environment Canada.

Further reductions in stream and lake levels could lead to water shortages and affect people, agriculture, industry and fish stocks. The River Forecast Centre will continue to monitor conditions and provide updates as the need arises.

Water conservation tips:

At home:

• Limit outdoor watering.
• Don’t water during the heat of the day or when it’s windy.
• Consider planting drought-tolerant vegetation.
• Take shorter showers.
• Don’t leave the tap running.
• Install water-efficient showerheads and toilets.

On the farm:

• Implement an irrigation scheduling program using real-time weather data.
• Schedule irrigation to match crop needs and soil storage capacity.
• Improve water system efficiencies and check for leaks.

Industry:

• Reduce non-essential water usage.
• Recycle water used in industrial operations.
• Utilize water-efficient methods and equipment.

Learn More:

Stream flow and precipitation conditions in the province are provided on the River Forecast Centre’s website: www.env.gov.bc.ca/rfc/

Province of British Columbia Agriculture Drought Strategies: http://www.agf.gov.bc.ca/emergency/Drought/Drought.htm

Environment Canada Water Conservation: http://www.ec.gc.ca/water/en/manage/effic/e_weff.htm

Media Contacts:

Greig Bethel
Public Affairs Officer
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
250 356-5261