B.C. Drought

The snow pack is significantly lower than normal throughout British Columbia, with the exception of the Stikine in northwestern B.C. (BC River Forecast Centre map)

B.C.’s snowpack well below normal levels

Levels have been low provincewide throughout the winter

 

An out-of-control wildfire in northeastern British Columbia has triggered the province’s first evacuation of this year’s fire season. A wildfire burns in the Peace River Regional District of British Columbia in a May 5, 2023, handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-BC Wildfire Service

Chetwynd evacuation order lifted even as ‘extreme drought’ feeds wildfire risk

Order affecting 67 homes downgraded Thursday, residents to remain ready to leave on short notice

 

A map of B.C. shows what per cent of normal each region’s snowpack is at, as of April 1, 2024. On average throughout the province, the snowpack is at 63 per cent of normal, the lowest level on record since at least 1970. (B.C. River Forecast Centre)

B.C.’s snowpack lowest it’s been since 1970, raising risk of drought

River Forecast Centre says levels point to dry spring and summer, but too soon to say for certain

 

Water flies from a sprinkler on a lawn in Sacramento, Calif., on July 8, 2021. In B.C., Metro Vancouver residents will be limited to watering their lawns once a week, beginning on May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

Lawn watering restrictions to begin May 1 for Metro Vancouver residents

Municipal body says limiting water use now could save region from outright ban come summer

Water flies from a sprinkler on a lawn in Sacramento, Calif., on July 8, 2021. In B.C., Metro Vancouver residents will be limited to watering their lawns once a week, beginning on May 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)
Emergency Minister Bowinn Ma warns of “tough” wildfire season ahead during an update on seasonal preparedness in Vancouver. Forests Minister Bruce Ralston and Water Minister Nathan Cullen are currently updating the public on the upcoming wildfire season. (Screencap)

B.C. residents asked to prepare for a “challenging” wildfire season

Emergency Minister Bowinn Ma issued the warning Monday afternoon during an update

Emergency Minister Bowinn Ma warns of “tough” wildfire season ahead during an update on seasonal preparedness in Vancouver. Forests Minister Bruce Ralston and Water Minister Nathan Cullen are currently updating the public on the upcoming wildfire season. (Screencap)
The province temporarily restricting water use for industry and forage crops in the Koksilah River watershed last summer due to drought continues. (Citizen file photo)

B.C. preparing farmers for coming summer’s potential drought

Workshops detailing tactics and supports taking place in 30 communities through February and March

The province temporarily restricting water use for industry and forage crops in the Koksilah River watershed last summer due to drought continues. (Citizen file photo)
This partial map of B.C. shows the snow pack for provincial water basis. The redder the region, the lower the snow pack as of Jan. 1. (Screencap)

B.C.’s snow-pack 44% below normal on heels of worst drought in recent memory

Low snow pack level could ‘significantly affect ongoing drought concerns’ in summer 2024

This partial map of B.C. shows the snow pack for provincial water basis. The redder the region, the lower the snow pack as of Jan. 1. (Screencap)
A view of a wetland restoration project in the Yaqan Nukiy, also known as the Lower Kootenay Band First Nation, is seen near Creston, B.C., in an undated handout photo. The project involves the restoration of nearly 520 hectares of wetlands that were disconnected from the surrounding river system in the 1960s by a series of ditches, dikes, pumps and drains. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Norm Allard

B.C. looks to rebuild flood/drought resilience through reconnections

Old patterns of flood plain recharge helps land cope with wetter wets and drier dries

A view of a wetland restoration project in the Yaqan Nukiy, also known as the Lower Kootenay Band First Nation, is seen near Creston, B.C., in an undated handout photo. The project involves the restoration of nearly 520 hectares of wetlands that were disconnected from the surrounding river system in the 1960s by a series of ditches, dikes, pumps and drains. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Norm Allard
The Hugh Keenleyside Dam that created Arrow Lakes Reservoir near Castlegar, B.C., is shown in this undated handout photo. The dam was created as a result of the Canada-U. S. Columbia River Treaty. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, U.S. army corps of engineers northwestern division

Slow the flow: Shrinking water levels reveal holes in Columbia River Treaty

As efforts continue to redraw Canada/US agreement, concerns mount about climate change and drought

The Hugh Keenleyside Dam that created Arrow Lakes Reservoir near Castlegar, B.C., is shown in this undated handout photo. The dam was created as a result of the Canada-U. S. Columbia River Treaty. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO, U.S. army corps of engineers northwestern division
Trees burned by the Bush Creek East Wildfire are seen above Little Shuswap Lake in Squilax, B.C., Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Experts say the province is yet to escape the repercussions of an exceptional year of hot, dry weather. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

‘Everywhere at once’: Parched B.C. still feeling effects of landmark drought

Despite recent rain, 15 of B.C.’s 34 water basins still at Level 4 or 5 stage drought

Trees burned by the Bush Creek East Wildfire are seen above Little Shuswap Lake in Squilax, B.C., Monday, Sept. 11, 2023. Experts say the province is yet to escape the repercussions of an exceptional year of hot, dry weather. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Forests Minister Bruce Ralston speaks in Vancouver on Jan. 22, 2020. Ralston addressed some of the concerns in Westwold around a fish protection order during the province’s update on the wildfire and drought situation Sept. 13, 2023 THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. forests minister asks for people to comply with fish protection orders

Ralston says salmon run would be wiped out without protection order in Westwold

Forests Minister Bruce Ralston speaks in Vancouver on Jan. 22, 2020. Ralston addressed some of the concerns in Westwold around a fish protection order during the province’s update on the wildfire and drought situation Sept. 13, 2023 THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
British Columbia’s prolonged provincewide drought risks damaging the salmon population for generations and has led to a series of emergency, rapidly-deployed projects to try to intervene. Spawning salmon, are seen making their way up the Adams River in Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park near Chase, B.C., Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward

B.C. salmon swimming through summer sauna get emergency intervention

Pacific Salmon Foundation working hard to get through this year’s far-reaching crisis

British Columbia’s prolonged provincewide drought risks damaging the salmon population for generations and has led to a series of emergency, rapidly-deployed projects to try to intervene. Spawning salmon, are seen making their way up the Adams River in Roderick Haig-Brown Provincial Park near Chase, B.C., Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2014. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jonathan Hayward
The Bush Creek East wildfire in the Shuswap has burned an estimated 43,084 hectares as of Aug. 31, 2023. Because of severe drought conditions, if regions get too much rain too quickly this fall it could lead to flooding, but if there’s not enough rain the drought season could continue into 2024. (BC Wildfire Service)

Drought conditions in B.C. a ‘sleeping giant of a natural disaster’

But too much rain too quickly could lead to similar issues following the 2021 atmospheric rivers

The Bush Creek East wildfire in the Shuswap has burned an estimated 43,084 hectares as of Aug. 31, 2023. Because of severe drought conditions, if regions get too much rain too quickly this fall it could lead to flooding, but if there’s not enough rain the drought season could continue into 2024. (BC Wildfire Service)
Kookipi Creek wildfire, near Boston Bar, Boothroyd and Nahatlach Lake. Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma and Forests Minister Bruce Ralston provided the latest update on the wildfire and drought siuation in the province Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. (BC Wildfire Service/Facebook)

Disaster relief available for communities impacted by 2023 B.C. wildfires

It comes as more than 2.2 million hectares have burned in the province since April 1

Kookipi Creek wildfire, near Boston Bar, Boothroyd and Nahatlach Lake. Emergency Management Minister Bowinn Ma and Forests Minister Bruce Ralston provided the latest update on the wildfire and drought siuation in the province Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. (BC Wildfire Service/Facebook)
Buttle Lake, high in Vancouver Island’s Strathcona Park, offers the type of snowpack-fed water supply unavailable in other areas, like Quadra Island some 50 kilometres away. (John McKinley file)

Rural B.C. residents work to protect water in face of growing drought

Quadra Island water security team works to get a handle on supply as supply grows more scarce

  • Sep 5, 2023
Buttle Lake, high in Vancouver Island’s Strathcona Park, offers the type of snowpack-fed water supply unavailable in other areas, like Quadra Island some 50 kilometres away. (John McKinley file)
Hot spots from the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire burn in Scotch Creek, B.C., on Sunday, August 20, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C. extends state of emergency by 2 weeks to due wildfires, drought

27 of 34 water basins are at the highest drought levels

Hot spots from the Lower East Adams Lake wildfire burn in Scotch Creek, B.C., on Sunday, August 20, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Tyler Basham paints the grass outside a house in Maple Ridge, B.C. on Thursday, August 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

Paint it green: B.C. firm offering lawns Mother Nature won’t allow

Tinted Turf Grass Solutions spray-painting away the browns of our ongoing drought

Tyler Basham paints the grass outside a house in Maple Ridge, B.C. on Thursday, August 17, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Creeks and rivers are running dry, prompting a Level 5 Drought rating for the Okanagan. (Okanagan WaterWise photo)

Okanagan drought rating heats up to highest, level 5

Fish-bearing streams at historical lows, several completely dry

Creeks and rivers are running dry, prompting a Level 5 Drought rating for the Okanagan. (Okanagan WaterWise photo)
The Eagle Bluff wildfire is seen burning from Anarchist Mountain, outside of Osoyoos, B.C., in a Saturday, July 29, 2023, handout photo. All evacuation orders have now been lifted around the southern British Columbia community that saw a wildfire burn to its doorstep late last month as flames swept north across the border from Washington state.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Melissa Genberg, *MANDATORY CREDIT*

B.C. gearing up for heat wave as majority of province remains in a drought

80% of B.C.’s water basins at severe drought levels

The Eagle Bluff wildfire is seen burning from Anarchist Mountain, outside of Osoyoos, B.C., in a Saturday, July 29, 2023, handout photo. All evacuation orders have now been lifted around the southern British Columbia community that saw a wildfire burn to its doorstep late last month as flames swept north across the border from Washington state.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Melissa Genberg, *MANDATORY CREDIT*
The red areas on the map from Aug. 3 show Drought Level 4 conditions, while the dark red areas show Drought Level 5. (Government of BC)

Drought conditions intensify in British Columbia

Much of B.C. at most severe drought conditions

The red areas on the map from Aug. 3 show Drought Level 4 conditions, while the dark red areas show Drought Level 5. (Government of BC)