The B.C. government has published its latest Drought and Water Scarcity Bulletin, with data current to Sept. 17.
The report says conditions on Vancouver Island are unchanged from last week, with east Vancouver Island at Level 1 and west Vancouver Island at Level 0 on the drought scale. Level 5 is the most severe.
Conditions on the Sunshine Coast have worsened slightly, with the region moving to Level 1 from Level 0.
The report says conditions are deteriorating for many streams in the South Coast region, which includes Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.
It says below-normal flows are posing a high risk to fish health and that streamflows across eastern and western Vancouver Island are rapidly declining.
Irrigation scheduling is continuing in the Koksilah River watershed in the Cowichan Valley to help maintain flows and support fish health.
Provincewide, forecasters say weather systems over the weekend are expected to bring precipitation to parts of the north and central coast, while much of the Interior is likely to remain drier.
“While streamflows in many areas that have received recent rainfall are near normal for this time of year, declining water levels highlight the need for continued rainfall to prevent drought conditions from worsening,” the report said.
The report says above-normal temperatures could slow improvements in areas affected by drought.
Click here to view the latest report.
– Article includes link to B.C. government’s Drought and Water Scarcity Bulletin, Sept. 17
