Special Bulletin

Voluntary Water Use Reductions Requested in the Salmon River and Bessette Creek Watersheds

This special bulletin provides an update on water use reductions requested in the Salmon River and Bessette Creek watersheds only.

Overview

The Province is asking all licensed water users in the Salmon River and Bessette Creek watersheds to conserve water and voluntarily reduce water wherever possible. Streamflows are at record low flows and have already reached levels that threaten fish survival and can cause irreversible harm to aquatic ecosystem health. In response, the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship (WLRS) is sending letters to all licensed water users requesting water conservation efforts and voluntary water use reductions in hopes of improving stream conditions. Regulatory tools such as Water Sustainability Act Temporary Protection Orders will be considered as a last resort to protect fish and aquatic ecosystems if streamflows continue to fall. 

Water conservation by individuals and communities can have a considerable positive impact on streamflows and can play a pivotal role in delaying or even preventing the need for further regulatory action.

What are the current conditions in the Salmon River and Bessette Creek watersheds?

• Provincial drought levels cover broad areas and may not reflect local watershed conditions.

• Streamflows in both watersheds are currently at the lowest levels on record for this time of year and are approaching levels that are likely to negatively affect fish (e.g., reduced growth, delayed migration) and the proper functioning of aquatic ecosystems with the potential for significant or irreversible harm.

The Salmon River hydrograph (above, top) shows a rapid decrease in streamflow since the end of May (black line; in cubic meters per second or m3/s). Flows in Bessette Creek (above, bottom) did show some recovery after recent rainfall but have again dipped below the previously recorded low flows. The trends show that without significant rainfall or a reduction in water use, both the Salmon River and Bessette Creek watersheds will not recover in time to prevent irreversible harm to aquatic ecosystems.

For more information on drought and water scarcity levels and monitoring data please visit the “Thompson-Okanagan” tab in the BC Drought Information Portal. You can access monitoring data along with the most recent “groundwater level conditions report” and the “streamflow report” for the Thompson-Okanagan region.

To get to the Thompson-Okanagan information tab, go to: BC Drought Information Portal > click on “Access Monitoring and Maps” > click on “Thompson-Okanagan” map in the left-hand sidebar.

What actions are being taken by the Province in the Salmon River and Bessette Creek watersheds?

• WLRS is mailing letters to licensed water users in both watersheds requesting immediate water conservation and voluntary reductions in water use wherever operationally possible.
   
• Water conservation and voluntary use reductions by all users in sensitive watersheds can have a considerable positive impact on streamflows.
   
• If voluntary conservation does not stabilize conditions and streamflows continue to decline, the Province may consider Temporary Protection Orders (TPOs) under the Water Sustainability Act as a last resort to protect fish populations or aquatic ecosystems.
   
• See the Water Use During Scarcity webpage for more information about regulatory tools that the Province may use to address water scarcity impacts.
• More information on understanding drought and water scarcity can be found here: Drought Information.

More about water conservation and voluntary water use reductions

• Conserving water by reducing your water use is voluntary and is not legally required but can have a positive impact on streamflows. 

• Water users may receive multiple requests with increasing urgency to voluntarily reduce water use as drought and water scarcity conditions worsen.  

• Letters requesting water conservation through voluntary reductions in water use do not target individual water users but have been sent to all licensed water users in the Salmon River and Bessette Creek watersheds including agricultural users, industrial users and water purveyors.

What can agricultural water users do in response to the current drought conditions?

• Use efficient irrigation techniques to reduce water demand and regularly maintain and repair irrigation systems to ensure they are operating efficiently (e.g., check for leaks, inspect nozzles regularly, and apply water wisely).

• Monitor crop and soil conditions, prioritize irrigating crops at critical growth stages, reduce irrigated acreage where possible, and coordinate with other irrigators to stagger watering schedules and ease pressure on local water sources. For example, some users in the watershed are using soil moisture meters to optimize water application based on crop need. These efforts can help delay the need for further management action.

• Coordinate with neighbouring irrigators or water suppliers to stagger pumping and diversion times where this can reduce peak pressure on the local water source.

• If you hold a storage licence, rely on stored water rather than diverting directly from streams and wells.

• Look for and attend provincial events that provide information on current drought conditions. Find upcoming events, including townhalls, workshops and field days at the AgriService BC Events page.

Will agricultural producers lose their Farm Class status for not meeting the income threshold due to water restrictions?

• A single year of reduced farm income caused by drought or other extraordinary events does not necessarily mean a property will lose Farm Class. Farmers are required to generate a minimum amount of income from their farm operation in at least one of two reporting periods and to make a sale of some qualifying agricultural product in every reporting period. So, in circumstances where a producer is unable to meet their threshold this year due to the exceptional water restrictions, they would need to meet the threshold next year.
   
• BC Assessment's primary consideration is that the land continues to be used for agricultural purposes even if the income threshold for Farm Class status cannot be met. 
• The Classification of Land as a Farm Regulation includes an Exceptional Circumstances provision that allows sales or production requirements to be waived when events, including natural disasters, beyond a farm operator's control make compliance impracticable.

Who do I contact if I have questions?

• Access drought resilience resources, tools and support for farmers and producers at the Drought in Agriculture webpage (gov.bc.ca/AgDrought).

• Please contact AgriService BC at AgriServiceBC@gov.bc.ca or 1-888-221-7141 for questions about supports for agriculture.

• For information on water licensing and rights, water concerns in your area, or provincial drought response measures (e.g., letters requesting voluntary water use reductions and water-related orders), please contact DroughtOps@gov.bc.ca.

• For information on Farm Class status, please visit BC Assessment (bcassessment.ca) or contact their office in your region (info.bcassessment.ca/contact-us).

 AgriserviceBC Website