McIntrye (Vaseux) Creek – picture at Deer Park – wild creek in the spring damaged land and roadway.

While Okanagan water purveyors are generally experiencing average supply conditions, regional drought conditions have escalated after weeks of hot, dry conditions. Kokanee and other fish species need sufficient flows in the fall to successfully spawn and fisheries scientists are becoming concerned about flows in several Okanagan streams, especially if the current weather patterns continue. The Province is sending letters to water users on those streams.

Given that water demand has also increased in many communities in August, we ask that water purveyors take a close look at current reservoir levels and downstream flows and consider ramping up communications with customers, increasing watering restrictions, or implementing other conservation measures as needed. Once again, the province is also asking licensees with upstream storage to closely follow their release schedule requirements to avoid low flows downstream and potential impacts to fish.

It has been an extremely hot and dry summer throughout B.C., and most of the province is in Level 3 or 4 drought. We had record snow packs in the Okanagan that filled our reservoirs in the spring, which is why most of our streams are faring okay. But a few important fish bearing streams in the valley are experiencing low flows, including Shuttleworth and Vaseux creeks in the South Okanagan. The Province sent letters to licensees on these creeks asking them to voluntarily reduce water use by 30%. Provincial water managers and the Okanagan Nation Alliance continue to monitor stream flows throughout the Okanagan, and it is possible we will be elevated to a Level 3 drought rating before the summer is over.

Source: Okanagan Basin Water Board

Below Shuttleworth Creek in Okanagan Falls – of concern to local indigenous peoples monitoring spawning creeks.