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Concerns have been growing across BC as the snowpack measurements are lower than normal posing the risk of drought and wildfires this summer.

The snowpack level in the Okanagan, as of March 15, is at 78%. In the South Thompson region, much better news with a snowpack at 91% of normal.

According to the executive director of the Okanagan Basin Water Board a low snowpack in the valley isn’t unusual for this time of year.

“In fact, in the big flood year of 2017, it was at 80%,” Anna Warwick Sears told iNFOnews.ca. “The peak snowpack is usually right at the end of April. So there's still a month and a half left to accumulate snow.”

READ MORE: Recent B.C. weather contributes to rising snowpack, but summer drought risk remains

Levels across all of the Okanagan’s snow measurement stations are low, especially the Brenda Mines station near West Kelowna and Peachland, which is experiencing one of its lowest snowpacks in 32 years.

After the record-breaking wildfires last year, much of the soil in and around the Okanagan was particularly dry at the beginning of winter.

“What that means is when the snow melts, the soils will absorb a lot more water and less will run off to fill the streams,” Sears said.

Because of this the province is letting out as little water as possible from the Penticton dam to maintain the Okanagan Lake’s water level.

READ MORE: Active spring wildfire season may be in store for B.C. as drought persists

“The lake is being managed, which is good. But there are a lot of water suppliers who depend directly on the snowpack and drawing water from reservoirs in the upper watershed. So water suppliers need to look at whether or not their reservoirs are getting filled.”

It could be difficult for water suppliers to meet the demands of their domestic and agricultural customers and at the same time maintain enough water in the streams for fish and other aquatic life.

The unseasonably warm weather this month could also add to the problem.

If the soil begins to dry up prematurely farmers may start irrigating their crops earlier. This increased demand for irrigation could lead to a significant water shortage.

“It really depends from location to location how big a water supplier's reservoir is,” Sears said. “Summerland last year didn't have any problem at all with the drought because they have an enormous reservoir in the upper watershed. Other water suppliers might have had more challenges.”

READ MORE: 'The lost season': Winter comes to a close as Canada's warmest on record

To mitigate the risk of a drought the water board runs various outreach programs, like the Make Water Work campaign, which encourages residents to reduce their water usage for things like gardening.

The board also works with large water suppliers to help them improve their drought plans.

Sears stresses the importance of residents conserving their water and FireSmarting their homes and properties, especially in the face of what could be a very dry, hot summer.

“I mean, last year was just so awful and we really don't want to be in that situation again.”

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