(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
September 02, 2015 - 5:00 PM
MERRITT - A water use restriction aimed at protecting fish populations in the Coldwater River has been reinstated today.
As extreme drought conditions continue throughout the region, temporary water use restrictions for the Coldwater River and its tributaries was reinstated today, Sept. 2.
The order affects 50 water licenses and allows for flexibility for irrigation while flows are high, but limits water use when flows fall below the level needed to protect fish populations such as coho, chinook and steelhead. The restriction will also help improve spawning conditions for the adult fish as well as protect juvenile fish.
The restrictions are in place until Sept. 30. The order allows full-time irrigation while water flows exceed 1,160 litres per second but completely shuts down all irrigation if flows fall below 960 litres per second.
Flows will be measured every Monday and Friday during the order. Flows are currently exceeding 1,160 litres per second.
A previous order was in place during the first half of August.
All fishing has been suspended on the Nicola, Coldwater and Spius rivers as of July 22.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Jennifer Stahn at jstahn@infonews.ca or call 250-819-3723. To contact an editor, email mjones@infonews.ca or call 250-718-2724.
News from © iNFOnews, 2015