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(ADAM PROSKIW / iNFOnews.ca)
June 23, 2023 - 12:11 PM
The first Okanagan Drought Bulletin of the season has already raised the level of drought conditions in the region.
The very dry Level 2 conditions are expected to persist unless there’s prolonged rain, according to an Okanagan Basin Water Board media release issued today, June 22.
A series of conditions have led the provincial government to move the Okanagan to the very dry level including the lingering effects of a drought in late 2022, an early freshet, warm and dry spring conditions and declining streamflows.
There has been some reprieve recently thanks to cooler temperatures and localized rain, the bulletin says, but without prolonged rain, drought conditions are expected to continue.
Droughts are measured on a scale of from zero to five with five being the most severe. Some nearby watersheds – the Similkameen Basin and Salmon River Basin – are reported to be at Drought Level 3.
“Okanagan water suppliers are being encouraged to closely monitor supplies and customer demand, and consider ramping up communication with customers in preparation for potentially worsening drought conditions this summer,” the water board release reads.
The first Okanagan Drought Bulletin of 2023 says the snowpack in the Okanagan region is completely melted.
“Streamflows have declined significantly over the last few weeks, with many flows reaching the lower end of the historical range for this time period,” reads the bulletin. “Water temperatures are also increasing, which can be lethal for fish.”
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