Date: XXX
To: South Thompson Watershed Water Licence Holders
Re: Low Water Advisory and Water Conservation Request
Responding to the continued dry conditions, the Province of BC is announcing a Level 4 drought for the
South Thompson watershed based on declining steam flows. Aligning with the Provincial Drought
Response Plan, the target under Drought Level 4 conditions is defined as increased voluntary
conservation, potential restrictions and regulatory actions if required. All licensed surface water users
are reminded of the 30% voluntary reduction from the Level 3 Drought sent the week of July 20, 2015
and are advised regulatory actions are being prepared in the event these conditions continue.
The extremely low water levels in the South Thompson watershed are threatening a number of fish
populations. Examples of affected streams include the Salmon River and other Shuswap Lake
tributaries, plus Shuswap River tributaries such as Fortune Creek, Trinity Creek and Bessette Creek. The
most obvious impact is to the adult Chinook salmon returning to these sources between May and
September to spawn in the late summer. Other fish impacted by low summer water levels include
mountain whitefish and rainbow trout, as well as juvenile coho and chinook salmon.
Continued normal water withdrawals from the South Thompson watershed will exacerbate the highly
stressful conditions on these fish populations Thus reducing all water use is important.
Further, curtailing specific types of water use is critical, including licensed surface water withdrawals for
irrigation, processing, mining, and waterworks purposes from streams not supported by licenced
storage. If your water licence is supported by storage, please ensure no additional water is stored
outside the licence terms (usually June 15 or 30) by releasing all inflows along with the licenced
downstream demand. If you have any questions about water licensing in the South Thompson
Watershed, please contact the Okanagan Shuswap Natural Resource District at 250-558-1700. .
Groundwater extraction from aquifers that are hydrologically connected to a stream generally include
wells completed in unconfined sand and gravel aquifers where the intake is not separated from the
surface water body by a confining (eg. clay) layer. Your voluntary compliance in reducing use from these
sources is important for maintaining cool groundwater inputs into streams in the Similkameen
Ministry of Forests, Lands and
Natural Resource Operations
Okanagan Shuswap
Natural Resource District
Address:
2501 14 Ave
Vernon, BC V1T 8Z1
Tel:
(250)558-1700
watershed this summer, and for preventing long-term groundwater level declines in the aquifer. If you
have any questions about your well, local aquifers, or groundwater use in your area, please contact the
Thompson/Okanagan Regional Groundwater Staff at 250- 490-2285 for the Groundwater Protection
Officer or at 250-490-8265 for the Regional Hydrogeologist.
We appreciate your consideration to the ecosystem and understand the hardships that may be
encountered by reducing water use.
Many thanks,
Robert Warner
A/District Manager
Okanagan Shuswap Natural Resource District
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations