Rivers run low
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Updated: August 05, 2009 4:23 PM
Rivers across much of southern B.C. are running very low as a result of prolonged hot, dry weather and lower than normal snowfall over the winter.
B.C.’s environment ministry is warning the conditions may be deadly for fish and may cause low lake, reservoir and groundwater levels.
The peak winter snow accumulation was just two-thirds to three-quarters of normal in most of the south coast and southern Interior.
Rainfall has been 40 to 60 per cent of normal in April through June and July has so far been much drier than usual as well.
As a result, river and stream water levels are receding faster than usual.
Areas of concern:
n The Nicomekl River in Surrey and Langley is below its record low flow for July, and the Stave and Clowhom rivers are close to their record lows for this date.
n Other South Coast rivers including the Coquitlam River above Coquitlam, Chilliwack River, Squamish River and Coquitlam River are at 10- to 20-year low flow levels.
n The Nicola and Coldwater rivers are at or below record low flow levels for this date and other rivers in the south Thompson basin are at their lowest levels in 10-20 years.
n The Tulameen and Similkameen rivers at Princeton are at 20- to 30-year lows.
Low river levels can be a serious concern for returning runs of salmon, which may have greater difficulty migrating upstream and may also face dangerously warm water temperatures as a result.
Only major rainfall would improve river and stream flows, but it’s not in the forecast so far.
Continued dry and hot weather is expected for the next seven days, pushing river levels down further until the end of July.
“Many rivers in the South Interior and South Coast may approach or exceed absolute lows of record in four to six weeks,” the ministry advisory says.
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