WATER SUPPLY AND STREAMFLOW CONDITIONS

VICTORIA – Following a winter that produced near or above normal snow packs, and a cool spring that delayed snow melt, the warmer, drier weather of the last few weeks is beginning to result in below normal river levels in some areas, particularly in the southern one-third of the province.

Rainfall during June was variable, ranging from one-third the normal precipitation for Kamloops and Fort St. John, to 60 to 90 per cent of normal for much of the province. Some locations, including Penticton, Fort Nelson and Williams Lake, received near normal rainfall.

Beginning the last week of June, a strong high pressure system over southern B.C. resulted in sustained hot and dry weather. Rainfall in the coastal and interior areas of B.C. has been well below normal in most areas. In most of the southern Interior (Williams Lake, Kamloops, Merritt, Kelowna, Penticton, Grand Forks, Creston and others), the south coast and Vancouver Island, rainfall amounts ranged from negligible to slight for the past three to four weeks. In the northeast Interior, periodic waves of frontal moisture have brought some rainfall.

The sustained warmer than normal temperatures of the past three weeks have accelerated the loss of water from soil, and also from rivers, lakes and other water bodies, through evaporation and transpiration. River levels are variable across the province, but are falling quickly in many areas due to warmer, drier weather. Many rivers are near their median water levels for this date in mid-July, but many others are at low levels seen on average once in five to 10 years.

River levels in the south and central Interior:

· The Granby and Kettle rivers (located in Westbridge, Midway, and Grand Forks) are at five-to-10 year low flows.

· Camp Creek (Summerland), Salmon River (Salmon valley), Nicola River and Coldstream Creek (Merritt) are at five-to-10 year lows.

· The Tulameen and Similkameen rivers (Hedley, Princeton) are well below median water levels for the date, and dropping steadily.

· In the Kootenay, the Salmo River and Redfish Creek are at five-year lows.

· Penfold Creek and the Horsefly River are at five-year lows.

· The Bulkley River (Smithers) is near a five-year low.

River levels on the south coast and Vancouver Island:

· The Cowichan and Englishman rivers are above their median levels for the date (likely due to late-season snow melt from high elevations).

· Tofino Creek (on the west coast Vancouver Island) is at 200 per cent of its median flow for this date.

· The Oyster and Chemainus rivers are at five-to-10 year low flows.

Current weather forecasts indicate continued drier, warmer weather for the south interior for the next five days. River levels in some areas (Okanagan, Kettle, Nicola/Coldwater, Thompson, others) will continue to drop. For Vancouver Island and the south coast, the forecast is dry, with slightly above normal temperatures. Without significant and widespread rain in the next couple of weeks, river levels in many areas could be at critical low-flow levels (25-year return period) by the end of July or early August.

With warmer and drier weather conditions now upon us, Environment Minister Barry Penner urges all British Columbians to help conserve our precious water resources. Last month, the B.C. government released Living Water Smart: A Plan for Water Sustainability. The plan highlights the need for new conservation measures to ensure adequate supplies of fresh water for British Columbia's future. Details can be found at: www.livingwatersmart.ca

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Media contact:	Kate Thompson Manager, Media Relations 250 953-4577

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