Farmers and other water users are encouraged to sign up for workshops across B.C. to prepare for a potential drought this year.
The workshops organized by the provincial government are held in 30 communities across B.C., mainly in all regions of the Interior and Vancouver Island with some in the Lower Mainland.
The first workshop happened on Feb. 2 in Duncan as part of the Island Agriculture Show with workshops depending on location running through February and March into early April.
Government is billing the workshops as part of efforts to help farmers prepare for drought and understand water management decisions. This comes against the backdrop of figures from the River Forecast Centre that show snowpack levels well below seasonal norms following B.C.’s worst drought in memory and unseasonably warm January temperatures.
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Workshops fall into two categories: those that help producers manage water during times of scarcity; and thost detailing available financial supports.
The province, the federal government, regional districts, municipalities and First Nations share responsibility in responding to drought. Last year, the provincial government initiated its drought and water scarcity response plan in April 2023, setting the stage for the local plans.
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Measures to conserve water vary. They include the issuance of so-called temporary protection orders under the Water Sustainability Act in watersheds where fish populations or aquatic ecosystems are at risk.
Last year, the provincial government issued four TPOs, including the lower Salmon River east of Westwold and the Bessette Creek watershed northeast of Lumby on Aug. 15 where drought put trout and salmon stocks at risk. Both the lower Salmon River and Bessette Creek feed into Shuswap Lake near Salmon Arm.
Government also issued TPOs for the Tsolum River and its tributaries and Koksilah River and its tributaries on Vancouver Island. On Aug. 17, 28 out of 34 basins in B.C. were at the worst or second-worst drought rating.
Local reactions to the TPOs were less than understanding, especially in Westwold, a farming community between Kamloops and Vernon. Forage crop farmers in Westwold were unable to irrigate until at least Sept. 30, prompting heated, anti-government reactions at a community meeting on Sept. 2.
The coming workshops can be read as an attempt to prevent such reactions by explaining its process and also draw attention to available resources in the case of drought.
—with files from Brendan Shykora