File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By James Peters

Drought Levels

Kamloops-area rivers show slight recovery from extreme drought levels

Oct 5, 2023 | 11:32 AM

KAMLOOPS — For the first time in more than two months, the drought in the Kamloops area has eased back from the most extreme levels.

The B.C. River Forecast Centre (BCRFC) published new figures Thursday (Oct. 5) on the B.C. Drought Information Portal. They show the Lower Thompson (downstream from Kamloops), North Thompson and South Thompson all at Drought Level 4.

Both the North and South Thompson basins were designated Level 5 on August 3 and remained there until this Thursday’s downgrade. The Lower Thompson had been at Level 5 since August 17.

Elsewhere in the Southern Interior, the Nicola, Coldwater, Okanagan and Similkameen systems all returned to Level 4 for the first time since August 17.

BCRFC hydrologist Jonathan Boyd says Level 4 still represents significantly low rivers.

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“There has been some improvement but it’s definitely not the end of the drought at this point in time,” Boyd told CFJC Today.

Local residents may hope the improved conditions lead to relaxed municipal water restrictions, but Boyd says the most significant impact of the low water levels is not on humans, but wildlife. He notes dried-up creeks and warm water can significantly increase mortality rates in spawning salmon.

“[The Adams River is] not necessarily at an all-time low, but it’s in that 1-in-20-year low flow for this time of year — so significantly low,” he said. “Probably the river itself is fine up to a certain point, it’s probably some of the tributaries and smaller creeks (that are concerningly low).”

While weather conditions in the Interior have moderated after a hot, dry summer, there is no precipitation in the short-term forecast.

Even so, Boyd says a few days of rain would not completely reverse the drought conditions and low river levels being experienced in most of the province.

“Most of the drought concerns province-wide are related to, not even just the last year, but about 14 or 15 months,” said Boyd. “It was early July of 2022 when the rain stopped and we went from the really wet, cold spring with no drought concerns to, eventually, major drought issues in September and October last year.”

“It is a big amount of rain that is required and I just don’t see all of the Interior,” he continued. “Areas that are still under significant drought conditions — there are going to be some of those areas that will continue to be in drought as we move into the winter.”

Boyd expects low river levels will persist until at least next year’s spring freshet.