Province halts irrigation from Salmon River in response to drought conditions

SALMON ARM, B.C. — The province is enacting restrictions use of the Salmon River for irrigation, saying the river’s dangerously low level is a threat to fish populations.

Effective Tuesday (July 28), 456 licence-holders who have been told to stop irrigating with water from the river that runs from the Falkland area to Salmon Arm.

The Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship says the order is meant to protect endangered Chinook salmon.

“During the past week, flows have been well below the minimum flow threshold required to support fish population survival and continue to pose a significant risk to fish survival,” said the ministry in a news release.