Smaller Thompson-Nicola waterways taking the brunt of drought conditions

Toperczer said conservation – of both water resources and the landscapes in which it flows through – is key to ensure the situation improves in the future.

“There’s no single fix, really. It takes everyone and the watershed working together, so First Nations, local government, the province, ranchers and farmers, and conservation groups, too,” said Toperczer.

“A lot of it is about protecting the places that help the land hold onto the water, that includes wetlands, healthy grasslands and plants along the creeks.”

This year’s salmon run has been impacted by low streamflows as well as other climate change-related factors, with an anticipated dominant year of 6-to-7 million fish cut down to an estimate of about 3-million.

“This was supposed to be a big year for the Adams River sockeye, but the Fraser return came in with less than half of what was forecast. The low, warm water from the drought really makes things harder for the fish that came back and for their eggs over the winter,” explained Toperczer.

Drought conditions are also impacting groundwater, with 13 of the 31 observation wells in the Thompson-Okanagan reporting their lowest levels ever recorded for early October. Across the rest of the wells, the TNCC said four are much below normal, two are below normal and 12 are in the normal range.

Cumulative drought conditions could also worsen wildfire conditions in the summer, as the province saw through the summer of 2026.

“Drought and wildfire go hand-in hand. When the ground and plants are dry, fire moves and starts much more quickly and spreads faster. The writing is on the wall – we need to be really diligent and take care, follow water restrictions, work together and collaborate,” said Toperczer.

Toperczer said the public can help by conserving water wherever possible and following water restrictions.

by Elora McCormack

Smaller Thompson-Nicola waterways taking the brunt of drought conditions

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