(Vancouver) With thousands of dead fish, an extended wildfire season and water shortages, there are signs that parts of British Columbia are in the grip of record drought.
Posted at 7:32 p.m.
The Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast and Western Vancouver Island regions are experiencing Level 5 drought conditions, the most severe on the province’s classification scale. On its website, British Columbia indicates that at this level, adverse effects are “almost certain”.
According to University of British Columbia Forest Science Department Professor John Richardson, current conditions in some areas are unusual.
“It’s been going on for quite a long time. It’s the hottest and driest September we’ve ever had,” he said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
Although Environment Canada is forecasting the possibility of rain in parts of the province on Monday, BC River Forecast Center chief David Campbell warned that the dry weather could continue for at least another week, “even several weeks” .
Already impacts
Drought conditions have already led to significant negative effects, according to experts in the field.
Thousands of wild salmon were found dead last week in Neekas Creek, which runs through Heiltsuk Territory in the central coastal region of the province.
Conservation Manager for Heiltsuk’s Integrated Resource Management Department, William Housty, had seen droughts cause fish deaths before, “but never to this level.”
“We think the mortality rate could reach 100% for the salmon that were in the creek. It’s just unheard of at this time of year that we don’t have rain,” he said.
High tides and heavy rains earlier in the season allowed salmon to enter the river, Housty said, but subsequent weeks of drought dried up streams and prevented fish from fleeing.
Oxygen levels also dropped, water temperature increased, which inevitably increased the mortality rate.
Meanwhile, the Sunshine Coast Regional District has delayed the opening of a local ice rink after the government put in place restrictions on water use, fearing there might not be enough for homes, fire protection and Sechelt Hospital.
The BC Wildfire Service also released a statement ahead of the Thanksgiving long weekend urging people to exercise caution and stay alert to prevent fires. The government has banned open fires in much of the province.
“Prolonged hot and dry weather will extend BC’s wildfire season well into the fall,” the statement read.
On Sunday, more than 185 wildfires were still burning in the province.
Flood risks
The drought is certainly not ideal, but the return of the rain could also have consequences.
Mr Richardson warned that even when the rain returns, dry conditions could create greater flood risks.
“The soils have dried up, so they are becoming hydrophobic. When they find moisture, it takes a while for the water to soak in naturally, he explained.
“Initially, it is very resistant and the water runs off the surface, which leads to a lot of erosion. »
However, flooding is a worst-case scenario that would also require heavy rainfall in a short period of time, Mr Richardson qualified.
“Ideally there will be drizzle or light rain so that the soils have time to rehydrate gradually,” he added.