Northeast BC faced severe to exceptional drought conditions in October, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.
While most of the region saw average rainfall that month, it wasn’t enough to make up for years of below-normal precipitation.
Low soil moisture and stream flows have plagued parts of the area for years.
The BC Drought Information Portal reported drought levels hitting four out of five in parts of the Peace Region in October—matching the worst conditions in the province, even as other regions improved.
Early in the month, Dawson Creek introduced water restrictions due to its strained water source, the Kiskatinaw River. By November 14, the city had renewed its State of Local Emergency for the second time, aiming to secure a temporary fix.
Plans are underway to get permits to pump water from the Peace River into the reservoir, and Stage 3 Water Conservation measures remain in place until conditions get better.
-with files from CJDC