Island Drought E-Bulletin - July 2024

Special Update: Drought

Island Region

This special update is to provide drought preparedness information only.

General emergency response information, such as wildfire or floods, would be provided through Emergency Management BC.

Drought Update

Provincial drought levels have been elevated to level 4 for the East Coast of Vancouver Island due to the recent hot and dry weather, deteriorating streamflows, and increasing stream temperatures. 

Virtual Town Hall - Thursday, July 25th @ 7pm

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the Ministry of Water, Land, and Resource Stewardship will be hosting a virtual town hall for farmers on the East Coast of Vancouver Island who may have licences affected by changes in drought levels.

The town hall will occur on Thursday, July 25th at 7pm and can be accessed via Zoom using this link. (Meeting ID: 626 4907 4409 Passcode: 218100)

This is an opportunity to learn more about the current state of the watersheds, potential management actions, resources to support farmers and ask questions of knowledgeable staff.

Click Here to Attend Zoom Meeting

What are the current drought levels in the West Coast region? 

As of July 17, 2024, drought levels in the West Coast region vary from levels 1 to 4 with the East Coast of Vancouver Island set at drought level 4. Visit the B.C. Drought Information Portal for current drought levels across the province. 

Map showing the provincial drought levels for the West Coast region, as of July 17, 2024. 

What do the current drought levels in this area mean? 

The Province uses a six-level classification (ranging from 0 to 5, with 5 being the most severe) to rate the severity of drought conditions. For more information on B.C.’s drought response levels, corresponding impacts, and general response actions, see the British Columbia Drought and Water Scarcity Response Plan. 

Details on the present July 17, 2024 drought levels in the West Coast region: 

About provincial drought levels 

Provincial drought levels are set for B.C.’s drought management basins weekly during the drought season.

Drought levels correspond to the likelihood of negative impacts* due to low water levels in streams and aquifers and provide guidance on possible provincial response measures (although provincial response actions may be taken at any drought level).

The Province's drought levels focus on “hydrological drought”, which is described by low water levels in lakes, streams and aquifers (groundwater). Hydrological drought is different from agricultural drought, which occurs when there is not enough water for crops or livestock to thrive.

Provincial drought levels are different from local water restriction “stages”, which are decided upon by local water suppliers.

* In the context of provincial drought levels, impacts refer to socio-economic and ecosystem values including community well-being, economic vitality, biodiversity, and the health of natural habitats. 

What actions are being taken by the Province in this area?  

In response to this increase to drought level 4 for the East Coast of Vancouver Island, the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship is asking water users to voluntarily reduce water use. Water licence holders in the Tsolum and Koksilah watersheds can expect to receive voluntary conservation letters in the mail shortly, if they have not already. 

Voluntary reductions in water use by users in sensitive watersheds can have a considerable positive impact on streamflows - individuals and communities can collectively play a critical role in preventing the need for further regulatory actions such as Temporary Protection Orders (TPOs) required to protect fish and fish habitat. If stream conditions continue to deteriorate due to persistent hot and dry conditions coupled with current water demand levels, WLRS staff may need to recommend further regulatory actions.

During times of water scarcity or drought, the Province can apply a number of regulatory options, alone or in combination to protect the rights of water users, aquatic ecosystems and fish populations. See the Water Use During Scarcity webpage for more information. 

About voluntary reduction requests  

As drought levels increase, voluntary water conservation measures may be requested by the Ministry of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship to help minimize further declines in streamflows to protect aquatic ecosystems.  

Water use reductions requested in these letters are voluntary and are not legally required.
Water users may receive multiple requests with increasing urgency to voluntarily reduce water use as drought conditions worsen. 
Voluntary reduction request letters do not target individual water users but may be sent out to groups of users (e.g., the highest volume water users within an area of concern). Letter recipients may include water licence holders, transitioning groundwater users and other water authorization holders. 
If voluntary water conservation measures do not improve streamflow conditions, regulatory action (e.g., the use of  Temporary Protection Orders) may be considered as a last resort.

For more information about provincial drought response, visit the Drought Information webpage.  

What can agricultural water users do to prepare for, and respond to, drought conditions? 

Access information and resources on drought and water management to help prepare for and respond to drought conditions at the Drought in Agriculture webpage

Work with your neighbours and other water users in your area to collectively reduce water use. In some areas, agricultural water users have worked together by pledging to irrigate on different days, which has reduced impacts on streamflows and prevented or delayed the implementation of regulatory actions.

Use weather forecasting and irrigation scheduling tools, and soil moisture sensors to make informed irrigation decisions and adapt practices according to current conditions.

Use efficient irrigation techniques to reduce water demand, and regularly maintain and repair irrigation systems to ensure they are operating efficiently.

Contact your local Agricultural Water Resource Consultant, Foster Richardson at 250-701-2082 or foster@hilldown.ca for more information on upcoming training opportunities and available funding supports.

Stay informed about local, regional, and provincial drought conditions and actions, events, programs and resources by signing up for AgriService BC regional e-bulletins.

Enroll in the AgriStability program, which helps stabilize whole farm income by managing the risk of large income declines. For more information about the AgriStability Program please call our toll-free line at 1-877-343-2767.

Ensure you are protected against crop losses, such as those caused by drought, by purchasing Production Insurance, which is affordable, efficient, and offers flexible coverage to meet operational needs. Contact any of the Business Risk Management Branch offices for more information or to apply.

We need to look after ourselves during difficult times too. Ag Safe has partnered with mental wellness practitioners to provide FREE counselling services to members of BC Agriculture, while the Do More Agriculture Foundation offers AgTalk, a peer-to-peer support platform, moderated 24/7. If you or someone you know is experiencing a crisis, please contact 911 (emergency support) or 988 (mental health crisis support – 24/7) immediately.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact: 

Contact your local Agricultural Water Resource Consultant, Foster Richardson at 250-701-2082 or foster@hilldown.ca for more information on upcoming training opportunities and available funding supports. 
For questions about supports for agriculture (e.g., project funding, financial assistance, drought resilience information), workshops, and training activities, contact AgriService BC at AgriServiceBC@gov.bc.ca or 1-888-221-7141.
For information on water licensing and rights, water concerns in your area, or provincial drought response measures (e.g., letters requesting voluntary water use reductions and water-related orders), contact FrontCounter BC at 1-877-855-3222 or FrontCounterBC@gov.bc.ca.

Water Licence Reminder

A water licence or use approval is required to divert surface water or groundwater for non-domestic purposes, unless exempted, under the Water Sustainability Act (WSA). Any diversion and use of water from a stream or aquifer without lawful authority is considered unauthorized use. Unauthorized users may face charges and/or financial penalties.

B.C. experienced severe drought last year and remains at high risk this year. Water licences and use approvals help the Province know who is using water to make sure there is a fair supply for everyone, protect fish and streams from long-lasting or irreversible harm, and resolve conflicts between water users.

Surface water - If you have not yet applied for a surface water licence for non-domestic purposes, apply for one now. If you’re using surface water for domestic purposes, you’re also encouraged to apply for a licence. This will better protect your right to access water under “first in time, first in right" during times of water scarcity.
Groundwater - If you have not yet applied for a water licence or missed the March 1, 2022 deadline to submit an existing use application, apply for a water licence now. For groundwater use that occurred prior to February 29, 2016, the deadline to apply for an existing use groundwater licence for non-domestic purposes was March 1, 2022.

To apply for a new water licence or get support with applying, visit gov.bc.ca/WaterLicence or call 1-877-855-3222. Applying does not guarantee a water licence will be issued.

Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program

The Agriculture Water Infrastructure Program (AWP) aims to increase adoption of efficient irrigation infrastructure and improve agricultural water supply and management in British Columbia. Through this program, the Government of B.C. seeks to see improvements to stream flows, fish populations, and increased and more sustainable food production. The program goal is to help improve water security in agricultural areas and food security in B.C.

The AWP is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF) of B.C. Please refer to the program website for details: https://iafbc.ca/awp

Stream 1 Producer Projects
Stream 2 Community Projects
Stream 3 Assessments, Engineering Studies or Plans
Stream 4 Strategic Projects

Environmental Farm Plan and Beneficial Management Practices Programs

Funded by the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, the Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) Program provides farm and ranch operators with the means to identify agri-environmental risks and opportunities. The program provides eligible producers with access to consultants (known as EFP Planning Advisors) to assist in the completion of Environmental Farm Plans and support the application process for funding through the Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) Program.

Participation in the EFP program is confidential and has no cost. The initial farm assessment provides a first step to help agricultural producers understand the connections between their operation and the surrounding environment and helps to develop an action plan to address any environmental issues.

The EFP Program is delivered by the Investment Agriculture Foundation (IAF). For more details on the program and to get started with the EFP process you can call 250-940-6150 or visit the IAF website at www.iafbc.ca

Beneficial Management Practices Program

The Beneficial Management Practices (BMP) program is an on-farm cost-share incentive program to assist farm and ranch operations to mitigate some of the risks identified in their farm-specific EFPs. The goal of the BMP program is to increase adoption of technology and practices to mitigate high-risk activities or emerging challenges. There are over 70 categories of practices and actions eligible for cost-share funding through the BMP Program. All BMP applications will be reviewed under the first-come, first-serve model for 2024/25 intakes.

New this year: The previous farm cap has been reset and individual farms may apply for up to $200,000 in funding for on-farm projects. Application windows will open approximately two weeks in advance of the submission window, giving producers access to the applications in advance of the submission time-period.

To participate in this program, you must have a valid Environmental Farm Plan (within 5 years). Contact IAF if you are unsure of the status of your farm plan.