Omineca Drought E-Bulletin - August 2024

Special Update: Significant Drought Level Increases

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 5 for some areas of the Omineca region due to low streamflow conditions and extended periods of dry weather.

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 are the current drought levels in the Omineca region?

As of August 22, 2024, drought levels in the Omineca region are at Level 5 for Upper Fraser West, Level 3 for Upper Fraser East, Level 3 for the Parsnip and Level 2 for the Finlay. Visit the B.C. Drought Information Portal for current drought levels across the province.

Map showing the provincial drought levels for the Omineca region, as of August 22, 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 (August 22, 2024) drought levels in the Omineca region:

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

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.

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, including:
Pasture and Hay Rejuvenation Options
Use efficient irrigation techniques to reduce water demand, and regularly maintain and repair irrigation systems to ensure they are operating efficiently.
Participate in the AgriService BC Crop and Livestock Reporter Program survey. This volunteer survey informs industry and government of current agricultural production conditions and needs across B.C.
Livestock management during drought
- A list of resources are listed on the Drought Resources for B.C. Livestock Producers factsheet.
- If there are concerns about livestock drinking water quality, refer to the Drought, Water Quality and Livestock Health factsheet and/or the B.C. Livestock Watering Handbook. If there are specific concerns about algae, please visit the Algae Watch website.
- Plan for potential disruptions to your feed supply. Investigate or secure alternate sources of feed. The Access to Feed program is available to all livestock producers and links producers experiencing drought and feed shortages with suppliers who have feed available. Program contact: hay@cattlemen.bc.ca, call or text 250-306-6277.
- An early list of regions eligible for Livestock Tax Deferral was released in June 2024, including a buffer zone to adjacent regions to capture impacted producers on the edges of affected regions. Review the map to see if it applies to your area. More information on the Livestock Tax Deferral Provision can be found here.
- For cattle producers looking to plan ahead, the Beef Cattle Research Council has a resource page on grazing, herd management and water considerations during drought.
Consider whether low water levels provide an opportunity to perform maintenance on your off-stream dugout (e.g., cleaning out dugouts that are empty/low to increase capacity in future years). If you do intend on performing maintenance on your dugout, please check out module 7, “Reservoir Management” in the British Columbia Farm Water Dugouts Guide.
Stay informed about local, regional, and provincial drought conditions and actions, events, programs and resources by signing up for AgriService BC regional e-bulletins.
Stay up-to-date on Ministry of Agriculture and Food programs, resources, and events by following AgriService BC on Facebook.
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:

AgriService BC at AgriServiceBC@gov.bc.ca or 1-888-221-7141 for questions about supports for agriculture (e.g., project funding, financial assistance, drought resilience information), workshops, and training activities.
The Prince George FrontCounter BC office or (250) 561-3479 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).