Northeast Drought E-Bulletin - June 2024

Special Update: Drought

Northeast 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 remain at levels 4 and 5 for the Northeast/Peace region due to low snowpack, low streamflows, and ongoing lack of significant rain events. The Northeast Region has experienced drought levels 4-5 since July 2023.

About provincial drought levels

Provincial drought levels are set for B.C.’s drought management basins weekly during the drought season.
Drought levels state 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 Northeast region?

As of May 30, 2024, drought levels in the Northeast/Peace region are at level 5 in the East Peace basin, and level 4 in the Fort Nelson, North and South Peace basins. Visit the B.C. Drought Information Portal for current drought levels across the province.

Map showing the provincial drought levels for the Northeast region as of May 30.

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 levels, corresponding impacts and general response actions, see the British Columbia Drought and Water Scarcity Response Plan .

Details on the present (May 30, 2024) drought levels in the Northeast region:

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

With drought conditions persisting across some areas of the province and minimal forecasted precipitation, the BC Energy Regulator (BCER) continues to require oil and gas operators to suspend previously approved water diversions under Section 10 of the Water Sustainability Act due to low flows (the suspensions were placed in 2023 but remain active). This includes rivers, streams and lakes within the Peace River and Liard River watersheds. More details available at BCER Expands Water Suspensions Amid Dry Conditions (DIR 2023-06) | BC Energy Regulator (BCER) (bc-er.ca)
All current water licensees were sent a Drought Information for Licensees flyer in early May (2024) along with their yearly billing invoice.
Rural residents in the Lower and Middle Kiskatinaw, Lower Blueberry, Lower Beatton River and Pouce Coupe River watersheds can expect to receive additional drought awareness information (particularly of interest to groundwater users) in their letter mail this June.
Staff continue to monitor stream flows and groundwater levels and may begin contacting large water users to encourage voluntary reductions and share best water use practices.

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:
Access the Peace Agri Weather Network for live weather data collected from 22 stations located on farms throughout the B.C. Peace region to help with management decisions and support tools for agricultural producers.
For cattle producers looking to plan ahead, the Beef Cattle Research Council has an excellent 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.
Participate in provincial workshops and training opportunities that provide practical water management advice and strategies for drought preparation, such as Drought Extension Workshops for Livestock and Forage Producers. A listing of drought related workshops around the province can be found here and is updated regularly.
Consider medium/long-term water supply planning for your farm. Refer to the Funding Opportunities section of this newsletter for more information.
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.
For those struggling with the mental health impacts of drought, help is available! 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:

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 B.C in Fort St. John at (250) 787-3415.

Water Haulers

Note: This list is not meant to be exhaustive and does not endorse any water hauler.

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.